-----Message-----
From: Malcolm Pearson
Sent:  01-Oct-1997
To: 505world
Subject: 505 Masts - Alloy v's Carbon?

I have watched with some concern the discussion that has arisen, yet again, of Alloy masts compared to Carbon Fibre.
The issue has obviously arisen again as a result of a couple of very windy regattas which have cost the fleet quite a few masts.

I'm not sure why it keeps on getting raised in this forum. The class has discussed this topic, considered all the available information and made a decision which is binding until new, substantial, significant and convincing information gives the class a satisfactory reason to change is present policy.
To date there is no such new information that warrants the class reconsidering its position on masts.

A couple of the comments that have been made I wholeheartedly agree with.
Given the conditions that have been described ANY MAST would break when rammed into the bottom of the ocean. And you can be thankful that it does break, it sure beats pushing it through the bottom of the boat because it is too strong to break.

Someone mentioned it would be much cheaper to use plain Alloy tube and rig it accordingly.

Bravo!!

It absolutely would. This is where we started some thirty odd years ago but very quickly, (1) evolution (2) the desire to make things better and (3) ambition, saw very rapid design improvements to tapered masts and oval shaped masts and pear shaped masts all shapes that were considered far superior to a plain round tube which of course they were. (or were they?) They were also more than double the cost.

One thing has always remained riveted in my mind.

In 1966 I sailed the famous Worlds in Adelaide with Paul Elvstrom. Paul used a mast which was a section he used in his newly designed Trapeze dinghy. It was a plain straight (very cheap) section which he rigged with a double spreader arrangement to support it and control bend. Most would say there was too much windage to be acceptable. Let me say, we (he) won the first race in very light drifting conditions (the lightest race of the series) we won the second race in gale force conditions and huge seas ( the heaviest race of the series) and we won the last race, which was a puffy offshore land breeze, after leading round every mark of the course.
So there was no doubt about its performance capability.

Since about 1967, despite the many and varied attempts at design improvements over the years, I see the "the good guys" are still using Proctor D masts which have been in vogue since about 1967 or even earlier. (I think the Proctor E was most popular prior to the "D") (I wonder if any one is keen enough to try to save themselves a lot of money and experiment with a straight tube but rig it as Elvstrom did in 1966.)

Sometimes I think we try to outsmart ourselves with "science" but may not be making improvements.
I find it very interesting that despite the enormous technological advances that various aspects of society have made in the last 30 years, we are still using a mast which has survived the test of time. It's a bit like the 505 itself.

Still the best designed two man dinghy ever.
Food for thought!

Pip Pearson
International President.