Ed Baird had the helm. That mast certainly isn't sealed.
With the beam and weight involved...would it matter?
Yes.
- If the boat turtles, it is easier to right it without the extra weight of the water inside the mast.
- If the sealed mast stays afloat long enough to avoid turtling until the nearby RIB arrives (30 seconds?), the RIB could take the mast tip aboard and point it 45 degrees from the wind. Then a gust could suffice to right the boat or another boat could help. Anyway, it is easier to right the boat with the mast tip on the RIB then upsidedown.
