Benjamin,

I asume you mean the rope sewn into the luff of the sail. The grommet on the sail that attaches to the gooseneck pretty much determines that the lower end of the rope is not in the track. The rope should be in at the entry point on the mast track. Is there damage to the lower end of the track? In newer boats (and as an option for older ones) there is a small S/S guide below that entry point that helps guide the luff into the track. The luff rope should be in that if you have one. What year is your boat?

I just read my assembly manual (from 1985) and they specifically say "do not reinsert the sail into the mast track below the track opening". Is that your question?

Howard