Experiments began with fitting an asymettric spinnaker to the IC in the late 1990s. This development was led by Rob Michael of Razorback boats. The most commonly fitted system for hoisting and dropping the kite fitted uses "pump" handles rather than a direct pull on the line. Its a very effective system when well maintained and has been influential on other classes: the RS700 being an obvious example. The AC has evolved to use a very large spinnaker, often 20sqm or more, and tends to sail quite deep angles. The spinnaker equipped boats carry a large letter A at the mainsail leech, but continue to use the IC logo, and predictably became known as "ACs".
The AC proved very popular in the UK, and in the first decade of the 21st century was sailed in greater numbers than the IC. However, perhaps due to the absence of Rob Michael's enthusiasm, committment and support, only a few were built in the other Canoe sailing countries.
By 2008 it seemed that the AC was not destined to gain wide international acceptance. Building of spinnaker-free boats had somewhat stagnated though, and Steve Clark of the US introduced a proposal to return the rule set of the two sail boats to essentially that of 1934, but with a much lower minimum weight. The theory behind the chosen weight was that the 1934 limit was near but not at the limits of the technology of the time, so the new limit was set near but not at the limits possible in 2008. The proposed rule set was worked up in public with much international input, notably from Andy Paterson in the UK, who had been responsible for developing the modern narrow International Moth. The revised rule set was adopted by the ICF in 2009.
Early developments saw a great variety of shapes, especially in the stern treatment, which varied from a wide and powerful stern hitting the limits of the rule to very fine moth like sterns. Other than that the general theme was for boats which are close to the limits of minimum waterline beam and much finer in the bows that previous generations of canoes. Its interesting that everyone seemed to building minimum beam boats. The one design Nethercott, in common with many UK designs, was not at the minimums of the rules prevailing when it was designed, and history seems to point to a number of occasions when wider boats were faster than narrow ones. A few single sail boats were tried, but the mast height restriction seems to limit the effectiveness of such rigs. Andy Paterson built a very minimalist single sail boat which came out 40kg, 20% under the minimum weight limit which was important in establishing the credibility of the new limit. Another important influence was Phil Stevenson of Australia, like Paterson and ex Moth sailor, who built a stressed or tortured ply boat which was also down to the minimum weight. His technique involves using expanded polystyrene foam internal bulkheads which do not create such extreme hard points as conventional timber framing.
Chris Maas, from West Coast USA, won the first two World Championships for the new boats, with Canoes that had a powerful stern to the limits of the rule.
© Jim Champ/International Canoe Federation 2012
Many contributors to the International Canoe Forum and personal experience.
Image: Canoes starting at the 2008 Billy No Mates. From Left, Gareth Caldwell, Robin Wood, John Nixon. © James Close, JEC Creative.
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