Thom Stewart wrote:

Doug,

A Main Tops'l it will never be. A main Tops'l is flown from the main
mast, above the main sail.


Umm, Thom, take another look at the picture. It *is* flown
from the main mast, above the main sail.


It is a Staysail, it uses the stay between the tips of the masts.

No it doesn't. It flies from the backstay of the main mast.
The stay you are referring to is called the Triatic and any
sail that was hanked to it would be pulling backwards,
because of the slope from main mast head to mizzen.

Now, on a schooner, things are different. Because the aft
mast is taller, a sail can be set from the triatic and still
pull.

DSK