When did 12's first have carbon masts?

[ifoxwell]

Simple enough question I guess

Cheers

Ian

3162

[guest (Guest)]

1995 ish, booms five years earlier...

[JohnMurrell]

Slightly earlier than '95.
3396 definately had a carbon mast from new and she was built in 1994 and first measured on 26th July 1994. That mast was one of the original Proctor 'tree trunks' and totally from memory and I stand to be corrected but I think that she may have been the first Twelve with a carbon mast from new.
I remember at the time everyone questioned as to whether a carbon mast could be made to work and seeing many of the earlier examples on Merlins exploding on reaches in Salcombe gave creedance to those doubts! The early Twelve carbon masts were basically Merlin masts adjusted to fit a Twelve and in truth weren't a lot lighter than an ally mast.

[Terry Cooke (Guest)]

About 1 kg lighter, I found the mobile lead that was attached to the jib halyard on the first proctor I had on 3389. It was very stiff sideways and I went back to the Kappa when it fell down
 
Terry 3517