MERLIN ROCKET BOAT NAMES

Boat Names (395)

Do you have more information to add?
We would love to hear it so that the database keeps growing.
To add the thinking behind your boat name - amend an entry - add a photograph - suggest website links - correct a typo please email:- [email protected]

Latest additions to the list

20.04.23  -   3782 amended : 3809 & 3820 added
24.04.23  -   1572 added
10.07.23  -   3700 amended
26.09.23  -   3792 added
29.10.23  -   578 : 1313 added
01.11.23  -   3506 picture added  :  3816 & 3817 added
16.12.23  -   3641: 3694 : 3734 : 3770 : 3795 added
15.01.24  -   2933 & 3093 added

Hull #:
Boat Name:
12345678910
#Boat NameOriginal Owners(s) / CrewEtymology
[Person supplying information]
3586
Same Old Magic
Mike Fitzpatrick

[Kieron Mason]
Re-named:-
Shadowplay
Re-named by:-
Kieron Mason
Kieron acquired the boat after it had been in storage for some time. This had been less kind to the fittings and the majority needed replacement so another refurb was underway (see 3548). Kieron wanted to flip the trend for ‘traditional’ white waterlines and decided on black. He admired the very dark grey of 3743 so black and grey it was.
Belinda (his wife) and Kieron had spent many hours working late into the night as students listening to Joy Division and their track Shadowplay. Thoughts of this brought back memories and it seemed to fit the boat pretty well.

[Kieron Mason]
3587
Mitral
Ted Kington
Ted’s present to himself after major heart surgery which included the provision of new Mitral valves.

[Chris Martin]
Re-named:-
Mistral
Re-named by:-
Frank Fern
Frank thought the name on the boat had been mis-spelt and had it 'corrected'.
[Chris Martin]
3588
Merlinium
A boat built at the start of the 3rd millennium
[Peter Male]
3589
Fat Bottom Girl
Colin Brockbank
As we all know - boats are feminine.  Merlins have a wide beam and a flat(ish) bottom.  A play on words.
[Colin Brockbank]
3592
Boadicea
Judith Massey
Boadicea was perhaps the greatest of the Warrior Queens, and something of an inspiration for its lady owner.
[Graham Willianson]
3593
Insomnia
Richard Whitworth
A song to which Richard would listen prior to sailing to get him 'in the groove'.
[Richard Whitworth]
3594
Summit Fever
Phil Plumtree
Name taken from a book by Andrew Greig which focused on the addiction of mountaineers wanting to reach the top at all costs and the euphoria of the achievement.
 
Also the typeface of the cover was used by David Winder as a basis for the name on the side. 

[Phil Plumtree]
3597
Quidditch
Steve Crook
The boat was purchased at the time when Harry Potter was big box office. Merlin was a wizard and Quidditch is the game wizards play in Harry Potter .
[Steve Crook]
3598
Bah Humbug
Jim Hopton
After years of persevering with older boats Jim decided if couldn’t beat the owners of new boats he would join them.
[Chris Martin]
3599
Harry
John Harris
Named after John & Robert's father.
[Mike Liggett]
3601
Millennium Falcon
Will Rainey
In 2000, a new design was conceived over supper at the Looe championships. The film the Phantom Menace had been released the previous year and as a Star Wars fan - Will's next boat just had to be metallic silver and called Millennium Falcon, the fastest space ship in the galaxy. It was, after all, the year 2000 and a Merlin is a species of Falcon. A further twist in the theme is the now infamous port v starboard incident with Dave Winder in the boats first open meeting at Abersoch, when Will hit Dave (WIll's fault). Dave then called his new boat The Phantom Menace (3611).
[Will Rainey]
3604
Aunt Fanny
Laurence Tosh

