1) What you refer to as "lowering" the sail is actually raising the sail when the position of the cat is "capsized." This is a lot of work with a wet, heavy sail.

2) Also, time spent standing in a position that allows you to "lower" the sail is time spent with your body weight on the wrong side of the capsized cat's fulcrum. While keeping your weight on the wrong side of the fulcrum, you are at increased risk of going turtle.

3) Trying to get a doused main sail out of the water after righting a capsize might result in a torn sail.

4) Trying to hoist a wet, heavy main sail at sea is a challenging feat.

5) Reattaching a boom to a main sail clew, while on the water is quite difficult for most.

6) There is a possibility that the sailor can become enveloped in the sail and become either smothered or, submerged and drowned.

GARY