Colin's comments about the topping lift had me smiling wryly, and also sympathetically, because I had, and have, similar 'problems' with the double topping lift on Cavatina: albeit worth living with and overcoming because the double TL is such an improvement for sailing and, with my JR, reefing. Perhaps my setup is different in that the TL passes under the boom about 40 cm inboard from the clew in order to contain the bundle of sail plus batten(s) when reefing. Difficult to describe and I don't know whether Colin and others can follow, but when unstepping I have to lift the mast out and lower the heel towards the stern in such a way that it passes between the two lifts; and ditto when stepping. Otherwise, as Colin says, the TL is twisted and for me it's a major exercise to sort it out. Practice makes perfect - I hope.
I also strongly identified with Colin's '15 metres is just enough' experience. Having completely re-rigged one boat and rigged another from scratch, I quickly discovered that estimating the needed length of a rope a metre too short probably makes the whole thing useless, which becomes expensive. So one errs on the generous side, which is fine but can add up cost-wise as well, particularly for things like halyards and sheets. I now have a whole boxful of 2 - 3 metre lengths of allsortsofrope which I still hope may somehow, someday be just what I need for some as yet unidentified domestic/gardening/equine use (even my wife's gee-gee hasn't been much help in this regard). It's a sort of maritime Murphy's Law, which I think should have an appropriate name, but I can't think of one. Answers on a postcard.....?
Perhaps Tony can help. He likes string.
Michael (Cavatina)