Is it -that hard- to just flip the boat on it's side to unlock the ring when you are done sailing? I've used my Hobie 14 sail on my Prindle 18 when it's really blowing, I just tie off the halyard (the mast has a clete near the base) and never had a problem with the plastic halyard sheeve at the top, I do downhaul it pretty tightly when it's blowing that much.