Thanks FCD,
The vertical line from the topping lift down to the sail have some similarity with the Dutchmen system - but I am a bit at a loss to see how it works if the line does not go through all the way down to the boom? Would you have a picture by any chance?

A few folks around me seems happy with lazy jacks, but I more than occasionally find myself fighting with them on the hoist. So still looking at a better system...

Mark is happy with his full-batten. No need for ball bearing track. Opinion shared by Nick at North. So this is one thing down.

North's quote was so much higher than the price I saw discussed in this forum (more than $4000 for a Nordac main), than I am waiting on Doyle for theirs.