Hi Richard,

Many thanks for the déjà vu!  Reminds me of:

2 ¾ turn barrel roll on Orewa in a storm

Kart went faster after the roll

Only (very minor) bend in both side stays – pushed out with knees.

These sorts of incidents highlight the blokart design feature that some things are meant to bend or break – like an axle when you hit something, and the mast which will bend.

My sortie was before the days of CRB in at kart barely into a 3 figure number.  Everything was fibreglass and I still prefer that for storm conditions.  In poor viz I had to take evasive action with a pile of seaweed in front and another sailor (Russell) to windward.  The rear wheels lifted off and I pivoted around the mast.  Was back sailing in as long as it takes to get out, right the blokart, check for damage and get back in.

Perhaps raking the mast back helped (I have seen an unofficial mod like this). It works downwind on my catamaran - to loosen the side-stays – similar theory?

Keep up the great stories – keeps us away from the virtual sailing.

Cheers

Zorro.