: Hi Pete,
: How do you drop your mast in a hurry if it is out of reach?
: JohnK

Location of the mast is the key. It needs to be far enough away so that the sail doesn't interfere with your stroke but close enough so that you can get to it when you need to. The pic of my first boat gives some idea as to set-up I use.

Some sail designs I've seen that use this set-up are wider at the top to than the bottom so as to give that little bit more room.