David,
Welcome to the list. You didn't mention if you had the mast crutch?  Assuming 
you do, yes, you can store the mast with the sail left where it is. It  will 
do just fine facing downward.. One thing you want to do is keep snow and  ice 
from accumulating in the cockpit and keep leaves out also. Leaves will clog  
the drains and turn the cockpit into a large pond. Buy a really good tarp (not  
the cheap blue ones) and cover as much as you can making sure that it is 
secured  well. You don't want anything flapping in the breeze and damaging your 
boat.  I've seen people use plastic milk jugs half filled with either water or 
sand to  hold a tarp in place, Also make sure your water tank is winterized by 
using  non-toxic RV anti freeze and run it to the sink. 
 
Rummy



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com