This is grand larceny. My part (No:6605) is finally in the mail from Nacra UK, three weeks after ordering it, and I just received a copy of the bill via email: £80.67, add shipping and 17.5% tax and the grand total is 104.08 pound sterling. For a mast base that cost $31 in the US (£16 at today's rate!). I'm all aware of distribution cost and currency exchange risk, but f!@#$% hell, that's a nice round 500% markup!
Okay, everything has an explanation. There is no 500% markup there.
First of all, thanks to Tami who send me a couple of old balls; I was able to sail my boat in the wednesday evening race after 4 weeks of begging other people to take me as a crew <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks a lot again Tami!
Second Nacra send me not just a mast base, but a complete upgrade kit, and this explains the price hike. Mast base, ball, pin, fasteners, the whole lot. Comparing it with what's on the boat I needed it anyway: my current pin is not long enough and will not lift the mast high enough for the new mast base to fit and rotate. So I will have to put my mast down again sometimes and upgrade the whole setup.