Wouter do you read what you write?
"F18 masts use 1.6mm wall thickness"
"Tornado use 2mm..."
"A class... 1.2-2mm"
Sounds like carbon thickness is similar to aluminium to me.
Humm, lets see if anyone can spot the differences ?
"F18 masts use 1.6mm wall"
F18, total crew weight 140-170 kg, double trapeze, total righting moment 774 kgm, spinnaker, forestay with jib, total 21.15 sq. mtr upwind sailarea and typically 9:1 or 10:1 mainsheet with crew using both arms to work it. 12:1 and 16:1 cascaded downhaul. Mast survives severe impacts with watersurface
"Tornado use 2mm..." (I repeat that this is the ALUMINIUM Tornado mast)
Tornado, total crew weight 140-170 kg, double trapeze, total righting moment 900 kgm, forestay with jib, spinnaker, total 22.82 sq. mtr. upwind sailarea, typically 9:1 or 10:1 mainsheet with crew using both arms to work it. 12:1 and 16:1 cascaded downhaul. Mast survives severe impacts with watersurface
"A class... 1.2-2mm" (I repeat that is dependent on where you measure; sides are 2 mm, front/web are 1.2 mm)
A-class, total crew weight 60-90 kg, total righting moment 334 kgm, single trapeze, double forestay and no need to have a tight forestay, total sail area 13.94 sq. mtr. , typically 6:1 mainsheet with skipper using only 1 arm to work it. 8:1 downhaul. Mast breaks during severe impacts with the watersurface.
So yes, the wallthickness are similar where the masts in the way of strength, loading and durability are not.
Wouter
