Just sailing at Salcombe for the first time this year, and wondered whether my fixed rudder is going to be o.k or do I need a lifting one? Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks Steve.

Steve,

You will be able to sail ok with a fixed rudder, provided you are comfortable with rudderless beach launching, but a lifting rudder is a great benifit when you are running against the tide and trying to get close to the shore!

And don't sorry do miss the ferry steps, and millbay is very shallow for a long way, all transom loosing stuff.

I sailed for many years with a fixed rudder with no real problems.....that is until lying 2nd I snagged a mooring line on a force 2-3 beat against the tide, I hung right over the back reaching down to pass the line past the fixed rudder, only actually lost a few boat lengths but also lost both contact lenses , that race finished in a blur !

Sailed all my previous merlins with a fixed rudder also my albacore (actually used my MR one on it) at Salcombe, just watch out for shallows/rocks/ WEED and mooring lines. You must learn how to sail off Millbay rudderless in ALL wind conditions , while you learn it can be very scary.

Thanks for all the information. I'll try and get a lifting rudder just in case, but looks like I'll have to practise my rudderless launching and sharpen the weed stick!!
Steve

I have not done Merlin Week (yet) but I know Salcombe well and at my level I wouldnt consider a fixed rudder. 

I would think its only the top flight Merlins that benefit from the extra stiffness of a fixie. For mere mortals such as myself, the risk is snagging mooring lines, grinding the rudder in the sand while short-tacking inshore to avoid the tide, tearing out the transom on a fast reach (where a weeding stick would be useless) or ditching/colliding with a moored boat while rudderless sailing off Millbay in a F6.

Hope it helps, I am more than envious as I cant for various reasons do Salcombe this year and hope you enjoy the week.

Thanks John, I think on balance it might be a good idea to see if I can get one before Salcombe. Does anybody have a spare lifting rudder complete for sale ? If so could you let me know please. Thanks - Steve.

I have mixed feelings as a lower order Merlin sailor.  I like my nice Jon Turner deep fixed rudder - if you broach on a reach with that rudder you really did have the boat on it's ear - but I have also taken the transom out of Heaven Sent twice and once done it on a previous Merlin, Mordillo 3202.  The last time I did it was in the middle of the channel at Salcombe coming out from Batson at the bottom of the tide before even sailing a race and I was not very happy about it.  However Scud fixed it up with so much epoxy that I sailed with it gummed up for half a season before Laurie Smart did the permanent repair (he said "I don't like these fancy little fretwork knees that the Turner and Driver boats have.  I have put you in a nice solid bit of timber there, the next time you hit the mud you'll just plough a furrow for a bit till you stop and then you can get out and sort it").  I had a very entertaining journey down Batson creek at closing time being towed behind Hywel's little RIB after both of us had had a few, trying to steer a boat with the transom stuck back in with duck tape by heeling it this way and that whilst keeping my dainty physique as close to the mast as possible to keep the transom out of the water lest we sink.

The only lifting rudder worth having is the Winder one as any other variety will allow the blade to lift when you are going flat out on a screaming reach in a crowd of boats.  This is only amusing to the spectators.

I will have a spare lifting rudder with me at Salcombe.  I don't really want to sell it but assuming that your transom fittings are the same as mine, I'm happy to loan it.

David,

Thank you for your kind offer. I would be grateful to borrow it if still alright with you?

If you think there are weed problems at Salcombe have a look at this

Steve,
Yes fine, see you there.