Laser Top Mast Changes

In this quaters Laser World there are a number of proposed rule changes and proposal to help with bends in the top mast. Relevant section is

'In the meantime, the builders have made significant progress with the aluminium top mast and, in addition, Clive Humphris (ILCA Technical Officer) has developed a "split collet" to replace the currently riveted mast collar (the primary failure point for the aluminium spars). The "split collet" is essentially a two piece (split longitudinally) plastic cup which inserts into the top of the lower spar and "holds" the upper mast. This removes the mast collar and the need for the rivet allowing one to rotate the mast at will. '

IMO this is much needed as since the introduction of the XD kicker there seems to be much more problem with permanent mast bends and being able to rotate the top would significantly lengthen their life.

Also is a bit on work being done on the sail. With 2 propsals being currently tested.

Am i right in understanding that laser are on their Mk6 or 7 sail already? 

Top section won't effect performance, just longevity of a mast.  I bend mine very very quickly, as do most laser sailors.  You can only straighten them so many times, not having a rivet causing a weak point should help.

The sail is also being looked at in terms of longevity for the full rig.  No design will be approved till after 2012 though I wouldn't have thought.

Yes the radial is on MK6 sails, they get updated everynow and then and the dealers stop selling the previous version.  Not sure what MK the full rig is on. 

The bend characteristics aren't changing and it will still be made of the same aluminium.  They're removing the rivet which causes a weak point where all the breaks happen.  If there is no rivet then the mast should last longer.

The MK6 sail was originally designed to make life easier for lighter sailors I think - easier to depower, sure someone like Jon would know better.  As such you'll still find the odd heavy radial sailor using a new MK5 (hard work sourcing them nowadays).  When they first changed I found it hard to get the MK6 going but they've slowly reverted back a bit I think and the difference is minimal.

To stop the top mast sliding inside the bottom mast there is a collar on the top mast held in place by a rivit.

The rivit is a weak spot and so the top mast is always put in the same orientation leading to shorter life.

I believe they will stop the top mast sliding down the bottom section with a boot in the bottom mast such that no collar is needed on the top mast and as such no rivit which means the top mast can be put in in any orientation leading to longer life.

A very sensible refinement with no performance change