Monte,

Do you take the jib sheet around the bridle and then tie it to the forestay? I can't quite picture otherwise, how the jib sheet would hold the forestay to hold the mast up.

One advantage of using the jib halyard and a piece of line, is that when the mast is up and the halyard cleated, the forestay is loose and easy to handle. It usually is very easy then to pin to the adjuster especially with the bridle held up in place.

Your folding ladder sounds like a good idea. I use 3 aluminum tent poles that I drilled and tied with line to make a tripod.

Howard