From a previous topic, I believe you are correct. In here somewhere I think

A standard taipan mast section weighs more than 12kg...I seem to recall 14-16kg...

A typical structurally sound carbon mast for F16 would weigh something like 11-12kg...

The above discussion suggests 4.5-4.75kg tip weight for A-class masts.


So removing the minimum tip weight, which will be approximately half the overall weight ignoring diamonds etc., will have very little effect. Except that for carbon masts the distribution of the weight in the mast, hence the stiffness distribution, can then be altered, which would also alter the tip weight.

For example, someone may want to stiffen the lower mast section and soften the higher mast section, this would lower the mast tip weight.

I think the mast tip weight should be left alone until a couple more seasons are under the belt of the F16 rules before fiddling around with them.

As you alluded to, the actual tip weight wouldn't drop that much if the rule was abandoned (maybe 1-2kg total), so what's the harm of making the mast a fraction stronger. At 10kg, a 2kg total weight reduction, I believe it will be lighter than an A-class mast!!! They already break those regularly without a kite or jib!

In terms of being able to right the boat, 1-2kg of weight saved in the whole mast isn't going to be the difference that enables a light crew to right the boat. The water on the sails and in the mast, the prevailing wind (or lack of it) and the righting technique will be much more significant factors.

From experience, in 5 knots of wind, a 70-80kg skipper cannot right a taipan single-handedly. But with more wind it can be done very easily because the wind can lift the sail off the water.