TEAMVMG : thanks for the response & suggestion . I will try it next Summer to see if it works . However, before trying your suggestion I will try to hoist the smaller sail up & cleat the halyard on a mast . I will periodically check to see if the plastic shiv is damaged & if necessry replace it with a metal shiv ! Bill

Hi Teamvmg ; Thanks for the info . I will try it next summer after I try a simpler recommendaton to: raise the sail with the standard halyard & tie the halyard to a mast cleat ! Check the plastic shiv to see if it is stressed or damaged & if necessary, replace it with a metal shiv ! Thanks for the help! BIll

To keep the ring next to the mast use a slug and a piece of line or nylon tape sewn into a loop with a metal ring at the end. This will act just like the top of a sail. Attach your haryard to the ring(just as your would with your sail),then run a piece of line between the metal ring and the top of the sail.

Hi Jeff : Have you actually tried using the the slide (slug )& line & ring ? I di & it didnt work ! I also used a 6'x1" aluminum bar with slides on it . I attached the top of the aluminun bar to the ring shackle & the lower end with a shackle to the head of the smaller sail ,. The 2 slides on the alum bar hold the unit close to the mast in the slide track . It goes up 100% of the time & the halyard ring locks on the halyard lock .However, it's a frustrating hit & miss for release & coming down !
I plan to use the standard halyard ring for the top of the smaller sail ,raise it up high enough that the foot of the sail can be secured to the boom & tie the halyard off on a mast cleat . If there is damage to the plastic shiv at the top of the mast I will replace it with a matal shiv .... Thanks for the suggestion ! Bill

Maybe you already tried this but how about parking the boat sideways to the wind (room permitting), then uphaul the halyard ring and hold it up while you rotate the mast hook upwind? That might get the ring off the hook if you keep the ring pulled up high as you rotate the mast, then release it.

I have trouble sometimes getting my Prindle mast hook to let go of my halyard ring unless I turn the boat, bows across the wind about 45-90 degrees. Bows dead into the wind it almost never comes free.

Hi Timbo : thanks for hanging in there with me . There were some successful no hassle releases & Your suggestion about position off the wind makes alot of sense . I always bring the P-19 directly into the wind when taking the sail down & it becomes a hassle quite often . I will be trying that next season ... Thanks for sharing . On another topic altogether ... I could use some info & maybe a diagram or 2 on how to set the jib sheet up so they drive the boat to the max ... Bill