I have started a new discussion here about my broken yard  so as to try and keep focused on a specific topic.  I note with interest Annie's decision to build a wooden yard and am interested in hearing what the specs for it will be.  I think I will just use a 100 x 3 mm alloy yard at this point as I can buy it next week and go sailing a few days later (but I haven't bought it yet...!).  I also note that Arne has sailed hard with his lightweight, braced yard and had no problems but cannot afford to have one built for me at this point (there's always next time!).  My broken yard was manifestly too light for the use I put it to  but I wonder if too little drift between halyard blocks could contribute to yard stresses?  PJR recommends a minimum of 500mm.  I remember David mentioning that with our higher peaked yards this was not so critical.  On Arion I think I have somewhere between 300 and 400mm (haven't been up there with a tape measure, the perspective from the deck is a bit distorted but standing on the dock looking at it makes it look about this).  I also think that the cambered sail requires a beefier yard than a flat sail.  The yard of a flat sail is supported along its full length by the panel stiffness of the sail, unlike a cambered sail where the loads are more concentrated on the halyard attachment point, or at least that is how it seems to a bush mechanic like me. I note that some people are talking about using a span to attach the halyard rather than a fixed point.  The purpose if this is to vary the attachment point but it might also spread the load a bit.  I don't think I can do that however as it would use up too much of my already limited drift between halyard blocks.  A carbon fibre yard (and battens) may be the ideal if you can afford it.  Seems to have worked well for David.