As always, a cruise around the forums of YachtsandYachting.com is a source of interest and amusement. Take the asymmetric versus symmetric spinnaker debate for example. There's nothing like an inflammatory comment to get the network buzzing, and on this occasion it was Y&Y.com user Redback's theorem about the inefficiency of symmetrical spinnakers. "Let's face it, the symmetrical kite does not increase the speed much unless you sail high enough that the pole has to be against the forestay," he commented, at 11.36pm. "So you might as well use an asymmetric and sail a boat which is optimised for one."

Maybe Redback thought he was safe making such rabble-rousing remarks in the dead of night. But the Y&Y.com forums are never quiet for long. Just 27 minutes later, at three minutes past midnight came the first of a barrage of responses, this one from Ian99. "Try sailing something like a GP or a Lark down a run without the spinnaker at the nationals, and you'll soon see that it increases the speed! With the exception of the properly fast boats with asymmetric spinnakers (RS800, B14, Musto Skiff etc) many of the ‘new breed' would actually be significantly faster in the majority of conditions we see in this country if they had a proper (symmetric) spinnaker on instead, as when going low in lighter winds you wouldn't be right on the edge of it collapsing all the time, as it would be possible to get it the right angle to the wind."

Ooooh! Now Ian99 is upping the ante calling a symmetrical spinnaker "proper". By that can we ascertain that an asymmetric is an "improper" spinnaker? He does have a point though, about the efficiency or otherwise of slower dinghies that carry asymmetrics. The asymmetric relies on high amounts of apparent wind to justify its efficiency as a racing sail. But then there are many new entry-level boats that have come on to the market with asymmetrics, presumably because of the ease of handling of the gennaker compared with a conventional spinnaker.

The ease of handling of these sails adds a whole other dimension to the asymm v symm debate, with some of the symmetric sailors pointing out just how much more challenging it is to gybe a conventional spinnaker, what with swapping the pole side to side and dealing with reaching hooks or twinning lines.

As a Fireball and Cherub sailor, IainC has good experience of both, although his online argument seems to speak in favour of the ‘proper' spinnaker, because it is more challenging. "With an asymmetric there really is not much to it. Up, down, in out and perhaps a blow-through and a gybe-drop. With a symmetrical, add twinning lines, reaching cleats, single- and double-ended poles, windward and leeward hoists, chuck hoists, pitchfork hoists, Israeli gybes, pole height and Aussie drops! That's before you've added tactics, angles, making sure everything is on the correct side for the first hoist and in fact do we or don't we fly the kite down this reach or not etc etc! Interesting fact too that most symmetrical kite sailors can do all that and also spell ‘symmetrical' but most asymmetric sailors can't actually spell asymmetric!"

Last word on this pointless but very entertaining subject has to go to ‘tack-ho', whose response to IainC was this: "That's a kite?!? I thought fireball sailors just enjoyed waving at each other on the runs with their hankies...coooooeeee heeelooo there Mavis." Touché...
A slightly more cerebral discussion within the forums was kicked off by Nemo's question, "Who has been the most influential person in the history of dinghy sailing?" An impossible question to answer, of course, but a few people had fun trying. My own thought would have been Bruce Kirby and Ian Bruce for designing the Laser, which more than anything has surely influenced the massive one-design, ready-to-sail trend of the past 30 years. But there are others whose knowledge of the history of dinghy sailing goes back a good deal further than mine, and so some interesting names came forward. JimC was first to reply with this shortlist:

1)      Uffa Fox (wrote the books that influenced everyone)

2)      John Spencer (started the lightweight revolution)

3)      Jack Holt (the dinghy boom boats)

4)      Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) 18s revolution, Contender and thus Laser

5)      Frank and Julian Bethwaite (new wave).

CT249 provides a veritable history lesson about all those who deserve mention in the development of the dinghy. While many forum visitors believe that whoever designed the first planing dinghy is worthy of great praise, no one seems to know who that is. If you have an idea about who was the first to develop - or take credit - for the planing dinghy then please write in and let us know.

