MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : (Jon) Turner Prize

Well folks, I have been up all night converting and installing 111 and 1728 into a clinker built garden shed in response to the success so richly deserved by Simon Starling.  I was also greatly encouraged to go for next year's prize when he happened to mention that the competition would be subject to an International rigger and can only imagine that the committee next year will comprise both Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie.  However, the big question remains - do I go rivets and roves or epoxy for the construction and Cuprinol or Ronseal for the finish?  Am happy to donate a small share of the £25k prize for successful advice provided I get help to convert it all back to Merlin Rockets by 2007!!!


Posted: 06/12/2005 08:56:20
By: Garry R
Insure it and do a Tracy Emin!


Posted: 06/12/2005 09:52:17
By: Ancient Geek
Bed, boat, bed?


Posted: 06/12/2005 09:57:14
By: Garry R
Do a Tracey Edwards and pretend you've got loads of sponsorship and get loads of top sailors to crew it round the world then don't pay them, then clear off.

Whoops, sorry, wrong Tracey......


Posted: 06/12/2005 10:07:19
By: Nasty Cheeky Naughty Libellous Monkey
What's so clever about turning a shed into a boat. Jack Holt did it 50 years ago with the GP14; there was no art in it then or now.

The GPs at the Welsh Harp prefer creosote to varnish, it's much easier to apply.

Hope this helps.


Posted: 08/12/2005 22:22:05
By: Aesthete
He's not the first Starling to got to sea in a shed - Norman Starling was a well known prospective Olympic shedsman of the 70's.


Posted: 08/12/2005 22:26:19
By: Fitzs Mate
Don't be beastly to GP 14's even ex Chairman Pat started his career in one! They are not bad at all though considerably better with the genoa. The standard at national levels pretty good too.


Posted: 09/12/2005 11:09:47
By: Ancient Geek
I understand that Jack Holt designed the GP14 to a design brief (not his), that didn't mention weight at all, apparently his only regret is the design was so strong the boats lasted too long to be commercially viable! After the sucess of the GP14, he designed a mini version that was only 75kg in weight which could be lifted onto a roof rack - the Car Top - later to become the Heron. All these boats have a place in the development of the UK dinghy scene.


Posted: 09/12/2005 18:24:30
By: Alan F
It's a shed, Richard Estaugh is fitting under deck mower storage in his latest boats and the strimmer stows neatly along the boom.

It should be entitled not "Shed - Boat - Shed" but "Shed - Shed - Shed"


Posted: 09/12/2005 19:15:39
By: Aesthete
PS - Heron's not quite a shed more of a lean-to. 

They both make the Nissen hut look like positively Skiff like.


Posted: 09/12/2005 19:23:39
By: Aesthete
I used to race herons when i was younger. Came second in the 1984 southern championships. Great little boats but a bit dated now.


Posted: 10/12/2005 11:30:20
By: Jeremy3550
I thought is was the proud boast of the MR Class that it was "inclusive" and given to "diversity" this Class intolerance is hardly in the spirit of Glasnost Peristrioka and Tony Blairs inclusivity! Like Jeremy I once sailed a Heron it was my first yottette Heron no 21 Wild goose! Followed by an Enterprise before on the Road to Putney (Damascus!) I was converted for ten years to the best Dinghy on th planet. But then I learned about keels!


Posted: 10/12/2005 11:40:31
By: Ancient Geek
My Heron was called Boom Bang a Bang! I have actually owned it twice, bought it back from the guy i sold it to! Progressed to Mirrors after those and then back to Merlins. I also went big boat sailing for a while but like the rest of the sailing world ended up back in a Merlin after missing them too much. Boats just don't come better than a merlin do they?!


Posted: 10/12/2005 14:15:11
By: Jeremy3550
Dinghy wise I'd have to agree but keelboats are generally my bag if only because we have quieter parties, better wine and the behaviour is better that is not to say that we're prudes but just (Averagely.) a wee bit older and have listened to enough chimes at midnight.


Posted: 10/12/2005 18:19:21
By: Ancient Geek
Oh Jeremy stop it, i've just had to sell my Merlin and already missing her!


Posted: 10/12/2005 19:23:59
By: Richard Battey
Sorry Richard. I am sure you will get another one oneday!


Posted: 12/12/2005 12:55:24
By: Jeremy3550
and you can always crew someone else to keep your merlin love alive!


Posted: 12/12/2005 13:13:59
By: Mags
Richard,
I hear you bought the OK from my club. Should do you proud! I have just won the Winter Series at my club in Mine!


Posted: 13/12/2005 10:05:20
By: Jeremy3550
P.S. I am only sailing it as my crew has a broken foot! Back in She's a Cracker for Wembley in Jan!!
Anyone else doing the 3 weekend series at Wembley?


Posted: 13/12/2005 10:06:50
By: Jeremy3550
Yes that's right Jeremy. Just need to pick the old girl up. Has a combi so boat transporation problem now solved. Wife not so happy though!! 

Mags/ you're right will step back into the class when the kids get a bit older although I will remain an Associate, plus always willing to crew now and then!


Posted: 13/12/2005 11:57:05
By: Richard Battey

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