In case you never saw long time professionals pull a J30 mast. The big cushion keeps the hardware off the mast.
Pulling mast once the standing rigging is free ... 5 min. max ... with someone always holding the bottom of the mast as it pulls out of the deck. Sorry I didn't have my video camera with me.

Dave has been with the yard since the early 80s. Nice to have same guy taking care of your boat a quarter century.