Mast Rake verses Mast Bend The following is an explanation of the above terms, which as usual, are presented in a very simplistic and non technical manner. MAST RAKE: This is where the entire mast LEANS aft. It is almost like moving the mast backwards on the deck. What you are effectively doing is moving the center of effort (COE) aft. So what does that mean? It means that when you rake the mast back you increase weather helm and when you allow the mast to stand straight you reduce weather helm. Who cares about weather helm? Every sailor does because a little of it (3 to 5 degrees) makes the boat go faster. You get lift from the sails, keel and rudder so a little weather helm on the rudder creates lift and the boat goes faster. Beyond 3 to 5 degrees this lift changes to drag and the boat slows down. Wind surfers use rake all the time. When they rake the mast back, the board turns into the wind. When they rake it forward, the board turns away from the wind. Boats such as Stars, Solings and Etchells sail best with as much rake as possable. They go right up to the limit just before they can't trim the main. MAST BEND: In order to bend the mast you need one that is "bendy". Look at you index finger. Now bend it. See how the knuckle goes backwards. If you can do that with your mast, you have a bendy mast. If it doesn't look like your index finger, you can't bend it. Mast are bent because of luff curve, which is a fullness the sail maker builds into the midddle of the sail. You want the mast to match the luff curve so you bend it to take the fullness out of the center of the sail and the only time you bend the mast is when you are sailing upwind. Off wind, you want it straight. In fact, if you could bend the mast forward, which you can't, the boat would sail faster. Additionally, when you bend the mast you are reducing drag on the sail. How and even if you can bend or rake your mast depends on its construction, the mast support system plus the age and intergrity of the boat. So, before you start trying to bend or rake your mast you better be sure your mast, sails and hull are up to it. My advise to beginners to intermediates sailors is to master all the other sail trim controls for the main and jib before you start messing with mast bend and rake.