"I bet it wouldn't happen on an Inter 17..." because the Inter 17 uses a much fatter, carbon pole with no holes drilled in it at the mid point. With the very thin walled alum. poles, and with stailess steel attached right at the mid point (max load, bending moment area) I would be very carful moving it around using the pole as a handle. Robi, are you sure someone (crew) didn't hang on the pole one time when it was on it's side after a flip?

I once had a new crew hanging onto mine after a pitchpole and if I didn't have such a large, thick and stiff pole, it would have broken in half I'm sure. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> it's true about my pole, ask his wife! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />