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]
3719
Re-named:-
Fluff 'n' Stuff
Renamed by:-
Jeremy Deacon
An abbreviation on the original name to avoid the bad luck associated with changing the name of a vessel.
[Jeremy Deacon]
3727
Fragile
Tim Fells
The boat was ordered from a hospital bed the morning after a back operation. Fragile is another track from an album by 'Yes'. Continuing a theme from a previous boat - 2737.
[Tim Fells]
3728
Volski Queen
Judith Massey
Continuing with the theme of warrior queens (3592 & 3653), this boat was named after Camilla, queen of the Volski, who was rumoured to be able to run on water.. Jude just couldn't call a boat Camilla....
[Graham Willianson]
3729
Shabazzle
Jon Turner
Jon considered the name sounded magical and if checked out 'on line' it has fantastic 21st century connotations.
[Jon Turner]
3730
Blood Sweat & Beers
Paul Hollis
Paul's wife originally suggested 'What are you doing down there again', however this did not find favour with Paul.
He decided to search an internet site that gave suggestions for boat names and selected this.

[Paul Hollis]
3731
Mayhem
Andy Jones
The naming follows a light hearted debate at a dinner party. Andy agreed that the expression reflected the way that he and his daughter - Maddie - sail.
[Andy Jones]
3732
Ben Rayner
Ben did not name the boat.
Nutwood Express
Alistair Glen

When Alistair met his future wife he was in the habit of wearing a chequered scarf in cold weather, somewhat (in her mind) similar to that worn by Rupert Bear. Her nick (pet) name for him ever since has been 'Rupert'. Alistair was looking for a boat name that contained an element of speed, humour and warmth. 'Nutwood', being the town were Rupert lived and had his smashing adventures with his chums together with 'Express' seemed to be the perfect mix.
[Alistair Glen]
2 Planks
John Cooper
John & his crew Becci had been sailing RS400's for 18 years when they were encouraged to buy a Merlin. They wondered if they were been a couple of planks to do so. The inspiration for the artwork came from an Eric Sykes film "The Plank".
[John Cooper (Lymington Town)]
3733
The Dark Side
Tom Stewart
A dark grey boat.
[Year Book]
Re-named:-
Smokey
Re-named by:-
Nick Simmons
A dark grey boat (a smokey colour). Sailed by .........  The inspiration for the name came from the film "Smokey & the Bandit".
[Nick Simmons]
3734
The Black Boat
Philip Ashworth
The first completely black boat in the fleet.
[Philip Ashworth]
3735
Clone Wars
David Winder
Continuing a theme - see 3611 & 3662. Another boat out of the mold. Clone Wars was an animated series made for TV
[David Winder]
3736
Metachrosis
Graham Williamson
All Graham's previous Winder boats had been purple, without any issues, but at the 2011 nationals he was called OCS, and the only evidence to support it was a comment that "the purple boat is close to the line". Graham decided that it was time to get a blue boat, like so many others. Metachrosis is the process of changing colour to blend in.
[Graham Willianson]
3738
Superfast Jellyfish
Simon Blake
A protest song - Lyrics refer to Neptune and water breathers.
[Simon Blake]
3739
Dory
Ben McGrane
The inspiration for the name came from the film "Finding Nemo". Dory is a Regal blue tang (fish).
[Ben McGrane]
3740
Why Ask
Patrick Blake
Partrick was running out of names that followed his theme (see 3506 - 3620 - 3640 - 3676) without getting too risque; He considered that maybe 'Blue Rinse' might be more appropriate!
He was on holiday in the West Indies when I saw a traditional racing boat in Bequia called 'Why Ask'. He thought that this was a good name and maybe the start of a new theme.

[Patrick Blake]
3741
Bear Necessities
Simon Lytton
Simon and Jackie lived in California for several years and took inspiration from the State Flag of California (the Bear Republic), along with the bear theme from Simon's old Fireball.
[Simon Lytton]
3743
Pokin the Turtle
Matt Biggs 
A name chosen by his children, who knowing the vernacular meaning of the expression, found in very ammusing when they heard "no pokin the turtle" been shouted by the warden on the beach at a turtle colony.
[Matt Biggs]
3744
Mylo Xyloto
Chris Martin
A name sake (Chris Martin) was the co-founder of a band called Cold Play. In late 2011 they produced an album called 'Mylo Xyloto'.
[Chris Martin]
3745
Where's Wooster
Steve Cockerill

Re-named:-
Outnumbered
Re-named by:-
Simon Hoult

There can only be speculation about the new name. Simon had 3 children so it’s possible he renamed it after the TV comedy about 3 children and their beleaguered parents. The third owner was Paul Dean and he also had 3 children so this seemed apt and the name was retained.

Paul had previously owned 3371 Encore Fume and shortly after he bought Outnumbered someone asked if the boat was named after the fact he had been one of the last people at Wembley to own a wooden boat and hence felt “outnumbered” and had bought a plastic one. Maybe………!!!?

[Paul Dean]
3749
Stanley
Nick Craig
The name was chosen by his children but Nick was not sure why.
[Nick Craig]
3751
Strings Attached
Tony Johnson
A family boat - but with conditions such as it would be available for Tony to sail at Salcombe week.
[Tony Johnson]
Re-named:-
Narnia
Re-named by:-
Hew Reynolds
Narnia  -  a fictional land, the Kingdom of Aslan in CS Lewis’s The lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. The original 1980’s series was televised on a Sunday afternoon in winter and was a particular favourite of Huw’s daughters.

