DON'T FORGET THE SECRET TWIST !!! and how the knot holding the ring on is critical also.

Let's see if I can explain this ...

You want the ring to WANT to "flip" onto the hook. Looking at Matt's picture the hook is on the starb side of the mast. Before attaching the halyard to the sail "twist/spin" the halyard clockwise (looking down on it) so that if it could "unspin" it would have a tendence to spin counter-clockwise and "flip/twist" onto the hook. Do not put too many twists into it as it will turn the ring to much and it will not hook ... if you spin it the wrong way it will never hook!

Secondly, the knot to the ring needs to come over the ring from aft to front so that when tension is applied the ring is pulled forward slighty. I use a "single half-hitch" knot and have whipped/stitched the tail/bitterend to the halyard.

I hope I have explained this properly, when you have it right the sail hooks so swee..etly.

Note: my H-18 has the halyard hook on the starb ... my P-19 on the port ... which means one requires clockwise pre-twist, the other counter clockwise pre-twist. I have to pay close attention to get the correct twist as I do mess it up sometimes ...

HarryMurphey
H18mag/#9458, Fleet54/Div11
P19mx w/spin /#86, CRAC