I guess the other thing I like about dropping aft and not using the boom for gin pole is that I leave the mainsail on the boom , flaked, contained within the sailcover. When I remove the sail I unzip the sailcover zipper at the front of the mast, pull the pivot pin on the gooseneck, lower the front of the boom allowing all the slugs to drop out of the gate...and then just re-zip the sail cover around the front of the sail (now behind the mast. The aft end of the boom is still supported by the topping lift so it does not fall. I then gently lower the tack end to the deck, and then go release the topping lift from the tang on the boom....and slide the whole sail all secured within the cover and neatly flaked, into the cabin. Setting back up is just a matter of feeding the slugs into the mast when you drop the gooseneck in and the sail is rigged, including the outhaul purchase and aft reefing lines which are left in place. The sail stays neatly furled within the cover, on the boom. The result is no folds in the sail and it is well trained to fall into the proper flakes when it is lowered each time. I find that much easier than trying to find a place to lay the sail out somewhere and fold it up without getting it dirty.