I emailed the rs people asking why they have copyed exising boats in their classes the reply was quite amusing email me to see it

how much has the rs400/200 /mrx affected the merlin-rocket?

The MRX was poorly timed really as it was unleashed on the unsuspecting world just as Winders started to produce their FRP boats and it was quite quickly killed off. The class exists in a small way at Wembley SC.

As for the 400/200, i'd say that the effect on the circuit/nationals was at best negligable. At club level there will have been an impact, but again the sudden availability of sensibly priced new boats led to a sudden availability of good competetive 2nd hand boats which led to the availability of good club racers etc etc.

Here at Gurnard there are two big classes of 200(30) & 400's (20-25) They all seem to like the one design out of the box easy initial rig aproach. the 200's have been very good for teenagers/parent-sons/daughter get racing approach. the 400's a bit varied some excellent sailors some bitten off more than they can chew then having there egos dented being caught & passed by medium h'cap & 200's
But all things considered it seems to have been good for thr club. Whilst my Merlin terns heads most clearly prefer to start on a level playing field or so they say.
There is also I should say an excellent fast h'cap group with all the usual suspects.