I use a system very similar to the second link. I made a wooden socket that I mounted to the deck just ahead of the mast, so I just drop my winch pole in the socket, and run the forward line up to my forward anchor cleat. This system works GREAT, it is easy to raise and lower the mast, and you can stop at any position, to uncatch the rigging that *WILL* get caught on something on the way up (and sometimes down!). Here's mine, post #20:
http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=829568#post829568
I have two baby stays that stay attached permanently to the deck, and here is how I explain how to find the optimal anchor point on the deck, to help keep them as tight as possible as the mast swings up / down, post #44:
http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=139535&page=3
Finally, this is my mast crutch, that I mounted onto my transom. It swings up for trailering, or any time I need to lower the mast, and swings down while under way. I use it as a towing point for a dingy, which helps to keep the dingy from crashing into my boat - almost like a davit, post #9:
http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=907245#post907245
It is incredibly ugly, but it really works fantastic, and helps make setting up / breaking down easy(er). Now that I know it works, I will make a better looking support - maybe next year...
