Roger Long wrote:

I always felt smug when I heard about this happening to people because
I am religious about halyard control. Today though, as I was
straightening up for raising sail as a family shore party returned
from exploring an island, I heard a little "snick" and looked up just
in time to see the free end of the halyard disappear into the mast.


Just one more reason to have external halyards.

Lew