Interesting local feature

The Swan River has two bridges over it near Fremantle, which are too low for yacht masts to fit under, so local boats usually have a tabernacle for the mast, which is hinged, and can be dropped for motoring under the bridges to get to the Indian Ocean.

Before moving Fair Maid the first time, we practiced dropping the mast in the pen to ensure we could do it when in Fremantle Harbour...

The two spinnaker poles create a "triangle" to transfer load in an arc as the mast comes down, enabling a simple two-sheave block and tackle system to exert sufficient force to raise the 40' stick again when necessary.  The marina manager came by when we were dropping the mast, and asked how we were going, and I replied "I'm very nervous right now!"  It was blowing 30 knots or more from abeam, creating huge side load on the rig.  But we didn't have the luxury of waiting for another day, so it was plough on regardless.