Hi Dave,
On our wayfarer we use a cascade system – the loop on the halyard just reaches the hook so we don’t have to pull on the forestay at all, and then once hooked up it is very easy to pull to the right tension We inherited the system with the boat but, having suffered with a stiff muscle box on a previous boat, would always use this system. We can even pull on or let off tension according to the conditions while we are out sailing.
Being completely non-technical I can only tell you that there are several pulleys involved and the whole is anchored under the thwart but I could find out if you are interested.
just for interest we also have a similar but one pulley system for the main halyard which saves snagging fingers on those rack things usually put onto the mast.