Thanks Mat, I suppose the idea is to raise the sail/ring above the hook not just so that it is even with the hook. I never thought of doing it that way... Then when unhooking I suppose the unhook is done when you raise the sail, not necessarily when you rotate the mast; that just gets the hook out of the way on the way down or "in the way" on the way up. I need to get the binocs out and watch the process with that in mind. Again thanks....Mal