Lowering the mast at sea

[buckeye]

One of the aspects of sailing Pocketship that really surprised me is the ease of raising and lowering the mast.
I now launch on the wrong side of a low bridge and so routinely raise and lower the mast while on the water.
No problem.

It makes me wonder when it’s advisable to lower in other situations such as lying at anchor in high winds or motoring into a stiff headwind, or when expecting a severe thunderstorm.