Isn't it amazing how old technology, or at least its underpinnings, can fade away? There are at least two major, and several more minor, reasons for heavily-raked masts, and I hereby am restarting the Puzzler with an invitation to send possible reasons to
puzzler@briontoss.com. And I will start things out with a hint: square-rig.
I'll accept any remotely valid suggestion, and will probably give a nod to any sufficiently absurd ones. Drawing will be September 1. Please avoid posting further responses here.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss