Hi Tony

Oh well there goes another theory!

The answers to your questions are:
1. I don't think many would go 180 degrees in the boat park but when you are going downwind in pressure and the leeward sidestay goes loose the mast may get around that far. It depends on your mainsheet/boom setup and whether you are using a vang (rotation inducer) or not, and on the amount of rig tension (lots will limit the rotation).

2. If you have too much weather helm going to windward then you probably can't rake the mast back. Lifting the centreboards or using smaller ones would help but if your cases are not in the maximum aft position this will only make a small difference.

If you can get 120 degrees now, that may be enough.