With Thames barges, I was taught by an old experienced master the way to lash a topsail to a hoop, using marlene (a four stranded version of spunyarn and no unattainable). You cut a length about 6 feet long then, cow hitch the bight to the sail then put the ring in the middle of the two lengths and pass the ends over through the ring and the ends go back to the sail on the same side as they started. Pass the ends through the eyelet and repeat up and through the ring. Do this as much as possible then you wind the ends round the bight of the lashing and secure with a reef knot, This method provided you keep the ring at 90 degrees ti the sail, ensyures that the ring stays at 90 degrees always and does not allow the ring if the lashing slackens to become off angle and bind on the mast. Also as a note of interest old working masts using hoops on sails which were hoisted and lowered were never usually painted or varnished in working vessels as the mast coating made the rings bind on the mast, Thames barges always greased thier topmast because of this reason and were always bare wood.