DSK wrote:
Gary wrote:

Thinking further about this question, why would the mast come down if
the main parted?


Because of the compression load from the spinnaker.
Compression load is not relieved by having the main up or by having a
backstay.

... Presumably, when the main is eased all the way out when running,
it doesn't provide any support to the mast.


Possible, but I doubt it on these boats. Most of the A-sail boats I've
been on, or seen go by, never eased the main out more than about a foot
past the gun'l, except in light air.
No race boat, sailed by some one who new what they were doing, would run
with the kite up and main sheeted in to the gunnel. It would cause the
boat to round up badly. You must have been much higher on the wind if
the main was sheeted in.


... The sail and mainsheet will only provide support when
close-hauled. It is the shrouds and aft swept spreaders that keep the
mast up.


Another issue is that this particular boat (and a number of other
sportboats) have a frac rig & a mast head spinnaker. The top section of
the mast is unsupported except by the main leach, which might not matter
under many conditions... but in 30 knot winds?
I was racing in the Van-Isle 360 (http://www.vanisle360.com/) when
Casseopia (a turbo'd Davidson 70) lost the top of her rig like that.
Her backstay broke. I think the top section needs support and as
discussed above, it doesn't get it from the main leech.

... I don't think the rig would come down with no main up. If it did,
I wouldn't have one.


I can see your point, but if you wanna go fast, you have to make
compromises.
That is just stupid.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King