This interesting debate is getting lost on the end of Shoreham Open, so I have restarted it.  To recap, Chairman, Ancient Geek, Pat Blake and myself seem to agree with the conclusion which is the title of this thread.  Promoting the Merlin as a handicap racing boat is an evolutionary dead-end.  (If you don't understand, look at the earlier thread - I'm not going to do all the work)

The issue then is this.  A large number of active club members (including 100% of the Scottish contingent) belong to clubs where MR class racing is not a current option.  An even larger number of potential members are presumably in the same position. What's the strategy for supporting growth in clubs where an MR class does not exist?  How does the class as a whole spread the word amongst the heathen?

A decent poster?
Promotion of the website?
The occasional travellers' event at non-MR clubs?
Links between 'Try a Merlin' and sailing schools?

Ideas?

I'm a huge fan of class racing and remember the days when 26 merlins would turn out Sat and Sun at Shoreham ( early 60's ) - it was why I joined !! Those days will unfortunately never return 'cos there are too many classes to choose from . The Silver Tiller circuit ( of which I was fixture sec for many years )is both the best and worst feature of the Merlin class . If one was considering joining Shoreham now one would only buy a Merlin if one was prepared to travel half the weekends ' cos on those weekends one might have only one other merlin to race against - if you wanted class racing on a regular basis at Shoreham then you would have to look at one of the classes with a regular turn-out of six or more . I'm sure this applies to other clubs too so while I would love to think that the future is class racing I can't see the good old days returning for the Merlin class until more of the top sailors promote the class at their home club - and even then there is a mass of highly marketed  , inferior competition

At Tamesis we have a strict policy of only allowing racing in the following classes Merlins, Fireflies, Lasers and National 18s (got to have something for the old boys!). Our Merlin fleet has grown over the last few years and our winter series just seems to get bigger each year.. While the sailing isn't the best the racing is great with club sailors able to purchase an old narrow boat for no much money they can still give us with the new boats a good race in the light winds..

Do potential members ever look at the Tamesis class list, then go elsewhere?

The Silver Tiller doesnt last all year - you have 5 months of club racing, honing your skills in the cold conditions!

At Hampton we haven't got a strict policy.  What has happened is that the Enterprises came out of the handicap start to have their own class start and now the Lasers have gone back with the handicap as there are no longer enough to justify their own start.  The Merlins have had a class start for a very long time & are still the largest class in the club tho we do get smaller fleets in the Silver Tiller season (& Mervyn is off with the Vintage wing)

People will move classes and clubs to get the racing they want if they are keen enough, I wouldn't ever really want to go handicap racing

Mags - I suspect we may lose some potenial members but on the whole it seems to encourage members who do join to race in one of the clubs classes. We do have members with other boats who just sail on the river but its mainly a racing club.. I don't really sail at Tammy in the summer myself as I do the opens etc also you find a lot of members sail other classes as well or go yachting in the summer.. Though we still seem to get up to 10 boats in the merlins during the summer.. Not sure what the average has been this season..

Mags- Forgot to mention one of the great things about river racing in the winter is that you just tip your boat over the edge and don't even get your feet wet when launching!!

The issues are simple if you want more customers find out what they want and give it to them.  Possibly simplify the boat, where possible reduce the cost and provide something special, as that is what a Merlin is, but make it more accessable.  I know they are cheap second hand but if you want to compete it is still a big cheque.

This price issue has been around since the class began, indeed there used to be a price limit, however the price of a new boat is still in retail price terms more or less where it has always been - the price of a small new family car or a good used mid sized car - (more or less). Shoreham had its steady 20+ in the Summer; Ranelagh the same and more, Hamble, Bristol Corinthian the Northern and midland Clubs much the same; (The Silver Tiller attracted as much interest then as it does now.), all winter; I'm not sure there is an answer as Alan Chaplin says(As an actuary his analysis will be better than most!), it's the proliferation of similar classes. Now here's an idea - I'm not sure I mean this!- that as the class was an amalagamation, perhaps a few with some time to spare, might approach some of these 14' classes to see if there is any synchronicity and they could be allowed to join the MR (MRX?)+ (RS?)of course it might mean a move to smooth skin for the class but the National 12's managed it. The concept of a 14' two person hiking dinghy that is versatile and responsive and thus fun to sail has universal appeal or it would not have so many copies inferior or not. Having said this I doubt the idea has legs simply because of the commercial implications from the commercialy sponsored classes. BUT it might give the class some more oxygen and even; once they've seen Nirvana; encourage those in the cheap imitations and copies to buy the real thing, after all Virgin and Own Brand Colas are not as polular as.....
are they, despite the price. I doubt I'll live to see it happen but it will.

I couldn't agree more with the ancient geek - whoever he is!
There have now been several 'one-design' classes based on the brilliant and perfect concept of the 'restricted' combination of the Merlin and Rocket.
Eventually we should accept RS400's, MRX's and Larks back to sail with our superceded Merlins in 'classic' events.

