Mast Lowering System
While traveling through Santa Cruz, CA, I discovered a protected "inner" harbor with many large sailboats. To get out of the harbor they had to lower their masts under a low bridge. This was accomplished with a forward-hinging tabernacle on which the mast was mounted. Aft shrouds and back stay were disconnected by means of pelican hooks and the rear of the boom was controlled by means of a line that was connected to a transom-mounted drum on large boats. The mast would lower to the bow rail and the boom would point vertically in the lowered position. On keel stepped boats, the mast was cut at deck level to mount the tabernacle. There must have been a hundred or more boats with this arrangement. I understand a local rigger did this retrofit.
