Selecting the right Tushingham mast

“A sail is only as good as the mast it’s rigged on”

There is a Tushingham mast to suit all pockets and performance aspirations.

Which mast should I choose?
Obviously the mast must fall within the IMCS compatible range quoted for the sail and be of appropriate length. Readers of this website should also have a good idea of bend characteristics and be able to make an informed decision about what will suit their style of sailing. A few pointers:

Weight – A light mast will feel lighter, which is obviously good, but most importantly a light mast will react faster (reflex response) and have a more lively feel. This faster reflex response allows the sail to breathe and exhaust correctly for best performance and a more comfortable ride. The advantages of a faster reflex response are felt in planning conditions, powered up, particularly over choppy water.

Light weight is achieved through a high carbon content which naturally comes at a price!

Carbon % – Higher carbon content means less weight for a given stiffness. For example a 460cm 25 IMCS Carbon 45% should bend to exactly the same curve and stiffness as 460cm 25 IMCS Carbon 100%. When the sail is rigged in a static situation it should look exactly the same on either mast. The difference will be felt on the water as the dynamics of light weight and faster reflex response come into play. There is a very big difference in feel from a 45% to a 75% and on to the ultimate 100% carbon construction.

The best mast for any windsurfer, expert or novice, is the 100% Carbon item. Choose the best you can afford, but temper this with considerations connected with the likely end use, particularly durability. Furthermore, consider where best to spend your money as a part of an overall quiver. For example; a light mast will make far more difference in a bigger sail where the overall weight is a key issue.

Standard diameter (SDM) or reduced diameter (RDM)?

RDM – Advantages:

  • Thinner in the hands, many prefer this feel in transitions where the mast is held.
  • Thicker wall, more durable
  • Relatively softer in the middle for a springy feel
  • More suited to wave & freestyle applications

SDM – Advantages:

  • Lighter for a given stiffness
  • Range of top section stiffness available for speed/slalom applications
  • First choice for camber induced sails
  • More locked in feel with better top end performance
  • More suited to freeride, slalom, racing and speed applications.
  • Floats better for easier water starting

Generally speaking it’s obvious that the SDM is the natural choice for larger sails, for speed, slalom, and light/medium wind freeride. Conversely, the RDM is popular with wave and freestyle sailors.

The choice of mast for a high wind freeride sail like the Storm is interesting because it will work on both types of mast. A Storm rigged on an SDM will have a locked in slalom feel, even more so if the mast has a high carbon content and light top section. This would suit a more speed oriented sailor or one looking for comfortable effortless straight line performance blasting back and forth across choppy water.

The same sail rigged on an RDM will have a springy feel and may be preferred by the more manoeuvre orientated sailor, it will have less top end stability but a softer feel. It comes down to personal choice, a choice that can only be made if the user has a reasonable understanding of how a mast works.

The Need for Speed!

Speed enthusiasts should be aware of the importance of the bend curve numbers. There is more information on the bend curve page but speed sailors operate in extreme overpowered conditions where only a stiffer lower section and flexible top mast will deliver the speed and control. Look for bend curve numbers in the high teens!