ILCA kicker/vang top blocks - all you need to know!

Southeast Sailboats has driven innovation in the block that arguably makes the most difference on the ILCA. In the first of my new ‘Rigging Matters’ articles we look in depth at the growing range of ILCA/vang top blocks available.

Kicker/vang top blocks have come a long way. 10 years ago, the majority of sailors were using the Harken lower assembly with the Harken 466 top block. That was about to change in a big way.

Back in 2019, Southeast Sailboats started using a Dyneema strop/shackle and key arrangement on a 30mm Allen XHL block, and a Harken 29mm FLY block. Whilst this solution wasn’t exactly pretty, it was effective, massively reducing friction in the kicker system, so was clearly something that had real benefits.

To try and get to a better and more elegant solution, Southeast Sailboats asked both Harken and Allen if they would modify their blocks to integrate the kicker key. Allen said yes and in October 2019 the A2031-873XHL kicker/vang top block was born! Quite simply this block revolutionized kicker/vang ease of use, and it quickly became the block of choice for sailors who wanted to improve their system. Fast forward a few years and the Allen TiiTAN is born – using the same aluminium side cheeks but with a titanium sheave and ceramic bearings this offered the same sort of XHL performance but was 10% lighter.

Next up was Ronstan with the RF34108HLK. A more economical/simpler design meant that it was a cheaper block whilst still offering the ease of use benefits of high load top blocks. Sadly this block had an exposed sheave which meant that if you weren’t extremely careful with where you tied or spliced your primary, you could end up with a cut line! Ronstan released a modified design – the RF34118HLK - to enclose the sheave and at the same time added a useful becket. The becket makes it easier to attach the primary line as you can simply luggage tag on the primary line loop, rather than having to tie or splice the line.

Now, in November 2025, Harken has released their high load ILCA top block - the 1250.ILCA. Southeast Sailboats had some of the early prototypes back in mid-2024 for testing/design input and these prototypes have now been in use for over a year. Micky Beckett actually used one at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and if you look carefully at the YouTube video that I released last year that talked about the rigging on his boat that he was using at the Olympics you may notice that block! Because it was a hush-hush prototype we purposely didn’t mention it in the video. This new block is noticeably different in that it has a unique forged key for ultimate strength and a compact 25mm sheave.

We now have high load ILCA kicker/vang blocks from three major manufacturers. So how do they compare and would you notice any perceptible difference between them in actual use? The second question is probably the easiest to answer and I would think no – they will all perform well, but you may have your own brand/quality preferences. Where they do differ is in weight, sheave size/material, bearings and price. The following table summarises.

I hope that you found this article useful. I have a range of articles in the pipeline but if you have a topic that you would like me to cover in a future article drop me an email at max@southeastsailboats.co.uk