My three objections to running downhaul to base of mast:
1. it conflicts with the open hatch when launching/dousing spin via hatch.
2. it doesn't anchor pole forward in boat motion ... crew prefers knowing that pole isn't going to swing randomly during sets and douses.
3. it makes it a bit more difficult to get around the front of the mast when the poles is up.
remembering that the Gulf is not sheltered ... we like to do things for maximum conditions, not minimum conditions.
