MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Merlin Rocket 1872 'Mata Hari'

I am contemplating buying 1872 which is a Wyche & Coppock MK IXb built in 1966. I will be racing on the Thames and in Vintage events. Does anyone have have any information about this boat and it's racing record? 

Thanks, Robert Harris


Posted: 04/04/2006 20:26:12
By: Robert Harris
Go on do it........you know you want to!


Posted: 04/04/2006 20:54:26
By: london taxi driver
Robert, would suggest if your good self and your brother don't know the boat there is probably no history to it. You can make any boat with a good builder and a good design go quick anyway can't you? a IXb is cirtainly the right design for tammy anyway! Good luck.


Posted: 05/04/2006 09:27:33
By: Jeremy3550
Robert,
This used to belong to Tony Rix at Upper Thames and I crewed it at several Open Meetings. It was quite a quick boat and at the time I was crewing it had a 22'6' rig so ideal for the river. I don't think it ever fulfilled its full potential as Tony was having (I think) back problems at the time.
Chris


Posted: 05/04/2006 12:20:10
By: Chris Rathbone
That's kind of you Jeremy but I've not raced a Merlin Rocket or anything else since the last race at Salcombe in 1984. A couple of months later I discovered gliding and eventually sold my last boat 'Second Chance' no. 3176 to Martin Evans. Last week I sold my last glider.

Thanks Chris. That's good information, I'll take a tape measure because I don't think the present owners know anything about the class or the boat. I remember Tony Rix


Posted: 06/04/2006 07:31:01
By: Robert Harris
Remember you are looking for 6180  (max luff)between the bands and between 630 and 730 to sheerine from bottom band,min and max for boom ht, to establish if it rig is max'ed out.


Posted: 06/04/2006 10:19:04
By: lanky
If it has the original sails, they'll be a Mountifield main and spinnaker and a Jeckell jib. I think the Mountifield was a copy of the Jonkind mains used by David Child and Pat Blake at the time. Amazing what useless information one retains!


Posted: 06/04/2006 10:46:20
By: Chris Rathbone
I am sure that the AG will have a comprehensive view about the boat (and will know how many coats of varnish it had in any given year!!)


Posted: 06/04/2006 10:48:44
By: Garry R
and that jerry bloke 35555555 what-ever! probably has a trolly for it (yawn)


Posted: 06/04/2006 11:40:25
By: bawed
Is yawning bawed right Jeremy?


Posted: 06/04/2006 11:44:15
By: Robert Harris
Now now.....


Posted: 06/04/2006 13:56:53
By: Blackie
Fraid not!


Posted: 06/04/2006 14:53:59
By: Jeremy3550
its probably got one of those too !


Posted: 06/04/2006 15:50:02
By: punster
Who is Jeremy, snooooooooooooooooooooooozer!


Posted: 06/04/2006 16:40:01
By: puntster
I seem to recall this yot simply because I THINK that my first (Of many.)wife crewed for Tony Rix at Hamble in I think 1966 and they got placed! Wyche & Coppock built very sturdy boats some better (Cotopaxi eg.) than others, Dick Whyche served with my Pa in WW2, there is still an wee remenant of Whych & Coppock at Dell Quay where they do up traditional boats. I seem to recall several W&C boats having problems with springing centerboard cases at the stern end of the case due to the habit all the builders had of using steel not brass, bronze or stainless screws.I remember the fuss over the Jongkind Sails!(They weren't that good!) Funny there was never the fuss over the Elvestrom Sails David Miles and a few others had before that.


Posted: 07/04/2006 10:31:14
By: Ancient Geek
Nice if you could find 490 (Dizzy)and bring her back into the family!  I last saw her at Hampton about 1961 when I repaired broken ribs for the then owner.


Posted: 08/04/2006 10:07:53
By: Mike Liggett
I saw 'Mata Hari' at the weekend, her decks are in poor condition and I didn't make an offer. However the hull looks ok and she might be ideal for a winter project. E-mail me if you'd like further information.

-mail me

Posted: 10/04/2006 08:47:20
By: Robert Harris
I'd be interested to know what our experieced members think about the advantages/disadvantages of Chipendale vs Wyche&Coppock bulit boats. I believe that W&C used 8mm ply sometimes when 6mm wasn't available - is that right?


Posted: 10/04/2006 12:01:14
By: Dave Croft
Thanks Mike. 'Dizzy' was a fabulous boat, supposedly based on the Jack Holt 'banana boat' no. 218 'Charm' she was a bit wider than earlier boats so she was good in strong winds as well as a superb ghoster. We never took her to a Championship but we did well at places like Burnham-on-Crouch. In 1955 (I think) I nearly beat Stewart Morris, doyen of the Int. 14s, in an open 14 ft meeting at Henley. However she's a ribbed boat and I don't have the skills or patience to cope with that.

'Crescendo' no. 607 is a glued plywood replica of 'Dizzy' and is now owned by Vintage M/R ace Berry Ritchie. She's currently being refurbished and it will be very interesting to see how she performs with Berrie at the helm.

Im sending Mags a photo 'Dizzy' to go on the Vintage section


Posted: 10/04/2006 12:08:46
By: Robert Harris
Here you go.

http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/vintage&file=dizzy_490_in_1956.jpg

Posted: 10/04/2006 13:52:13
By: Mags

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