it's all at the forward end of the short track and just back of the shrouds ... so far blade sheets blow over the top without a problem ... we have a roller furling kicking the blade foot probably 7 in. higher than you would normally see it. but this position seems to work for blade shape.
The pole is always left rigged as that is standard part of our day sailing. The ring seems to be easier for crew to attach to when anchoring the pole lift into the jaws. we get a lot of rotating crew during the season so making it easy is our point.
What I didn't show when at the slip, there is more attached to that ring ... two snapshackles that hold the front edge of two fenders. the tails of those fenders are looped on the Launch Cleat ... which when in Newport was good to have as the launch drivers like to rope on to stanchions not necessarily at the base.
