GNAV v's Kicker

Chris,

Thanks for providing your info on the Scorp arrangement. I first saw it I think back when I sailed at Elton SC. during my uni days but have only come into contact with newish Scorps only 1 since then (The Speed Sails works boat from a couple of years ago) and it has a conventional kicker.

Anyway now I know my memory still works, I'll leave it at that.

Paul

They have always seemed somewhat like an answer to a question nobody asked to me. Finns only really have two controls you won't find on a laser, the inhaul and the centreboard pennant (admittedly the traveller control is a lot more sophsticated). It's just they are all handily lead to the same place. I think the kicker (which allegedly has it's origins in model yacht racing from way back when) was secondary to the traveller when small blocks and ropes weren't as good as they are now, so the traveller was the way to do it. This has now been superseded by all those lovely modern systems with strong light blocks and nice ropes, leaving us with the traveller based boats being the ones with a long history which has left them with low booms (Finn, Europe) and other boats where you can see where the traveller used to be (420's, Solos) but it has since been replaced with a bridle or a shorter traveller.
I digress, and have started rambling... Carry on...

Originally posted by Iain C I'd heard kickers were invented way back when in the early days of bermudan sloop racing...some chap had a wire one that he'd put on before the start and then take off at the end, no-one really saw it and everyone was wondering why he always served them up some whuupass....

You're thinking of Paul Elvstrøm, still officially the best Olympic Sailor ever- four golds beats three golds and a silver. He did indeed have a fully removable one to keep the invention secret.
---
off topic bit

He's also credited with inventing Toe Straps, the kick-down self bailer, and the Leeward Gate (instead of a single leeward mark).

off topic bit
---

Yes, I did notice his Wikipedia entry credited him with a few more innovations than he had claim to. Although that shouldn't detract from the ones he does have claim to.