My GF and I are having an argument about which is faster - a merlin rocket or a horse.

Guinness states the fastest horse goes 38 mph.

Does anybody know fast a merlin rocket (or even for any sailing dinghy) can go?

Wasn't a Merlin clocked at 120mph on the way to an open meeting.

P****s all over the nag doesn't it!

think adam may has just set a new record in a foiling moth at about 26knots - about 32mph.  afraid the nag's still faster, but you do have to stop and feed them every so often...

It's the Nationals coming up not the Grand National!!  Another plus of sailing a Merlin is that no-one has ever had to be put down after a race although a few I believe have had to be put to bed!!  A Merlin is also good for more than 6 furlongs.  (A furlong is not a new winter wetsuit!!)

GOOD
a horse can go dead upwind without tacking
you dont have to hike

BAD
they do big poos


for me, the last point means the boat always wins.

Plus, you have to clean up afterwards! YUK!!!

BAD: You shot horses when you break something!


GOOD: With Merlins you just epoxy it!!!!

If you set the race from East Head, West Wittering to Hayling Island SC the Merlin is loads faster...

wasn't there something about the irish water polo team who packed up at half time 'cause the horses drowned?

another point to the merlin.

So is the general consensus that a horse is faster?

They don't poo that much.  And they are a lot more sociable than a boat, and possibly more unpredictable, which can be fun and scary.
But the argument is not about which is better, just which is faster.  The boat is cheaper, and we have a merlin rocket and it is great, I love horses, but they are too expensive.

Unless your an RO you never get any short breaks or holidays - the horses always need looking after, but boats create loads of them

When you fall off a boat you get wet - a horse, it hurts.

Have you ever noticed the amount of weather helm a horse has got - completly uncontrolable no matter how much you pull on the tiller!

My daughter left home last weekend, taking her horse with her - I made sure everything went by taking it to her new place for her! Anyway I now have a stable to keep the Falcon in. No more mucking out, the muck heap will get smaller and the roses won't be so healthy and hopefully the flys will disappear, nuf said?

The synergy between horses and boats is very common, perhaps it goes back to the days when they were both the pusuit of the gentleman and his lady, One Sailed up 'till Cowes Week interspersed with Henley, Ascot & Goodwood (always over by the 12th of August!) went north or est to shhot grouse and then stalk deer returning in time for the start of the hunting season (Proper rather than cubbing.)Until it was time to catch the spring salmon run and then begin the whole round again. The late and sadly missed Merlin Rocket sailor Clem' Ramus sailed and hunted so do I and I can think of a few more too. Though sadly fewer with time.

A boat is a hole in the water which you throw monety into.  A horse creates a mound on the ground which costs you money to put there.  You pays your money and you takes your pick