The pole is permanently affixed to the rear crossbeam. You will notice that i mocked up the understay system with extra line i had laying around. a cable goes from the back beam to the bottom of the DS, then two cables extend from the bottom of the DS forward. one goes under the jib, and the other goes through a spreader to the pole end. Thats my downhaul for my jib, and my chute.

Because of the loading angle, pulling those cables tight will not only pull down, but also back, and that's why the pole goes to the back beam. It has been shaped and sets on the back beam flush, and will be bolted secure, allowing any y-axis loading to go through the center pole in column.

The DS rod WILL be getting loaded up. but the loads will be directed THROUGH the bolt on the Z-axis (understay pushing up, mast pushing down) not across the bolt on the y-axis. to ensure that, the pole had to go all the way back.

Also like i said earler, that DS rod has an 180,000 PSI tensile strength. Stock Stainless has 75k.

There are advantages to having the pole there too. I am setting the boat up as a singlehanded boat. the pole gives me a place to attach my mainsheet, and using thru hull blocks, i will have my spin halyard and retreival lines on the center pole via flip flop blocks. a few other controls will be routed there as well.