I was having a hard time getting my ring to come off the hook lately. So I have tried a bunch of things with the knots. I like the double hitch with stopper knot thingy the best, which is what the previous owner had setup. I think my whole problem was the friction created by the luff rope and the battens and not the knot to begin with. Once I McLubed the luff and the slot of the mast it was much better. The downhaul even works now!