Single-handed Mast Stepping: Support Needed?

Last time I went sailing I forgot my 3-step step stool. Had been resting the end of the mast on it while I stepped it. Got a winch system setup, so it pulls up by forestay horn.

So without the step stool, the 27' mast rested on the aft beam, 6' from the mast ball. The 21' hanging out the back certainly flexed down at the tip. Is this bad for the mast? If not, I'd rather forget the step stool everytime.

On my H-16 the weight of the mast would rest on the traveler track if I didn't support it so I made a simple tripod out of three old aluminum tent poles. I drilled them near the top and tied them together, then drilled near the bottom and put rope to keep the bottom of the poles from spreading too far. I keep the tripod on the trailer tongue with bungee cord so it is always with the boat.

Howard

Sounds simple, Howard, thanks. But is this really needed? The mast while sailing gets thrown around quite a bit.