Have the opportunity of aquiring a WC XII, could someone possibly give me some info on this design please? I see from the year book a lot where made!

Thanks in advance

RB

The WCMKXII was my first MR, and I had her from 1984 until 1999.  In fact I learned to sail in this boat.  She was beautifully build, very robust and pretty (I think there are some pictures of this design in the now very valuable MR Book ....of which I have a rare pristine copy!).  When I moved to the US in 1990 I have her to my uncle in Poole where she was sailed for many years. I do recall that she was a pig to sail dry, but only because I had trouble strapping the bow buoyancy bag low enough in the hull.  My boat had an exceptionally tall rig, so the sail plan was rather strange looking, the main having a particularly short foot.  I would be happy to own another MK XII,,,there must be hundres of these boats around and still delighting their owners

Hello Richard
Are you going for a fleet now?
I have an RH XII that I am renovating but have not sailed yet. They were design for inland/restricted water and light air. The RH XII seem to have a weakness around the CB casing so have a good look at that. Mervyn tells me that 1960's boats were built to a maximum price. I think this may have reduced the quality. My 1972 LS September Girl has so, so much better quality manufacture / build quality it really is surprising. My original ally mast is about 50mm taller than my modern standard rig so I am currently moving the jib tack aft and will go for the latter, 2.80 jib etc. plus spinnaker chute. She might need a cross member across the top, front of CB casing but I will wait and see - I hope not to use her in heavy weather.

Is there anything more specific that you are after?

Hi Ben,

I think I might have caught Garry R's bug! No not really just a moment of complete insanity!!

I have 908 a XIWC which I am currently renovating (slowly, in fact very slowly)but I know what you mean about the XIIWC, there does seem to be some elegance missing in th build compared to my XI with her beautiful rolled decks etc,etc.

Nothing specific just information gathering really, thanks anyway for the information, really useful.


All the best

Richard! You sell a beautiful wooden CT with carbon wizardry...and begin to accumulate more and more vintage boats? Wifey will not accept another surely? Unless they are so narrow you can hide 2 in the garage side by side....

Richard,

I too started in a Mk XII, which I sailed in Southampton Water. As long as it wasn't too windy, or worse, windy against the tide, then I had a great time in it. Upwind it went like a dream, though I recall many a wobbly moment downwind, there again that could well have been me!

Can you get to the Classic boat Nationals at Netley (just around the corner from Hamble) this summer..... I think we'll get a bumper crop of Merlins and it would be great to see a Mk XII back there again..... 40 years after I first sailed mine there (now THAT is a scary statistic!).

Enjoy the Mk XII.....

David
(still stuck in a Smokers)

Mags

She has gone nuts! In fact I think I might have to re-think my strategy!! 1xOK + Vintage Merlin is enough as far a she is concerned 2 Merlins well it's one too many!! Not got the boat yet and it might stay that way!

Richard, its simple .....
Tell her its been sold ......... But not who too !!

Oh yes, you will have to keep it out of the way for a while!

Tell her it was a toss up between HBOS shares and a Merlin and you went for the rock solid option.