1 Topic by Nico

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Topic: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

My first crash with damages in windsurfing life. One week ago I've decided to go out with fully onshore wind and shorebreak, Marina di Donoratico, middle-north Tuscany,Italy. Mast FS RDM Tidal Wave, sail HSM Smack 6,3
Waiting a little bit more and remembering how it works in Tuscany since ever, it would have ben much easier, with stronger NW (Maestrale) wind, side onshore on the right, 20/25 knots.
Anyway just when a bigger wave was coming I've lost the control of the rig, sail flipping over the board and towards the shore, and in one moment the damage was done.
Feeling sad for the breackage, mast split in half just over the boom clamp, I was suprised by the low damage to the sail, as mastsleeve was still perfect and simply was detached from sail body; even sail repair service hearing this was suprised. A question: is it a choice to make the sail sleeve stronger and the stiching slighly lighter to leave the damage to these last?
On the opposite some complaint about RDM masts. The first mast (FS) I've broken in my windsurfing life it is so a new RDM mast, Tidal 430 65%. Many time I have been washed to the shore but no breackage with the FS sdm's, so the things make me reflect a little bit. RDM toughness all true or a little mith?

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Last edited by Nico (2012-04-15 22:58:50)

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2 Reply by Jeffrey Henderson

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

RDM is usually stronger. EVerything can break with enough force.
Sail is an easy fix, just stitch sleeve back on.

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3 Reply by calebchinookRD

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

If built well - all other things equal, RDM will always be stronger.

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4 Reply by beaglebuddy

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

Nico is asking "A question: is it a choice to make the sail sleeve stronger and the stiching slighly lighter to leave the damage to these last?"

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5 Reply by Nico

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

Yes: as I've seen there is (or seems to be) only a stiching line that fix the mast sleeve to the sail body, not two or three; so I want to tell to the sail loft to do the same ad AVOID reinforcing the stiching.
BTW nowaday in the cars they do the same, the impact zones ar not too hard and made to break under some forces.
In any case withouth doubts compliments to HSM for CLASSIC mast sleeve construction, not a single little hole from the cutting pieces of the mast. I hope that beside the new lighter and obviously more pricy sails there always be the stronger (and cheaper) classic and famous HSM construction for other sails (that I never have felt so heavy..).

P.s.: at least and advantage from an RDM breackage compared to an SDM one: due to the non-conic shape of mast, with few time of sanding I've easily "gained" now a fixed carbon base extension, I think I'll reduce to 30 cm as using a 60 cm base extension doesn't seems to me good for the health of other rdm masts. Anyway a similar extension on the market is sold for 70 euro- 90 usd...

Last edited by Nico (2012-04-17 03:26:20)

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6 Reply by Jeffrey Henderson

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

Good idea about making a new part from old broken junk- RECYCLE!
Yes, the unbreakable OX WEBBING sleeve is designed to release, and not tear the sail or the sleeve. Usually it works like you experienced!

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7 Reply by Mike Colee

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

Nico, Everything will break in the surf :-( Just recently I managed to break a mast in two different places, a first for me. My 4.7m fire came out without any damage! As a sailor of average skills i very much appriciate the durability of my standard duty fire's. So much so that I'm not sure I should try the fire light for fear I may want one.

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Mike

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8 Reply by Nico

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Re: my first breackage, hands up to Smack (down to RDM)

Ouch I'm sorry for your mast (SDM?).
Yesterday sail have had the light surgery needed and now is back with me surfing days, she has already given me unforgettable memories, see below. 5 euro only the cost of repair! Thanks to brilliant Hsm contruction idea!!!

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(rigged on FS sdm 460 in Tranekaer DK)

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(rigged on FS rdm 430 in Klitmoeller DK)

Last edited by Nico (2012-04-21 03:23:46)

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