I never have a problem raising my sail with the lazy jacks. The lazy jacks are stowed at the mast except when I want to drop the sail. Stowing them forward improves airflow over the sail without all those strings. With them stowed forward don't need a sail cover with all those extra cost ugly slots and velcro that you need if they are deployed all the time. Never understand why people insist on always having their lazy jacks flapping on the sail.