I live in Okinawa,Japan and just completed a 14 month renovation of my 1978 HC 33. During the renovation, I ordered a new main sail from the U.S. that came in with the wrong lugs that did not fit the mast groove. It was more cost effective to use the lugs off the old main and have them sewn on the new main by the local sail loft. Not knowing any better at the time, I now find it less than easy raising the main from the cockpit. The old lugs have a metal fitting making it possible to sew them to the luff of the main. This creates a metal-on-metal situation at the mast groove. The new main has partial battens. Does anyone have a suggestion that fits my situation, that will make raising and lowering the main easier? I am willing to change out the lugs if there is something out there in sailboat-land that would work better. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.