Carbon or not Carbon

I'm not sure about JimC's comments about the RS400.

The current kite size is useable on a reach as well as a run in quite a lot of breeze. Many of us use these boats for club races where you cannot always expect windward-leeward courses, and the present rig gives a good account of itself for club sailors like me. As for reducing the size of the 'white' sails, well that would not be so great on a fetch or close reach. Or in lighter weather with some waves to drive through.

The current National Champions are not big people, and it was windy enough at Mounts Bay last year.

The main gain from carbon would be less mass aloft, which should give better motion through waves and chop. Also all those rigs which got broken at Hayling last year could have been repaired. Hopefully. A carbon boom would be nice, or even an ali one without the corrosion trap sheet fittings in the tension side of the tube...Also to get the full benefit of different bend characteristics of carbon, you might need more advanced rig controls, one thing affects another and you could change the whole ethos of the boat to the point where is does not fit the niche that it currently enjoys.

There have been long beats racing against Laser 4000's where I have thought 'why doesn't this thing have a trapeze?'

Like all boats, it's a compromise.

Maybe as ali masts get more expensive and carbon ones less so, a carbon mast designed to have the same bend with less weight would be the way to go. Meanwhile I will enjoy it as it is and try not to 'Hayling' the mast!

I agree with Mike L. Paint it white. Carbon degrading in sunlight does not look cool. The carbon-look novelty was 15 years ago.

GRF the normal laquer to use is International Perfection 2 pack varnish. It has among the best UV blocking for a clear coating. If you get a couple of syringes (ebay), you can mix small quantities properly and the £30 tin will do a lot of masts. Less than half a tin did 3 coats on an RS600 mast.

Cheers.