Why did you change the ring ?
There is absolutely no need to do this.
my mainsail sit a 1-1/2" lower than normal.
You may miss that when it is blowing dogs of chains.
I would put back the original ring.
You can just tie the halyard to the ring, there is no need to have that small ring inside the larger ring. Best knot to use is a hitch. Make sure that a figure 8 knot is at the end of the halyard and leave it there permanently. Now just make a single hitch to secure the halyard to the ring and hoist the mainsail. The knot will tighten and become very small. When closing in on the hook the halyard will be pushed to the side and thus never be caught between the hook and the baring surface of the ring. This is one area where the KISS principle works very well.
Wouter
Wouter
