I have just bought Merlin 1517, "Mistress Quickly" 1964 vintage built by Wyche & Coppock. I am not sure which design she is, my guesstimate is a Proctor MKXV???  If anyone has any further information as to the design or any history I will be delighted to hear.  My plan is to sail her for the rest of this summer and then carry out a bare wood restoration over the winter.  The boat is in very sound condition, amazing really considering her age, really only cosmetic repairs required.  I have 3 different masts, the one that has been used recently has no spreaders, one of the others has a single set of spreaders and the other has further set of above the main ones (diamond stays?).  Are there any recommendations re the use of masts with or without spreaders?  Any help or advice would be appreciated.

According to the current yearbook, Mistress Quickly (sail number 1513, not 1517) is a Proctor Mark XII circa 1963.  Where are you based, as there are two Mark XIIs and similar designs that race regularly at Tamesis Club on the Thames at Teddington?  If you are nearby, their owners would be happy to provide help/advice on appropriate masts, although I suspect the one with spreaders is best!  Mervyn Allen (vintage wing founder) is also a member and is the owner of Kate which has diamond spreaders.  I'm sure he'd also be happy to help.

Hi Richard, thanks for the help I must be going mad she is 1513.  I am based in Leicestershire and will be sailing at Northampton Sailing Club.

Although you're not exactly local to SW London area it may be worth you visiting Tamesis Club for our Merlin Rocket open weekend in October.  Saturday 11th October is the De May Trophy vintage open (which your boat qualifies for) and Sunday 12th October is the Thames Series open (open to any age of Merlin and an extra prize for first vintage boat).  Come for the weekend and you can leave your boat overnight in the club's boat park.

There are also two vintage opens at Shustoke SC in Warwickshire this Saturday 26th July and Banbury SC on Saturday 20th September which are both near to you.  If you have a combi trailer, it could be worthwhile venturing to Shustoke this Saturday.

Never mind what the sail number is - what number is carved into the hog or thwart? That is the clincher!

1513 a Proctor Mk X11 was built by Wyche & Coppock in 1962 and was originally called 'Fidget'. She was finished by her first owner G M Smith of Banbury SC.
The 1967 year book shows her second owner as E J Rymer of South Cerney SC and her name changed to 'Mistress Quickly'.
1517 'Tarantella' was a Mk 1X built by Bob Hoare for J B Hornby of Henley SC.

Thanks for the response, she is definitely 1513 this is carved into the thwart.

Pete. If you want more info. from the year books please let me know.

Rather than drag yourself all the way down to the smoke, I suggest that you bring her back home to Banbury SC for the Vintage Open on 20th September.  We normally attract a wide range of old boats from Kate onwards.

Thanks for the invitation to Banbury, unfortunately we will be away on holiday and only return on the 20th.  Next year perhaps.

Pete, sounds as if you got a really nice boat - welcome.
I felt as if I had to chip in because of your mast situation. You may, or may not, know that the class was formed with a merger of the 'Merlin' class which had very high aspect ratio rigs and the 'Rocket' class which had bigger but shorter rigs. That was in 1951.
The inspirational rule which allowed both classes to race together had a sliding scale, where you could trade off mast height against sail area - the rule is still in place, we have it to this day although most modern boats have adopted a conformity for practical reasons.
When your boat was built there was still a big debate about rig height and jib area. I suspect that the mast you have with jumper struts (short spreaders pointing a 45 degrees forwards to support the top mast) is probably the original - maybe with a 22'6" rig, which is the highest allowed and still best on restricted waters.
I suspect your problem with the restoration is how 'original' to make it?
I don't know if you are a member of our association but if not I recommend joining for various reasons, if only to get the Year Book which has amazing amounts of information and history - as well as old copies of magazines and lots of other bumph.
Perhaps a trip to one of the DeMay vintage series events would introduce you to an great bunch of enthusiasts who will give you endless, if conflicting, advice.

Hi Pete,
I have Merlin No.1066, a proctor Mk XII, which also has a mast with jumpers. I sail in vintage meetings and use the original sails (1960) as modern sails (unless specialy made to fit) will no work well as the mast bends differently to later types without the jumpers. Your choice of mast may well be governed by what sails you have available therefore. Hope to see you on the vintage circuit.

Perhaps most importantly, which mast fits the boat? Some masts are for deck-stepping, some for hog-stepping, and some 1950s ones (that use diamonds) even rotate!

if you're not going to buy new sails, best see which mast the existing sails fit, too.

Thanks for all the help, information and advice.  All 3 masts two of which are Proctors seem to be for hog stepping.  The mast with jumper struts has no name on it, so I am unsure of the manufacturer and is thinner than the others.  The mast that the previous owner has been using is a Proctor, and does not have any spreaders at all but is obviously fully rigged.  He has been using some Musto sails on this rig, they are in pretty good condition, there is also another set by Bay Sails. For the rest of the summer I will probably just use the Musto's with the spreaderless mast until I understand the set up better.  The mast with jumper struts is lightly shorter than the other bare Proctor.  The boat does not seem to have all the deck fittings for the spinnaker, presumably there should be some blocks half way back on each side deck. Also there are no bags to stow the spinnaker, are these normally fitted below the foredeck?