Ok, I'm trying to picture this. Why do I tie a bowline at after the small hole? I understand tying one end to the loop at the top of the S hook, and the ring and thimble at the top of the forestay. But still not able to figure out how to use the drilled hole and bowline.
My halyard goes: Loop on S hook, locking ring, thimble, down.
Does the other end go through the triangle and back to the drilled hole on the S hook?
Yep the other end goes through the small hole in the S hook to make a continuos
loop. The large bowline through the small hole is to spread the load out on the line (you can tie just a stopper knot but it seams to wear faster and break. If you look at the S hook with both lines attached you can see how the end of the line with small hole keeps the S hook from engaging on the ring so it will release.
