The best thing to do... is get the aussie halyard with a welded twist shackle on the bottom and a welded hole on the top to tie the halyard through. Don't tie the halyard through the hole though, tie it to one side of the hole with the smallest bowline you can get and tape it tightly so there is no tale sticking out of the bowline. When you go to raise the sail make sure the knot is on the opposite side of the mast as the hook.

I had the line tied through the hole but now that I changed it to the above set up I can raise the sail without even rotating the mast and lock it and drop it with one quick small rotation.

Also, make sure the hook isn't bent at all... this happens sometimes... if it is bend it back or replace it if you have to.

As mentioned above take the cam type thing off if you have that on.

Also, make sure the sail track is clean and lubed... you can pull all you want on the halyard but if the sail won't move t won't get off the hook.

Good luck.

-Todd