Cunningham

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This article is about the sailing term. For other uses, see Cunningham (disambiguation).

In sailing, a cunningham or cunningham's eye is a type of downhaul used on a Bermuda rigged sailboat to change the shape of a sail. It differs from a typical downhaul in the way that it attaches to the sail. The system usually consists of a line which is secured at one end to the mast or boom below the foot of the mainsail. It is then passed through a cringle in the luff of the sail near the foot, but above the tack, and then led down on the other side to a fitting on the mast or boom or on deck. By hauling or easing the line, the tension in the luff can be changed, which shifts the point of maximum draft of the sail forward or aft, optimizing sail shape—and therefore—performance. It is a fine control which is used more frequently on racing sailboats than on cruising or day-sailing boats.

It is named after its inventor, Briggs Swift Cunningham II, victorious America's Cup sailor and racecar enthusiast, driver, team owner, and racecar owner and builder. He began automobile racing after the close of World War II and continued in competition for twenty years.

By 1956 the Cunningham team was described as a dominant force in Sports Car Club of America, SCCA sanctioned sports car racing—a distinction it retained for the next decade. Automobiles built by the Cunningham team were raced, as well as, Jaguars, Maseratis, and Porsches in Gran Turismo, GT, and Formula One. Later automobiles of other manufacturers were raced also.

Image:Sebring layout.jpg Alfred Momo was the chief team mechanic. Drivers who were Cunningham racing team members or fellow drivers with Briggs Cunningham include, Lake Underwood, John Fitch, Phil Walters, Walt Hansgen, Stirling Moss, Bill Lloyd, Phil Walters, Mike Hawthorn, Sherwood Johnston, Bill Spear, Charlie Wallace, Ed Crawford, John Benett, Phil Forno, Russ Boss, Archie Scott-Brown, Ivor Bueb, Dick Thompson, Bill Kimberly, Augie Pabst, Bruce McLaren, Roger Penske, Denise McCluggage, Paul Richards, Bob Grossman, Fred Windridge, Dan Gurney, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, and Dick Thompson.

See the portion of the Sebring Raceway named for Cunningham on the accompanying illustration. The Briggs Cunningham collection of automobiles was turned into a museum and later, sold into another private collection.

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