And take a look at the shape of the battens, that is a compounded s-curve (in multiple planes) !

Also look at boat numbered 3 further away, do you see the top of the mast bend off. Waaaaaaay to little mainsheet tension for those 20-25 knots of wind.

Also we are looking at the back of the boat and the mainsail appears to be absolutely perpendicular to the centreline, riding against the sidestay I'm sure. You don't pull a spi in those winds if your mainsail is trimmed like that, this is asking for trouble. And to be honest, it is not needed either. Even singlehandedly I never trim my mainsail like that in a blow.

Anybody out here claiming the alu F16 masts are anything other then completely abuse resistant ?

I can see why Matt was a nervous wreck at the end of the event. This was more like a durability test. In hindsight Matt and VWM came out clean, with a product now proven beyond a shread of doubt, but it must indeed have been nerve wrecking.


Wouter