For the record, Nemo - who kicked off this thread in the first place - offers this top five most influential people. "I figure the top five would have to be people whose influence has changed the way we all approach the sport," Nemo begins. "After much deliberation I have settled on the following (for now):

1. Uffa Fox - the leading light and most vocal member of the era that started the sport.

2. Jack Holt (with Beecher Moore) - the most popular designer during the 'golden' era. Introduced sailing to the masses.

3. Frank Bethwaite - started the NS14 class which has developed so many ideas, the Tasar, the 9ers (via his son), his book, his Olympic stuff etc

4. Paul Elvstrom - took sailing to the next level and has thereby influenced all subsequent training and coaching. His books, sails and bailer all survive too.

5. Bruce Kirby/Hobie Alter/ Ian Proctor - All designed iconic (and revolutionary) boats that sell by the bucket load. Proctor also popularised the aluminium mast and the plastic boat (although I have a feeling making the Topper from polypropylene wasn't his idea).

But I'll probably change my mind in five minutes..."

In the forum, most people have opted for designers as opposed to famous sailors, and it's good to see some recognition go to the people who develop the boats that we all get so much enjoyment from. However, for all-round influence on the sport as both a designer and sailor it has to be Nemo's No.4, Paul Elvstrom. I recently mentioned his helming-from-the-wire antics when he won the 505 Worlds in the 1950s, but aside from being a great sailor - winning four back-to-back Olympic titles in the Firefly and Finn classes - he was responsible for some things that are still very much in use today.

The Elvstrom self-bailer is an innovation it would be hard to imagine being without in many boats today. Except I suppose that if we all had to reach in and self-bail from time to time it might make a welcome break from hiking out over the side. Ah yes, hiking out. Who thought of that one? Well it was Elvstrom who is credited with inventing the toestrap. Imagine how popular the young Elvstrom must have been in the Finn class when everyone was quite happy to sit with their bums planted firmly on the gunnel. Sounds very civilised to me, but when Elvstrom started winning virtually every race of every championship as he hiked his way over the horizon, other sailors grudgingly started fitting their own toestraps.

So then he has to go one better, and he starts wearing a heavy jumper, the precursor to the dreaded weight jacket. That was an innovation that we could have all done without, and thankfully it was outlawed after the Olympics in 1996. The weight jacket is not one of Elvstrom's inventions that he would get much thanks for, but there's no doubting just how pervasive his influence has been as a sailor and an innovator. I've never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I hear he is a scholar and a gentleman, and he is credited with this quotation that surely says a lot about the man. "You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors."

One man who clearly earned a lot of respect at Burton Sailing Club was Ernie Hewkin, who passed away recently. Nick Mayes wrote this tribute to Ernie. "Ernie joined Burton Sailing Club in 1956, serving at all levels including Vice Commodore and twice, Commodore later becoming President. The Club originally sailed at Branston near Burton on Trent with fleets of Merlin Rockets and National 12s, and in the 1970s OKs began to be established. Ernie's Flying Fifteen ‘Hot Choc' was the Club's first Flying Fifteen and started what is now one of our most popular fleets.

"Ernie was one of a small team established to manage the move to Foremark reservoir where the club currently enjoys the best sailing in the area. Ernie has been instrumental in Burton Sailing Club's success and is much missed by all. The General Committee approached Ernie's wife, Sylvia with a proposal to hold an annual pursuit race in honour and remembrance of Ernie and his contribution to the club.

"The first Ernie Hewkin Memorial Pursuit Race was held at Foremark Reservoir on Sunday 16th July. There was a big turnout of 30 boats including Toppers, Picos, RS400, 505s and Flying Fifteens, which raced in very light and unpredictable winds.

The visiting Flying Fifteen helmed by Dave McKee and crewed by Ernie's son Chris Hewkin successfully picked their way through wind shifts and avoided the holes to steadily climb through the earlier starters to steal the lead in the race from Craig McCarthy sailing a Laser Radial with 10 minutes to go. The faster boats led by the 505 of Tim Bird and Damon Smith were closing fast but ran out of time before getting close enough to threaten the lead. It was very fitting that the winning boat was crewed by Chris Hewkin in this first race held in honour of his father."