Scott,
I wouldn’t worry too much about that  -  I have found that I get away with most things on junkrigs. The very first blue, cambered panel sail I made for my Malena, in 1994 (NL 30), had full-length batten pockets, so there were no gaps for tying on the batten parrels or Hong Kong parrels.
I didn’t worry about that  -  that was an experimental sail, and not expected to last, so I just burned holes with a solder iron to fit the batten parrels. That worked fine, no problem.

So just keep up the good work!

Arne

PS: That 'experimental sail' was in full use for 16-17 seasons...

Thanks for the encouragement, Andrew.

I do not actually have a mast, or mast step, or tabernacle yet. The boat is still in winter storage. It may be some time before I can actually hoist the sail. I would really like to be sailing under a junk rig before the end of this summer. I am not sure if that is a realistic goal.

I attached the last of the aft batten pockets yesterday. Next up is marking and cutting out the pockets that will go near the mast.

I may have been running my butane hot knife too hot, or pushing on it too much, or maybe it is just not intended to last forever. The hot knife tip bent and tore apart at the threads. I thought I would need to use a reverse drill bit to remove the threads. Fortunately after it cooled down I was able to unscrew it normally.

Not shown in the photos: I have a big jar full of used basting staples. I spilled the whole thing all over the carpet. I am not sure I will ever find all of them. Always an adventure.

Thank you for the positive responses David and Arne.

If anyone is interested -- I am slowing making some progress. I attached loops along the head of the sail and put larger loops on the four corners. Shown in the photo is my second attempt making the loop for the yard at the luff. I am still not sure it will work but I don't really feel like trying again at the moment.

One day I lifted the sail while I was standing on one of the tell tails and it popped right off. Darn. I will need to find a way to reattach this.

I have been sewing on the aft batten pockets. I have 4 of the 6 stitched on.

Scott, it's the stitching that needs protection from the battens, not the cloth. It's quite in order to have an unfinished edge of cloth inside a batten pocket. If you're doing your pockets according to Arne's method, I just don't see a problem at all. The Weathermax 80 that I used for a sailcover is not at all inclined to fray when scissor cut, so I don't suppose that Weathermax 65 is particularly vulnerable.

Don't worry, be happy!

Arne,

I am planning to add 'pocket gap cover strips' near the luff and leach. I am also planning to use 'marine vinyl' for batten pockets near the mast and the Weathermax 65 for pockets aft of the mast. The aft pockets will be cut with a hot knife.

Even with everything above I think the battens in the pockets will wear on the raw fabric edge that was cut with pinking shears.