[Hew Reynolds]
3752
The Empire Strikes Back
Will Rainey
Will decided that it was now time to go back to Star Wars theme (The Force Awakens was in production). Following his port v starboard incident at Abersoch (see 3601), "The Empire Strikes Back" just seemed very appropriate.
[Will Rainey]
3754
Didley Pokey
Jon Gorringe
A follow on from Jon's previous boat (3712). There is a welsh expression that goes:- Oakey Dokey - Didley Pokey.
This name therefore had to follow from the previous boat.

[Jon Gorringe]
3755
Tickled Pink
Peter Jackson
At the time that Peter bought the boat he had just split up with his long term girlfriend and had just benefitted from an endowerment policy. He as 'tickled pink' with his good luck.
[Peter Jackson]
3756
Robert
William Warren
Named after a small boy who was being unfairly, verbally abused by his parents whilst skiing in Verbier. William felt very sorry for him and his idiot antics. The boat was named as a tribute to the underdog and his own idiotic tendencies on the racecourse.
[William Warren]
3757
Space Hopper
Richard Domoney

[Year Book]
Renamed:-
To the moon & back
Re-named by:-
Andy Postle
Name chosen by Andy's daughter. Rockets go to the moon and back.
[Andy Postle]
Returned to original name:- Space Hopper
Re-named by:-                Tim Parsons

[Tim Parsons]
3759
Red Mistress
Sam Pascoe
Sam had a history of buying red boats. When he optained this boat he had just returned from honeymoon. His first thought was to name the boat 'Ball & Chain', but this was not approved. Finally 'Red Mistress' was approved.
[Sam Pascoe]
3760
Arbuckle
Mark Reddington
Mark's introduction to sailing was when his wife bought him a catamaran called Garfield as a surprise present. All boats since have been named after Garfield characters. Arbuckle is Garfields owner.
[Mark Reddington]
3761
Beast Quest
A series of books for children where decisions have to be made and these then effect the outcome of the story.
[Peter Male]
3762
RIMONIN
Malcolm Hyams
A rimonin as a grapefruit, which is a slang expression for a grenade. It was considered that this suited Malcolm style of aggressive sailing.
[Malcolm Hyams]
3763
Dancing (Smiffy) Brave
Mark Barnes
The boat colour scheme and name comes from Paul Smith who should have been the crew, but sadly died of Leukemia in December 2013. Paul had trained as a ballet dancer and Mark used to do a lot of Jive dancing, the name was thought to be appropriate. The 'Smiffy' in brackets is all about Paul.
(Dancing Brave was also a successful racehouse)

[Mark Barnes]
3764
Fancy Liquor
Tim Fells
Tim named this boat in memory of his double champs winning Lark (1993 & 1997). It is the punch line from and old joke..."I call my man Southern Comfort"
[Tim Fells]
3765
Three Dee
Richard Dee
Richard was the third child of the family. He had three children. At the time Richard purchased the boat he could not see in '3-D' because of an eye defect.
[Richard Dee]
3766
The Bear
Andy Dalby
After many years of racing around Salcombe and other events neck and neck with Duncan Salmon, Andy decided to create a very subtle practical joke for him. He copied the boat colour and font of 3702 - to make 'The Bear', in order to chase the Salmons.  3766 & 3702 have identical top colour but 'Salmon en Croute' has a salmon pink bottom plank and 'The Bear' has a golden/brown plank.
Duncan's wife even had a special trophy (of a salmon) commissioned for the winner of 'The Salmon Steaks'! (The Notice of Race for this event has not been published. Peter Male)

[Andy Dalby]
3767
One Love
Ben Archer
A Bob Marley song
 
.....lets get together ............... feel alright.........

[Ben Archer]
3769
Disciple
Graham Cranford Smith
Sailing is altar on Sundays. Graham realised they they were never going to walk on water and tended to follow.
[Graham Cranford Smith]
3770
Shiny
David Hayes
Just because it was a shiny boat.
[David Hayes]
3771
Skip
Richard Pausey
Richard was a roofing contractor, who, when trying to find room to keep his new boat, had to move a skip to create the space.
[Lawrie Smart]
3772
Velella
Phil Emery
A 'by the wind sailor' jellyfish. They are in the same species group as the Portuguese Man of War (A nick name for Jose Mourinho, Chelsea manager). A continuation of the Chelsea FC theme (3608, 3657 & 3700).
[Phil Emery]
3773
Number Thirty Four
Alan Warren
Alan's 34th Merlin.
[Graham Cranford Smith]
3774
Panther
Jon Turner
This was the first boat out of Jon's new mould and to ring the changes it was decided to have it black. It was unprecedented for Jon to have a black boat.
[Jon Turner]
3775
Night Fury
Tom Pygall
Inspiration for the name came from the animated film 'How  to train your dragon' - which was based up on a series of books.
The Night Fury is a Strike Class dragon  - "Speed: Unknown. Size: Unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this Dragon."

[Tom Pygall]
3776
Messy Monty
Nick Craig
Named by Nick's children. A cartoon character - small brown dog.
[Nick Craig]
3777
Mockingjay
Simon Potts
A starting point is the view that all boats should have a girls name. Simon also wished to name it after a character with good personality. Two female characters of the time came to mind - Khalessi (in Games of Thornes) and Catins Everdeen (in The Hunger Games). At the start of Games of Thornes - Khalessi comes over as a bit of a wet so was rejected. With regard to Catins, Simon was worried that chavs might call their children Catins & did not want a boat with the same name as chav's kids The boat is called Mockingjay because it is the symbol used by Catnis in the film - and Jay - for short - is still a real name.
[Ally Martin]
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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