Passing under a low bridge on my Hobie Getaway catamaran

I always need to pass a low bridge to reach the best sailing area. The bridge is 6 meters above water.

With the sail down, jib rolled, and outboard running. I just tie a line from the forestay down on a small pulley on the front crossbeam, then back to the main sheet hook. The main sheet is fully pulled and cleated when the mast is up. When I get close to the bridge, I remove the forestay pin, loose the main sheet to lower the mast. After passing the bridge, I pull the main sheet to lift the mast up again, and put the pin back in the forestay.

I attached a video of me passing. I don't lower it too much to prevent damaging the mast base. I hold it just to prevent swinging on one side of the boat.

https://imgur.com/gallery/Ja4OZUY

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Hobie Tandem Island "Sold"
WETA Trimaran "Sold"
Hobie Getaway

It works. Nothing wrong with that!

You might want to consider something to keep the mast in CL, but that might be more work than its worth--it's not like you have a couple spare halyards.

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R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

When lowered, the mast will lean on the wind direction. So if that day we are going upwind, the mast will lower directly in the center line. I don't fight it, I just hold the mast to be sure it lowers on a fixed direction based on the wind. Left, right, or center of the boat.

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Hobie Tandem Island "Sold"
WETA Trimaran "Sold"
Hobie Getaway