Perhaps even before he did the Tremolino. Newick is a great designer but his latest designs and the New Moon design is aimed too much at top speed and windward ability. Reinventing the wheel comes up a lot. Every boat in Capt Len's quiver is a reinvention of work that preceeded him. It is the same with any designer.
True invention is rare.
I intend to borrow as much as I can from proven designers. I am not, in fact, reinventing the wheel, I am reusing the wheel. It will weigh less. It will rig faster. It will sail as well or better.