[quote=UFgator]Robert has it right. If you're having difficulty raising your sail it's probably one of two things. If you mast is rigged with a sail guide where you insert the sail into the mast luff track. These things are notoriously bad about binding the bolt rope along the luff side of the sail. You can remove it and it helps. But be carefull raise the sail slowly as to not damage it by pulling up too quickly.
The second most common problem and I have this from time to time is getting the nicopress caught on the halyard hook. When your mast is down take a close look at the halyard and mast head. There are two nicopress fittings, the plug looking thing on the halyard wire near the top end. These are used to stop the halyard from falling back and lowering the sail. One is for reefing or partially lowering and the other is for full sail. On the front side of your mast just below the mast head there is a bracket with an angeled v notch. This is where that nicopress will stop.
When you raise your sail you will most likely be standing right in front of the mast. If you pull straight down the halyard wire will want to follow in that grove on the halyard hook. As your pulling up it will stop when the first nicopress hits the top of that hook. You need to step away from the mast as you raise the sail. Like Robert said about 35 degrees. pull the halyard slowly and watch the cable come out of the mast head. Have someone guide the sail into the track as you do this. You'll see the nicopress fitting as it comes around the head. Once the sail is fully raised you'll see the second nicopress. While pulling the halyard down guide the halyard wire against the front of the mast and try to put it in the halyard hook. Slowly release tension on the halyard and the top nicropress will stop in the hook. The halyard will become limp and then you can tie it off on the mast halyard cleat.
If you pull the halyard while the mast is down you can get an idea of what kind of angle it takes to keep the nicopress fitting from striking the top of the halyard hook thus causing your problem. It takes some practice and some getting used to but once you find your own technique you be doing this blind.
Good luck and don't give up. [/quote]
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