The mast bend was visible from on and off the boat . . . nice graceful curve from what I remember.
The mast was massive, but a single-spreader rig with a detachable inner forestay and running backs. That might have been part of the problem.
Anyway -- she sailed for 2 years under the banana . . . during which time I took her down to and back from the islands -- by way of a hurricane on the way down.