Some nice pics on this website extolling the Merlin

Tray bong!

There's another Merlin Rocket connection with La Belle France. In 1963 or maybe 1964 the French magazine Nautisme organised a "One of a Kind" series of races at Maubuisson on a huge lake close to the Atlantic coast about 80 miles NW of Bordeaux. My brother John and my crew Bill Wise were invited to sail John's boat 'Paragon' no. 1561 at this event. Paragon was a Nick Truman Surf Scoter. 

John double trailed to Maubuisson with a 14' International sailed by Gauloise chain smoking Simeon Bull of London Corinthian SC. They had an eventful outward journey which included a major trailer repair by a French blacksmith who typically could do anything with metal. 

British boats also invited included a Hornet sailed by Dick Pitcher, a Jollyboat, an Osprey and several others. The late Jack Knights was involved. The purpose of the event was to find a new two handed boat for the Olympics. The very first 470 was present, John beat it several times but it eventually became the class chosen.

The French very much admired 'Paragon' but wood..NON. John and Bill thoroughly enjoyed the event, they beat the '14' once by half an hour and received £200 worth of Francs for their troubles!

Alan and I were invited to sail in the next Un Par Serie in La Baule. We took  the MR Cotapaxi. On the ferry we met, for the first time, David Robinson and Hoppy Hopkins from Hamble who were representing the National 12's. We too beat the 470 every race and were invariably around the windward mark ahead of the 14 sailed by Jeremy Pudney. Downwind they would  overtake us and then we would pass them again upwind. Fortunatly for us we finished on a wind ward leg and so beat them every race. It blew very hard for the third day and racing for us was cancelled. Alan and I had our most exciting sail of the year crewing for Gary Cowell in the catamaran Lady Helmsman, the C class winner of the Little Americas Cup. A very enjoyable few days in France but the French were well and truly mystified how this 14' wooden boat was outperforming their plastic performance dinghies.

Blimey, there's 2 pictures of me and Ellie sailing Elusive (3347)at Salcombe.  We even look in control and happy!  Who took the photos?

Andrew

Very fast shutter speed ?

Probably so - suspect this was the windy race of the 2000 Salcombe week where on the run back from Gerstone we got hit by an almighty gust & the board came up.  We ended up after much muddle taking the main down and planing through the bag on a jib wrapped round the forestay, sorted ourselves out & put sail back up in the lee of Snapes Point & actually finished with no further capsizes despite the swatters (see pic of Duncan Salmon in same series)