Jake - thanks for the quick response.
So, heretofore, I have been keeping maximum tension on the halyard while trying to rotate, and the rotation has definitely been 90 deg. It has been a two-person job for sure.
I gather from what you say, that your sail will actually sort of stay put at a height above the "locking" height - until you pull down on the downhaul?
I will try to do what you suggest, but I think I'm also going to pull the sail up the track while the mast is down to get a look at what types of clearances I've got. I may have too big a knot too far up the halyard, and be jamming into the sheave.
I was so desparate the last attempt, that I'd attached a length of 1/8 in. line to the ring in an attempt to be able to have crew pull the ring off to the opposite side while I was rotating the mast. No joy.
Thanks!
Scott