I have become aware of some SS carbon masts breaking while being sailed 'under normal circumstances' ie not due to a capsize, or sailing in a force 12.

I am interested to find out if this is a genuine trend or just coincidence.  If it should turn out to be a trend, I think it is something on which we should collate information, and take up with the manufacturer.  This is, after all, what an Owners' Association should do! 

If you have experience of this yourself, please could you e-mail me, and if there are sufficient instances, I will put together a brief questionnaire to establish common reference information.

So as not to start a bad mouth of Super Spars, if it turns out to be nothing, I will come back and say so!

ATB

GGGG

Ok so while everyone is thinking about all the mast that have broken, maybe I should just clarify what happened with mine - I broke a SS carbon mast at the Chichester open which went with a memorably load bang, but as far as I can tell the shroud broke first and then the mast went a few instants later - all during the top mark bear away.  In my view, not the fault of the mast...

Hi Graham, we did not break our mast during the champs but on closer inspection and some helpful hints from Dave Lee, there is a problem with the aluminium mast foot which as it gets older it expands. The warning signals may not be noticed if you were'nt looking for them. Our mast now has tiny little stress fractures around the base of the mast (which I thought looked like compression) but after Dave Lee looked at it, it is obvious that the problem is the mast foot. Has anyone else had this issue? I imagine if it is not caught in the early stages it may cause weakness in other areas in the mast which could lead to a breakage??
Anyone else had this problem??

Yep, is a classic problem. The carbon reacts to the rivets they'd used with the old ally foot. You can buy a new plastic foot (I got mine form Speeds) and afford to cut the bottom inch off the mast as the new foot is taller and you get rid of the cracks at the same time.

Lucy, we had this problem with our SSpars mast, also problems with the sail track. Ashdown Marine fixed it for us very nicely. I called SSpars and they put us in touch -

A small carbon wrap around the base of all masts is a good idea, even if have an plastic foot. The compression loads their are huge! If ordering a new one from Jacko worth asking for in my mind.

GGGG I would speak to Hywel about his. I think Bob's went due to the shroud breaking.

Ta, Ross

I recently broke a seven(?) year old SS carbon mast.The pulller bracket, not fitted by Superspar, had been attached by four rivets at approx 20mm centres. The mast failed by cracking horizontally between the top two holes. the mast had an unbonded reinforcement sleeve at this point. The wind was about 20 knots and the failure occurred at a bear away, with probably too much kicker and no spinnaker flying. I believe the failure was caused by the two pop rivets being too close to one another.I have  a new carbon SS mast. Before purchase I visited Simon at the SS works in Fareham to discuss the breakage and new mast and found that he was exceedingly helpful. I have also discussed with him the recent failures, I belive at Shoreham, and he has advised me that one of the masts had failed as the non bonded reinforcement tube had not been inserted, upon the purchasers specific request. I am not aware whether that is factually correct.I quized him on the positioning of the reinforcement which commences above the sail feeder and extends to approx 150mm from the base of the mast. If the reinforcement sleeve was bonded a stronger section would be achieved. SS do not believe it needs to be bonded. Hope this is of help.

Have been very impressed with SS carbon on old boat and current one both appear virtually indestructable todate as rigging has stayed intact. Thought it was Chipstow masts that commonly broke when it got windy !

I was quite hoping my 9y old mast might break forcing me to get a replacement under insurance, but diligent use of the puller and smooth bear-aways and it still seems pretty strong.  There is definitely some corrosion at the foot though and I will have a good look at this before stepping it next.

Well we tested the new SS mast at the Nats with some agression and felt it was good, though do question some of the fitout. Possibly not down to SS. I do know that a batch of masts were built without extra strengthening in the lower part unlike the one we used and suspect that is what was the cause of the mast failure on Hywel's boat at Shoreham. Had he had the one we used, feel he would have been ok. The failed mast was an early 2007 vintage.
Pointers of concern are the rivets on the mast pole mounting and base of track guide as 3 rivets are in the same circumference line, not good. Personally, I believe, the gooseneck and pole mountings should be of a bonded type. Noticed a couple during the week for the gooseneck and when we get a mast wil be doing exactly that. 
Hope this is of help.
Bye for now

I didn't know we were now into stainless steel masts; isn't it a bit heavy?

Drop me a line Graham and I can tell you exactly what happened at Shoreham to my mast. It certainly wasn't user error!

The boys at Rutland who inspect carbon parts for the RAF, say, quote, The only time carbon parts break, is if there is a falt in the manufacturing. They have a machine for testing said parts.

We broke our Superspars carbon mast on 3437 Whyte Mischief approaching the windward mark at Pwhelli on the Monday.  Fairly windy and bumpy conditions.  We hadn't even started thinking about the bear-away when there was a loud bang and scrunching noise, and although the mast stayed up, the laminations had burst out sideways at the spinnaker bracket and there was a definite break at the back of the mast giving us instant rake - compresion failure maybe?  Rather than tie up a safety boat in towing us back we took all the tension off the rig and made it back to shore without the mast coming down.  We're told it's repairable, but the we were also told these masts are indestructible.  The former may be true.  The latter certainly isn't.

It's not just Merlin Rocket masts that are exploding is it,it's happening everywhere Americas Cup Down, the standard of construction and design is not that of aerospace or formular one,though using those very sensative materials. It does worry me that in a few years time I'll be flying in an all carbon Boeing! Just bear in mind that the cost of a Formula one Carbon Fibre track rod (only about a metre long in in excess of £20,000.00 each!So you don't get a lot for your Merlin Rocket cash.