You are on the right track. For the answer go to uk.rec.sailing
and see my reply to the 'Reason why Columbia beat Sceptre'
thread.

Oz is clearly clueless.


"Peter S/Y Anicula" wrote in message ...
I'll have a guess at this one:
Because it allows you to have a bigger mainsail for the same
measured sailarea than if you used the halyard to the same
purpose.

Another advantage is that it is takes less power to tighten
the cunningham than it does to tighten the halyard. This
makes it usable on cruisers as well.

There are other factors but I don't think that matters much.
To mention one thing, it also stresses the leach if you use
the halyard, but that can be compensated by the tension of
the boom vang or by adjusting the traveller.

--
Peter S/Y Anicula



"Simple Simon" skrev i en meddelelse
...
Let's see if you are a real sailor and can answer this
question without looking up the answer.

Why was the Cunningham invented?




"Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
...
Briggs Swift Cunningham Jr. the captain of the winning
yacht in the 1958
America's Cup has passed on to the pearly gates. In 1958
he invented the
"cunningham"......
Amazing but true facts of sailing.

CM