Manfred Curry
Encyclopedia
Manfred Curry was a German born American scientist, physician, inventor, sailor and author. Born in Munich
, Germany
to American
parents.
An accomplished olympic yachtsman
he sailed more than 1400 regatta
s many of which he won. In later life he worked as a doctor specialising in bioclimatics and became the self-proclaimed discoverer of the pseudoscientific phenomenon of "geomagnetic lines" called the Curry Grid.
Manfred Curry wrote a pioneering book on yacht
aerodynamics
and racing tactics, published in several editions and several languages, describing how he studied sailing-boat
design scientifically, testing numerous rig configurations in the wind-tunnel at Göttingen
. The importance of his book within yachting has been described as having brought scientific sailboat design into the public eye. In the book, he describes several of his inventions or developments that are in widespread use today, including the fully battened mainsail, the Genoa jib
(so called because first used competitively in a regatta at Genoa) and the cam cleat
(Called the "Curryklemme" in German). He described two successful racing dinghies as well innovations used on an Americas Cup defending yacht. He was the most successful German yachtsman in history sailing in around 1400 races and winning more than 1000.
One of his dinghies, Aero, has recently been found and restored.
As a doctor specialising in bioclimatics and allergies he founded the American Bioclimatics Research Institute, this was renamed the Manfred Curry Clinic after his death. Curry also investigated the supposed allergenic properties of "earth radiation", a pseudoscientific
concept invented by him and his colleague Ernst Hartmann. "Earth Radiation" has never been accepted as a scientific field of study.
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
parents.
An accomplished olympic yachtsman
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
he sailed more than 1400 regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
s many of which he won. In later life he worked as a doctor specialising in bioclimatics and became the self-proclaimed discoverer of the pseudoscientific phenomenon of "geomagnetic lines" called the Curry Grid.
Manfred Curry wrote a pioneering book on yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
and racing tactics, published in several editions and several languages, describing how he studied sailing-boat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
design scientifically, testing numerous rig configurations in the wind-tunnel at Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. The importance of his book within yachting has been described as having brought scientific sailboat design into the public eye. In the book, he describes several of his inventions or developments that are in widespread use today, including the fully battened mainsail, the Genoa jib
Genoa (sail)
The genoa or jenny was originally referred to as the 'overlapping jib' or the Genoa jib, being named after the city of Genoa as explained below. It is a type of large jib or staysail used on bermuda rigged craft that overlaps the main sail, sometimes eliminating it. It is used on single-masted...
(so called because first used competitively in a regatta at Genoa) and the cam cleat
Cleat (nautical)
In nautical contexts, a cleat is a device for securing a rope. The traditional design is attached to a flat surface or a spar and features two “horns” extending parallel to the deck or the axis of the spar, resembling an anvil....
(Called the "Curryklemme" in German). He described two successful racing dinghies as well innovations used on an Americas Cup defending yacht. He was the most successful German yachtsman in history sailing in around 1400 races and winning more than 1000.
One of his dinghies, Aero, has recently been found and restored.
As a doctor specialising in bioclimatics and allergies he founded the American Bioclimatics Research Institute, this was renamed the Manfred Curry Clinic after his death. Curry also investigated the supposed allergenic properties of "earth radiation", a pseudoscientific
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
concept invented by him and his colleague Ernst Hartmann. "Earth Radiation" has never been accepted as a scientific field of study.