Interesting question on the bridle. It was added into the 2004 rules, but disappeared in 2005 version when carbon was approved. I have no recollection if this was on purpose or inadvertent.

Bob - good comment. I never noticed that. I'm going to post this as a question in the class measurer's forum so it can be investigated.

What was the reasoning to add the requirement for a bridal?

Original equipment aluminum spinnaker pole had a plastic coated wire bridle and under the all purpose class rule 1.3, it had to stay that way. In 2004 the rules were changed to allow unrestricted material, meaning you could have a bridle made of rope instead of wire. Note this was prior to the change to allowing the carbon pole and composite ends.

If anyone is in the market for the Forte Carbon pole, I'll pass on that Defender in Waterford, CT is having their annual sale 25-28 Mar 2010 and you can get a 10% discount. Clint Rand from Forte suggested I order through Defender, rather than Forte directly because of the discount.

I just called and ordered the J/30 OD compliant Forte Carbon Fiber Spinnaker pole through Defender using Forte Model FCT250P (Defender Part # 600691). They annotate the order you want a J/30 OD pole with piston ends. The pole is custom order and takes about 3 weeks to fabricate. I plan on picking it up during their annual sale. The choice is to pay shipping or CT sales tax. For me, CT sales tax is less expensive, and it gives me an excuse to go to the annual Defender sale.