[Year Book]
Re-named:-
Desafinado
Re-named by:-
Tim Barr
The name of a song written by Tom Jobim. The word means off key or out of tune.  -     Helm or boat?
[Tim Barr]
3606
Take it easy
Phil King
Alluding to the corny cowboy salutation (another reference to Kevin Driver's black hats) and the hope that the boat would do all the work.
[Phil King]
3608
The Shed
Phil Emery
Phil - an avid Chelsea supporter. The Shed - the home end at Stamford Bridge.
[Phil Emery]
3609
Time Lords
Graham Williamson & John Bell
A development of the 'Time' theme (3569), and an anagram of Old Timers. The boat was purchased at a point when John & Graham were consistent winners of the Centenary Trophy for a combined age over 100...
[Graham Willianson]
3610
Needlemakers
Paul Hollis
When purchased, Paul was the licencee of The Needlemakers Arms, Studley, Warks.
[Paul Hollis]
3611
The Phantom Menace
David Winder
The story continues from 3601. Dave was also a Star Wars fan and The Phantom Menace (Star Wars: Episode 1) was a film that had just been released. The Millennium Falcon (a silver boat) and The Phantom Menace (a black boat) are on different sides in the Galactic Republic.
[David Winder]
3613
Two Red Herrings
Paul Gilbert
Not known
Re-named:-  Alfred
Re-named by:-  Christopher Grosscurth
Named after the grandfather of Chris's wife
[Dan Kelly]
3615
Edgar
Andrew Hilton
Named in memory of grandfather.
[Andrew Hilton]
3617
---
Richard Estaugh
Richard did not name the boat
Nearly all Over
Matt Biggs & Dave Crockett
When purchased by Matt & Dave it was anticipated that Dave would soon have to give up sailing - however - see 3665
[Matt Biggs]
3619
Dark and Stormy
Richard Page
Richard had been taking part in a 'round the Island' race. This was followed by drinks in the Royal Corinthian YC. The crew from another boat started the group on 'Dark and Stormy'. A great time was had by all. The boat was named as a reminder of the memorable evening.
[Richard Page]
3620
Cool Cookie
Patrick Blake
Patrick had started a new theme for his boat names (see 3506). An alternative version of 'Smarty Pants' is sort of slang terms for attractive young women - after all boats are feminine. So he came up with 'Cool Cookie', it sort of followed on with a nod towards his home club at Cookham.
[Patrick Blake]
3625
Point Break
Richard Bramley
The term is taken from surfing. When two wave which are approaching at different angles collide, this results in a bigger wave. Name given by Lawrie Smart, who at the time, had just returned from surfing in Australia.
[Richard Bramley]
3626
Business as Usual
Mike Clavert
Following a theme from Mike's previous boat (3549). Having taken delivery of Unfinished Business Mike went on to win (in 2002) the National Championship. The hope was that the new boat would ensure continuing success.
[Mike Calvert]
3627
Snorter
John Cooper
A follow on from Snorting (3561) and Captain Snort (2710)
[John Cooper]
3629
Zero Gravity
Will Rainey
Getting the weight out of the ends of the boats was the theme of the day (Will considers that he went a bit far with this boat as it had 28kg of correctors).
Wishing to continue with the space theme, Zero Gravity (also metallic silver like Millennium Falcon 3601) was an obvious choice. Sadly, this was not Will's quickest boat.

Picture of the graphics supplied by John Tailby (12/21)

[Will Rainey]
3631
Scantily Clad
Named by the boat builder, Steve Neal, to reflect the minimal use of carbon fibre strands on her foredeck and front bulkhead.
[Ollie]
3634
Ministry of Pleasure
Phil King
A reference to the then prevalent 'Ministry of Sound' club culture and the hope that the ship would deliver happiness.
 

