That, coupled with my observation of the substantial amount of boom flex, makes me real aware of the amount of force the boom is applying here.
I don't think the boom is excerting much force on the mast at all. How large was the sweptback angle of the mainsheet blocks when the mast broke. If it was almost vertical then the boom axial loads will have been rather small indeed. I think the boom flexing was caused by the mainsheet and clew corner not being in line with eachother. This created a bending laoding on teh end of the boom which bend it over its full length. Was the boom flexing downward ?
Wouter
