Lou,
The topping lift line attaches to the tail end of the boom and runs to the  
top of the mast, through the pulley (masthead) and straight down to the deck,  
through some fair leads back to the cockpit. There are probably several  
variations on this, but this is a general description. When you raise the main  
sail, just loosen the topping lift line and leave it slack. Nothing to detach  
from the end of the boom.
 
Rummy



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