As Heaven Sent has survived Salcombe Week with the rig intact (more or less) my plans for an insurance funded replacement of the 1st generation Superspar carbon have been shelved.  I've now got a nice suit of sails and I am wondering if replacing the mast will give me much benefit, and if so what the available options are.  Chipstow I know about, lovely hand made jobbies and doubtless Mr Essex in a Shed could put me on a pair of scales, stick a stub of pencil behind his ear and come up with a mast with a customised smile to suit and for a price.  Dave Fowler was experimenting with a Proctor section I think, and Superspars are still up and running and a reliable product.  I am looking for power from the rig as I am no lightweight - would be interested to hear informed views.

Andrew 3511

Don't waste your money, the mast you have is fine.  You can improve your fleet position with better boat handling, fitness and tactical awareness

CST are used by some of those at the top end of the fleet as well aren't they?

HI Andrew
Our new Superspar is being delivered to us at Starcross in a week. Used one on Liqui Dreams last year at the Nats and went fast. Only problem was Pete had not been in a Merlin prior to the Nats. Still finished 8th with our best result in the last race a 3rd. Though slightly heavier, gives us more power as we were nearly 24 stone last year. This year 23.3 so lighter with same power. Bring it on. However, we are adding carbon spreaders once we are happy with the settings as only were really getting to grips with the mast towards the end of the Nats. Mast was first stepped for the practise race. Nothing like preparation!!!
Prepared this and may be slower, ******.

Your boat was going fast enough at Salcombe. Have you put the correctors back in or is it still a bit light :-) ? Trust me, with Chipstow, Winder Mk4, P&B's and about a stone less in our boat than Tim and Ben there was absolutely no speed difference, having followed their transom about 4 inches away for half a mile.

We've got 27-28 stone and a heavy Proctor D section mast deck stepped, but it's the old hog stepped mast cut down. Is this a decent combination for the weight or should we look for something lighter, given that we can't afford carbon. Boat is 1989 wood.

We've got 27-28 stone and a heavy Proctor D section mast deck stepped, but it's the old hog stepped mast cut down. Is this a decent combination for the weight or should we look for something lighter, given that we can't afford carbon. Boat is wood and made in 1989 .

Thanks for the replies, I will stick with the old (and bulletproof!) Superspars.

Alan I have put the correctors back in with bolts this time and was weighed for the last champs at 99kg.  Not bad for a 15 year old boat, and the hull shape is still blisteringly quick on a 2 sail reach Tim informs me, certainly a bit more stable than Tom P's Tales on the gybes in a blow

Bang your lowers on properly Dr Mills and the SuperSpar is probably better than a Chipstow for the beer swilling yotter. (In my humble opinion...)

What about the CST mast for beer swillers ? we have 27 st in our boat . Am also interested in peoples thoughts on increased rocker on 3665 as this could be the way to go with our new winder as we struggle with our mk4 in less than sitting out conditions compared with our previous boat a wooden tales.

Not being rude-but when I was talking to Robbo-the owner of performance sailboats-he told me that starting at the right end of the line and keeping the boat flat is far more faster than having a fancy rig-or is he wrong? LOL-excuse cheek!

Jeremy, if you would like a try in 3665 to see if it feels better than your mk4 you are very welcome. Not sure where you are based but if are are at Looe, that might be a good time.

Matt cant make Looe but maybe Hollingworth or Blithfield ? What kind of weight do you normally sail at ?

Jeremy i will be at both events, so maybe sort out a sail then. We used to sail about 27 stone all up, we now sail at just under 21 stone. The boat seams to go well with either weight in it, don't know why?

we broke our mast bracket at earlswood, so I decided that as my crew is such a portly old git, more power is required.
 it will be returned from jackos sporting two pairs of diamonds with a set of jumpers,jacko assures me this will have no affect on mast bend upwind as long as we uprate the kicker system to 25 -1, but should counteract aforementioned crew downwind .the cost came out at avery reasonable £562.02p 
    Ill keep you posted on performance!!!!!!

"with a set of jumpers"

is that to keep it warm in this so called summer of ours!!!

A warm mast is a happy mast!!!!

Never mind jumper struts, i hear that an experimental carbon fibre telegraph pole has recently gone missing from billericay. When asked about the disappearance local police said they were looking for a man with dirty hands.