[Phil King]
3637
Delerium
Richard Whitworth
An upbeat song to which Richard would listen before going sailing.
[Richard Whitworth]
3639
Carbonator
Steve Leney
Prior to obtaining this boat Steve was sailing a wooden boat with an aluminium mast. He felt there was a considerable disadvantage compared with the newer boats with carbon 'bits' - hence 'Carbon (h)ater'.
[Steve Leney]
3640
Smart Tart
Patrick Blake
Patrick had a theme running (see 3506 - 3620). Following that theme but also giving recognition to the boat builder - Laurie Smart
[Patrick Blake]
3641
Puff the Magic Dragon
Steve Tyler
The story starts when Steve mislaid his mobile phone. It was known to be in the house, and his mother-in-law, who was visiting, dialled Steve's number. The ringing took the search party to the phone and in the lead was the mother in law. Picking up the phone she could not help noticing that the phone making the call was listed as the Dragon. The funny side was well understood.

At the time Steve was hoping to buy a new boat and this was aided (a little puff) with the help of the mother-in-law.

Puff the Magic Dragon was a song performed by Peter, Paul & Mary in the early 1960s. Puff lived by the sea and sailed with his friends on a boat with billowed sail.
[Steve Tyler]

3643
Moist
William Warren
The name was a result of dinner party silliness.
[William Warren]
3644
Poached Salmon
Duncan Salmon
Following the theme (3518 - 3575) - Duncan needed to upgrade to a Winder 4 but was having liquidity issues because of a recent house move. Fortunately, a house restoration fund was being accumulated to pay for essential repairs / updates to the 100 year old North London property. Cash was liberated from the fund and the boat called Poached as in 'to steal fish from another's property' as distinct from 'to cook in simmering hot water'. However when his wife found out, the latter was just as relevant. Dave Winder got the joke and the boats name was sign- written in medieval script to reflect the poaching reference.
[Duncan Salmon]
Re-named:-
Marleen
Re-named by:-
Jon Bloice
Jon acquired the nick name 'Boycie' - the character in 'Only Fools & Horses'. Boycie's wife was Marleen.
[Jon Bloice]
3645
Blue Velvet
Barry Morant
Named after the film
[Jeremy Deacon]
3646
Wuthering Heights
Miles James
Wuthering Heights - a romantic novel by Emily Bronte. Miles built the boat in the garden of his wife to be and the name was a statement of his feelings.
[Miles James]
3647
Mr Bright Side
Andy Davis
A song from the band 'The Killers'.
[Andy Davis]
Re-named:-
Liquid Dreams
Re-named by:-
Hywel Bowen Perkins (jnr)
For a long time Hywel had dreamed of owning a Winder Mk4, so when he finally got permission from his wife to buy the boat he got very excited - 'liquid dreams'.
[Hywel Bowen Perkins (jnr)]
3650
Headcase
Lawrence Tosh
At the time of buying the boat, Tosh lived in Looe. Whilst standing on the balcony of his house and wondering about the name, he got the insparation from the name above the hairdressers across the road.
[LawrenceTosh]
3651
Jupiter
Colin Brockbank
For Colin this was a reminder of his school days when, with his mates, lived in a fantasy world of 'Jupiter' - they were all 'Jupiterians'. A trip in to nostalgia.
[Colin Brockbank]
3652
Time & Tide
Graham Williamson
Further development of the 'Time' theme (3569 & 3609). Time & Tide, as we know, wait for no man but lead from the front!
[Graham Willianson]
3653
Artemis
Judith Massey
Artemis was another famous warrior queen (see 3592) - in this case the highly respected Greek goddess of hunting. Watch out chaps....
[Graham Willianson]
3654
Tales of Acapulco
Geoffrey Cox
Following the theme from a previous boat - 3476 - Tales of Marco Polo
[Kieron Mason]
3656
Wild Card
Rob Wilder
Bought with a bequest from his grandfather, Rob was only slightly known in the fleet, but felt the new boat would make him the Wild Card in the pack -  a good play on the family name.
[Graham Willianson]
Do you have more information to add?
We would love to hear it so that the database keeps growing.
To add the thinking behind your boat name - amend an entry - add a photograph - suggest website links - correct a typo please email:- [email protected]

 

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