As both Lark and Merlin Rocket sailors we prefer class racing or at least racing against other boats of the same class within a handicap race. Our home club lake is small and a typical course consists of short legs zig-zagging down the lake which are generally too short and tight to use the spinnaker but ideal for the Lasers and, because of their handicap, the Y.W. Day Boats.
There are no class starts so any class racing is within the handicap or pursuit races. 
In order to enjoy class racing we travel to open meetings and in winter join a more distant club with class starts for the Lark. Taking winter membership together at a few venues seems to be the way the Lark class is going, how about the Merlins trying it?
Despite the lack of class racing we have 9 Merlins in the club, only one of which is later than 2900. Quite a few members travel and many of us, including 3 or 4 Merlins, will be at the CVRDA (Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy) Roadford event over August Bank Holiday. Big lake, clean winds, on site camping and lots of space for the spinnaker. See www.cvrda.org.uk for details!

Lady newcomer, welcome!

You don't let on whence you hail, but if you are a southern softie you could take part in the Chichester Snowflake at which we get a great concentration of Merlins.  It is mass start handicap racing but the water suits Merlins better than most other boats so we tend to get a pretty clear run at racing in class.  The class usually does well, to the disgruntlement of the other classes, and there are occasional gripes about the handicap, but it just so happens that a fair proportion of the top fifteen at champs end up sailing there, so CSF may have something to do with it!!

In years gone by there was a strong concentration at Queen Mary over the winter, but fresh water freezes much more readily than the tidal version, and ice yachting a Merlin is a much less attractive proposition.  I don't think there are any Merlins to speak of at QM now...

If you are in the general area of Chichester Harbour, you would be very welcome.  First race this year on 6th November... full programme to follow.

GGGGGGGGG

Last winter I remember at least 5 clubs opened their doors for a small fee, to encourage larger Merlin fleets.

This has always been the norm Ranelagh for instance used to have a regular winter turn out of 20+ boats every sailing weekend, and mid week summer racing too - I recall - depending upon the tides, the varying start times encourage people to have a life outside of sailing, the hot showers and excellent home cooked lunches and a flexible attitude to drinking times were all pluses, this may not be connected; but in the mid 60's when the club was being made more comfortable for non-sailors Graham Donald predicted that it would be the end of Sailing as he knew it at Ranelagh because it would be more comfortable to stay ashore than go racing. Certainly from 1970 onwards fleets diminished there were probably other factors at play too, but it is I think a supportable thesis that Sailing Clubs are that not social clubs, counties that in proportion to their population do far far better then the UK in international competition in many casess make do with the local public conveniences and inn for on shore facilities, but they have good slipways erxcellent courses and user friendly programmes. The Hellerup sejl Klub for instance in the norhern suburbs of Kjobenhavn has limited fascities but a small harbour, cranes and slipways and 16 Gold Medals. 16 silver and  Many Bronzes from Olympics since 1948 countless World Titles too. They run a mid week series starting at 19.00 every night and regattas all summer, winter sailing is chilly but well supported. The Oresund hasn't frozen over since 1962-3!
The Danish National authority has also deliberately restricted the number of classes,(Only three youth classes for instance.)as have others but they have rather more authoritarian regimes sailing wise!
They seem to want to go racing and an evening race just means I was "late at the office" darling!
Things are more pressurised the distances greater and the travel times rather more in the UK but surely QM for instance would be within the remitt of more than a few? But again its too many inferior copies  and commercial groups like the RS's leading to a diluted pool that makes class racing increasingly hard to find.

The way to encourage class racing is to enthuse about the class you sail be it Merlin or whatever. Dave Lee worked hard to establish the Merlin at Starcross and we now have about 12 competative boats. We sail in a handicap fleet which p$%*ses off the RS and Asy sailors cause of the handicap thing BUT we also have the Merlin personal handicap series within the main club series. This encourages the the whole fleet to get out there and have a go. We organise socials and generally make sure there's always something we're doing as a fleet so that people sailing the other classes have to stop and wonder if they are missing out on something.!!!!
It's not just the boat that makes people join the class it's the people already there!!!
Long live class racing!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with Blackie whoever he is!!  In Scotland over the last year we have set about trying to get the enthusiasm going and there have been several suggestions about how to get the class more popular up here.  The first problems we have is the distance between clubs.  In the midlands you guys have all the advantages of plenty boats/people and are able to travel between venues which in itself means that you are able to show off your wares so to speak.  At Wormit we had a fun weekend this year and hope to have another at Forfar at the end of September with a series of events next year around the country.  This way we can show people what is on offer boatwise for what one could consider a very reasonable price (maybe not state of the Merlin art but still great fun).  I am sure that if we get it right, offer a sail to anyone who might be interested and talk to them in the way that Merlin sailors do (friendly, helpful and informative and above all with enthusiasm) we can attract more people).  We're unlikely to have club Merlin racing but if we pick up a few converts that will be great.  Class racing a few times a year can then be cond=sidered a bonus.   Bottom line (I personally think) is that the boats are stunning and will always attract attention.  Work on that and you are going to attract the odd (not peculiar!!) person to buy.

My helm and I are also new to merlin sailing, and when we purchased ours the club had one other wide rocket, and an old functional narrow merlin and one that was in disrepair.  But the merlin rocket numbers at the club are growing.  We now have two more rockets, both in need of some repair, but once they are on the water there will be five, which is enough for class racing isn't it.  Don't despair, we will be spreading the word.  I think the problem at our club in the past has been that people can't find a crew and have gone for a laser instead so they can sail more frequently.