I may hold the A-cat carbon mast record for breakage as a carbon mast newbie-- and successful repair. 1. At 3 mph, I let the boat head up & hit a concrete bridge just above the mast base (2001): Inattention. 2. Violent Pitchpole at Lake Ponchartrain in A-cat NAs, same as #1 mast survived the crash but then the boat and boom jibed, sail did not: twisted the mast (2003). 3. Violent downwind pitchpole in nasty thunderstorm after mainsheet was ripped out of my hand in 3rd blast : mast broke instantly (2005). All 3 masts were repaired successfully and never broke there again: All 3 still in use, and 4 more that I repaired successfully. None busted by me since 2005. Fingers remain crossed.