Never thought of it , but it makes sense. It would have to work harden or soften . You can't just keep bending something and nothing happens.

bugger ^ a bit like a wetsuit left out on the line in the sun for 2 weeks ,try put that on ...

I wonder if carbon boards need loosening up too ??
I have a 20- year old 100% north mast ..was thinking why it seemed very flexie and soft
I still use it on my 8,5 ,...time to renew i think .

I think you broke it in too hard , you need a mast whisperer

Tardy said..
bugger ^ a bit like a wetsuit left out on the line in the sun for 2 weeks ,try put that on ...

yeah. I used to think i was getting fat, till i realized my harness shrinks when it dries out completely... Phew

back to eating pies

hang on, why don't my jeans From 2 years ago fit anymore?

That sounds a bit suss to me. No mast manufacturer has ever said anything like that to my knowledge. I have some 10 year old carbon masts that feel as good today as they did when new. Still feel like magic masts and set my newer sails better than any of the others.
I recon is may be one of those things that is 99% in the head (like boards that are 500gms lighter) than any real performance thing.

On the other hand, I think there is some truth in the second part where he says one can benefit from trying a few similar, but different masts to find a sails sweet spot. This I have done a lot, and its amazing that a mast that IMCS tests almost identically, can feel and go different in the same sail.

Oh, and I have IMCS tested carbon masts new and again, many years and thousands of KM's later, and got pretty much identical numbers.