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You may consider that from the point of view of effort, simplicity and access to lines, a tiller offers many advantages over a wheel when single-handing. It is easy to steer with the knees (or the crack of one's rear!) while freeing both hands for winch work. Another aspect is physically reaching around a cockpit to make sure that you can reach everything easily...which argues for a fairly narrow, longer cockpit with a narrow bridgedeck. A strong set of long arms is the single-hander's friend. Also, of course, with a tiller you can use a simple extender and can sit on the high side coaming, greatly improving visibility and frankly, fun...as well as making checking the sail set a snap.
I would also suggest that the most effective foresail is a 100% blade decksweeper jib. With halyards led back and with a downhaul led the same way, a jib can be doused onto the deck quicker than it can be furled. This gives you the ability to tack cleanly but with an efficient sail shape. I can't tell you how much fun I have with my "blade-cut" No. 3 decksweeper...it's a great sail up to the 25 knot mark.
Does this mean going forward to put it away or to reef it to a jib tack hook? Yes, but I think on a 35 foot boat the ideal of "never leaving the cockpit" is both unnecessary and presents too many compromises in most situations.
I feel particularly for the single-hander, ease of access and function trumps issues like how the cockpit table deploys or will eight people fit under the bimini.
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