I have always resisted buying 100% carbon masts, one because of the cost and two because I was worried they would be more inclined to break than say a 75% - being $h*t scared of sharks, swimming back from the outer leads does not rate high on my priority list.

As it happens I got offered a deal I couldn't resist the other day on a 100% 460 North Platinum mast (thanks Simon) and I ran it yesterday on my 6.4 Duke. My 5.4 Duke is awesome but I had always been a bit dissappointed in that sail as it always felt dead and no matter how I rigged it it felt like it was creating a lot of drag. With the new mast it became light in hand and very sprightly. I had read recently that the mast is the most crucial element of your rig but I didn't realise how much difference it can make.

I am looking forward to slipping that thing in my 8.0 ram and seeing what sort of difference it will make on that sail. Who knows it might even be the difference between a place and an also ran result. I'm coming for you Tribey...

Oh, you're dead right there. That sort of innuendo is normally intentional from me but I missed that entirely.

What a cracker!!! Lucky it isn't on a public forum or anything...