Years ago, I heard someone describe a similar setup without a tiller. The line from the true tiller was just routed all the way around the rail on blocks, crossing the foredeck. There was a bungee cord from the stem fitting to this line to keep it in tension. You would have to bend over and yank on the line by hand, so it's not quite as slick as Dan's auxiliary tiller.
I tried this idea once; it didn't work particularly well for me. With more attention to reducing friction it would have been better.
Max