I just remembered why the photo I labeled as NOT the way to do it [above] worked ... there is a loop on the end of the lifting arm through which a line locks it in place and runs down the mast and was tied onto one of the turning blocks near the bottom of the mast ... this locks the loop from slipping up and disconnecting the lower shrouds. once that line to the bottom of the mast is loosened, with a couple of flips loosens the loop around the mast which then slips down the mast.
