I have just bought Eternal Flame in Cardiff from a car repair garage!  Does anyone have any back ground info on her?  She is an NSM1 built by Rowsell Bros in 1980, (thanks to Judith Massey) but that is all I know...  If anyone has old photos of her I would be very interested to see.

not the original name but number looks familiar.  From memory I think she was probably originally owned by Henry Wright and sailed at Bala.  Peter Male at Blithfield owned her later?

3200 was first shown in the 1980 year book without her name. Her owners were W.A.& W.H. Wright of Bala SC. The book shows her as being a Smoker's Satisfaction designed by Phil Morrison and she was built by Rowsells at Exmouth but finished by her owner(s).
The 1981 YB says her name was 'Seren Caer'.
The first change of ownership was recorded in 1986 to D. Harries, 1 Karen Court, Denbigh, Clwyd and Brenig SC.
The 1989 YB shows her name changed to 'Luffchild' and owner to C.& E. Palmer, Paget Rise, Abbots Bromley,Rugeley, Staffs and Blithfield SC.
As mentioned above, in 1991 she was owned by P. Male, School House, Abbots Bromley, Rugeley, Staffs WS15 3BT also Blithfield SC.
In the 1992 YB her name had been changed back to 'Seren Caer'
The 1994 book shows her name changed to 'Eternal Flame' and her owner as C.Andrews, 2 Malthouse Crescent,Inkbarrow, Worcs WR7 4EF and Severn SC.
She certainly changed her owners often. By 1996 she was owned by G. Dougal, 24 Dogfield St,Cathays, Cardiff, Cf2 4QJ and Llandegfedd SC. The 2003 YB shows the same owner but there is nothing more recorded after that.

Thanks for all the info Tony, it seems she has travelled the west of England and most of Wales...  I hope to get her wet this summer after some work on the paint and varnish.

I have raced against Chris Andrews in that very boat, used to be white if i remember and very quick it was to.  Chris left Severn Sailing club and joined us at Tewkesbury about 10 years ago but has since moved to France!

She still is white, round the marks and scratches... The deck was in a bad way but has now been sorted, the centre board casing and hull are next.  There is no guarantee that I will be able to sail her fast though!  Any recommendations on South Wales Sailing clubs?  I live near Bridgend, so there is Corus SC at Port Talbot, nice sailing but the view...

Hi Will

I think David Downs still sails 3544 at Corus so that would give you someone to race against, but otherwise I think Merlins are a bit thin on the ground in South Wales.

Thanks Dave, I will investigate next time I pass

I can confirm that I do indeed sail 3544 at Corus and we would be very glad of the company.  Let me know if you are thinking of coming down.

I did wonder where the other Heaven Sent design went!  After Hours 3585 is still alive and well, and Heaven Sent will be doing a bit more at Hampton & on the circuit this year.

Andrew 3511