Doug,

I did this last year with not much trouble. I started at the top end and twisted the rope as I pushed in (as if you were screwing it in). I only had a little trouble getting through a section of the lower mast (around where the luff is inserted), but by helping it through with a very thin screwdriver it finally made it through. At the bottom,the area you are having trouble with, again I used the screw driver to poke the end of the rope and pull it out.

Good luck.