Ok, I think I understand! And all explanations are sounding reasanable (however the drawing by Jake confuses me a bit)

So by shortening the whiskers we should drop the pole between 15 - 20 cm (what we measured). The pole is indeed already under a lot of bend stress, so this would mean that we should tie another rope loop underneath the original one(and maybe when it turns out to be the right solution and place, I can weld one)

Jake,
The only thing I do not understand right now, are the two lines from the bridle you have drawn? As I understand correctly the bridle wires stay in place?