All us women know that European men are more sensitive than American men. Most of the men I know do not have a "feel" for the hook-and-ring system. It usually takes three people -- one to pull on the halyard, one to rotate the mast this way and that way, and one to squint up into the sun trying to see whether it is hooked or unhooked. Please come to the States and show us how to do it.

I don't know Mary.

All it took was once and I was no longer an inept as a hook-and-ring virgin anymore!

Hi Mary,

On our next visit to Florida I promise you we will visit you and Rick.
It probably will take a while because I intend to take my wife and son to Disney when our son reaches an age that he will remember the trip. Last week he had his second birthday.

I still have a terrible time trying to get my halyard ring hooked on my TheMightyHobie18 - I'm sure there's a trick I don't know yet. On the other hand, I've never had trouble with my 6.0na. At worse, it takes a second attempt to get it hooked - no problems and no crazy complicated rings either (just a round stainless ring).

I twist the halyard right before I attach it to the sail. I think the Hobie hook is on the right side of the mast, so you would turn the haylard about 10 turns counterclockwise and attach it to the sail. What it does is keep the ring from laying on the same side as the hook. Before you raise it next time play around with twisting and you'll see what I mean.