Once I raise the jib and hook it in the ring on the top of the jib stay. I can't get the jib to unhook and come back down. Typicaly I an required to lower the mast in order to get the jib down. Is there a better way to get the Jib unhooked/lowered?

Not sure if you have something rigged wrong. With my Prindle (which I no longer have), it was just a matter of pulling the jib halyard to raise the S-hook off of the ring and then releasing. I did notice, however, that it sometimes made a difference in whether the halyard let go accidentally if I hooked the S-hook on the wrong way (from the front or back), but it always released without a problem.

I have the same system on my Hobie 17SS. I got so frustrated I got a snorkel for the jib, and just leave it on all season. Good luck!

When you raise the jib and hook the hook to the ring you pull the jib back down slowly to hook it. To release it, you yank up and then down quickly. As you yank up the ring will go up slightly, then yank down quickly before the hook can attach back to the ring. You use one quick up and down motion, maybe like milking a cow? This is the same system as on my Prindle 19. I hope this makes sense to you.

Sounds like the same system that the Nacra Infusion had that I sailed in spring. I figured out that if I pushed up with the jib and then pulled down with the halyard at the same time it would release easy. I also had trouble hooking it before figuring out to push up on the jib and letting the halyard loose. Worked great both ways.

You have to make sure the 'S' hook is pointing the right way, otherwise its hard to hook or unhook the halyard. If pointing to the wind its generally easy. SOmetimes it helps to move the clew of the jib around and rotate it towards either bow.

My P19 came with a different set up cleating the halyard to the mast as the previous owner had lots of trouble with the system. I changed it and it has worked OK since.

All good tips from the others.

1. the hook faces towards the mast
2. I run the hook end of the halyard through the ring and the bitter end back down outside the ring. This helps you make sure the two ends are not twisted and makes untwisting much easier.
3. you should do a quick short down pu11 on the halyard followed immediately by a quick down pull on the tack of the sail. You can do 100 of these in a minute and one will get it.
4. Finally, learn the proper technique for fixing things up the mast. You pull on the trap wires while on the beach. Once the mast starts coming down you grab the shroud and walk it down putting a life jacket under the mast head to keep sand out. Do the opposite to put it back out holding on the trap and putting your foot on the hull to let it down easy. This is quick and easy, some do it to tune their battens before every sail.

Good luck.

Matt