Thank you Rhody,

Of course I was being sarcastic with my turnbuckle comment.

What is interesting is that we stumble on a striking contradiction here.

Engineers and likewise minded persons always love clearly defined and predictable systems. However real life users may have a different appreciation.

Note the following :

"It's easier to achieve and maintain a specific flying shape on a stiffer mast"

But in changing conditions you DON'T want a specific flying shape that maintains itself. This ease of altering flying shape is exactly what allows us sailors to depower our rigs and trim it to an optimal shape for specific conditions.

Actually it is alot easier to design and tune a single gear race car but it is not what will win races on the track. I fear we are getting into this area with a very stiff carbon mast.

Wouter