Storable, sickle-shaped sailboat mast

A sail supporting assembly for a sailing vessel having a hull with a keel and gunwales, comprising:

• a. a straight mast, having a lower region and an upper region;
• b. wherein said straight mast is pivotally attached to said hull so that said straight mast rotates around a mast rotation axis which is perpendicular to said keel;
• c. wherein said upper region of said straight mast lies substantially above said gunwales;
• d. a curved mast, having a lower region, a middle region, and an upper region;
• e. wherein said lower region of said curved mast is joined to said upper region of said straight mast at a mast joint, so that said curved mast and said straight mast rotate in unison about said mast rotation axis;
• f. wherein said mast rotation axis has a windward side and a leeward side;
• g. wherein said lower region of said curved mast lies proximate said mast rotation axis;
• h. wherein said middle region of said curved mast lies on said windward side of said mast rotation axis;
• i. wherein said upper region of said curved mast lies on said leeward side of said mast rotation axis;
• j. a boom, having a proximal end connected to said mast joint and a distal end located distal to said mast joint, said boom being configured to rotate in unison with said straight mast and said curved mast;
• k. a sail attached to said curved mast and said boom, said sail defining a sail area;
• l. wherein at least 5% of said sail area lies on said windward side of said mast rotation axis;
• m. a curved mast extender, slidably connected to said upper region of said curved mast;
• and
• n. wherein when said curved mast extender is extended upward, said curved mast extender extends the overall height of said mast assembly.