Can we put together a meaningful information guide to assist people in purchasing boats and kit and removing the mythe you have to be sub 22 stone to win. I would suggest the top 15 and not 10 nas this will give greater accuracey.
Suggested headings - names, boat number, Hull builder, version of hull, mast, boom, centreboard generation/manufacturer, rudder manufacturer, helm weight, crew weight, sails - main/jib/kite.
This would be of great assistance to all. I will if neccessery co-ordinate but it will need the input of all those it applies to. So if like minded, please forward the details to me via my email.
BFN

Good idea Mark
I would email you but I am afraid 18th does not qualify
Suspect not many lightweights in the top 15 as they were all blown away by the tight reaches

We used to have this sort of guide occasionally on the MR site, but Y&Y now have a special section for it (which also ensures it gets into the magazine).

It would be good to get this table complete, with crew weights too!

Hi Pat
As doing the list, there is no reason why it could not be 20. So please forward the information. We have populated most of the boat bits but primarily need the crew weights and hull variations confirmed.
So all you who qualify, please forward the information (weight actual in underwear), so that we can give a definitive picture of what is actually happening. ONe thing that may also be of interest is age if promoting the class to other sailors but have not included that one.
BFN

Hi Mags
The one I am building has much greater detail but will forward to you when completed.
BFN

Barnsie is an idiot

Did anyone actualy weigh them at the Nationals?

I'd be sceptical about declared weights.
An anaesthetist friend tells me when asked - prior to a general anaesthetic - apparently weight is important as it determines how much of the stuff they give you - most people are found when actualy check weighed to have underestimated by 30lbs or so.

Wouldn't be too hard to weigh people at scrutineering in future or even a spot thing at an open. Lots of classes have weigh ins because of max or min crew weights.

Does Barnsie actualy have a job?

Please!

This forum has been generally good-natured with serious discussion and lighthearted banter.  Anonymous slanging of people posting will just bring it down to the gutter standard of the usual internet forums and deter people from posting and commenting.  If you have something to say to Barnsie you know who he is and how to contact him and can do so.  If you have a comment to make about his proposals please make it on the forum.

You guys are idiots, at least he is doing something productive for the class rather the sitting there making us all look like rude, ignorant twats!
If you haven't got anything sensible to say better not say it.

Oops, I was beaten to it.

To answer Mr Geek, part of what barnsie is trying to do is to change the perception that you have to be super-lightweight to sail a Merlin competitively so to get people to actually weigh themselves and declare it honestly.

NO disrespect to Barnsie or his intentions intended, just saying human frailty and vanity being what it is unless you have reason to weigh yourself frequently most of us self included use the last known weigh which is almost always less than it is now!

I knew my exact weight at the champs, an today i'm 3 kg lighter, but still am 15kg heaver than the boat was at the champs DOH!!

I agree that if your are not prepared to leave your I.D. then don’t use the forum

P.S. ... and . there is a thing called MAC/ip route tracing, so not as anon as you might think !!!!!

That's assuming the author does not have software to hide the IP address.

Well to all those who disagree with this posting, it is a shame you're not brave enough to declare and put something back into the class. 
Information is starting to come in and we would appreciate accurate weights to give this table value.
It may well dispell several mythes, including wieght and age demographics. Very helpful if wishing to attract others to sail in the class. So please forward your info if you have not by the end of next week.
BFN

Well done Mark. In those immortal words - "don't let the buggers get you down"  
Keep at it -  the results will be very interesting and much appreciated by all those who are interested in the class.

Do you want just Champs top 20 or Salcombe too? They're really different venues and I imagine produce quite different top 20 results.

RH, ip hider makes no differance, Mac is the default, the mac and ip can be spoofed, but the first router it hits (netlayer 2)will record it hidden or not, and internet providers are now required to keep records (that includes places of work)for police and anti terror groups.
P.S. just another note, all internet traffic in this country goes through MI6 'sniffers' looking for set key words ie b##b etc.

Hi, first let us get the Nats one together and then we can consider the Salcombe one but those wishing to forward the top 20 at Salcombe please do to my email address.

I don’t know Barnsie from Adam, but clearly his efforts are well-intentioned and may indeed be useful to others; more than can be said for ‘anonymous’, who discounting the name 'Barnsie' contrived to mis-spell the only word he used longer than 5 letters.

More power to your elbow Barnsie. I did a Solo Inlands once where they attempted to record all 110 entries, to the level of detail Barnsie is trying. Might be interesting!!!!

For record: 22 year old one off, 47th overall (I think), no hull mods yet, full set of 2008 Hydes with S/Spar carbon mast & tin boom. Weight 14 stone at the back, 9 1/2 at the front.

Or maybe run a search on the forum against the word 'actualy'.

There can't be that many Merlin sailors who cant spell and I am sure the tit in question is a regular contributor and must know Barnsie.

Thanks for the support and it looks as if we have a goer on the spreadsheet. Just need those others to forward their information but the table is now populating and think we may have a few suprises in the overall findings.
BFN

Thank you Mark Barnes.

Mark's continued contribution to the class is appreciated.  We may not always agree but he stimulates debate and puts his money where his mouth is.

I also have doubt that that Mark will take anonomous petty insults in his stride.

Thanks
steve

that is NO DOUBT.

aging dyslexia/word blindness

Hi Folks
Still waiting for information from some. So to make this work, If I have not heard from you, Please make the effort and forward your infomration to me this week, so that we can make this work.
BFN

Hi All
Have emailed some of those that have yet to respond this afternoon. If you have not responded or received an email, particularly the Warrens, yes both of you, could you please email me the following this week.

Design	helm	crew	ages	weights (real not estimated)	main	jib	kite	plate glass/carbon	rudder (fixed/lifting/make) 

Reason for asking is we are doing an article for the Merlin Newsletter and there seems to be a lot of false ideas with regard to the crew weights etc. Also the ages for class publicity to show the diversity of people in the class.
Can you please forward to my CC address.

Thanks

Mark

I like the idea of this article. Can we also include corrector weight, or should I not risk opening that can of worms again, in case the pointless debate rages once more?!

By the way, I'm just back from a holiday, which is why the few annoying comments above have not been removed earlier. Most un-neccessary.

Hi Mags
Leaving the correctors one out but if plastic, 15 - 21 kg I believe. Wood 0 - 11 kg. So not a good one for the marketing of the class as it would mean we are talking of a split in the future if we are not careful.
Most interesting is the weight and ages.
BFN

I think that the measurers at the Nationals had an eye opening experience with weights at Looe. I do not recall anyone in the bar admit that their boat was on the limit, most were in the 105kg area, our old shed was 101kg! So corrector weight is one thing - real weight another!

Yes, but it was piddling down with rain and wet rope is heavy!! An allowance is made for this, but it will vary quite considerably from boat to boat due to differing absorption between new/old rope and differant brands.

I'm not worried that my boat was a bit heavy, at Pwllheli it was pretty much bang on.

Heaven Sent was 103kg with probably 1kg of rainwater in the boat as well as everything soaking wet, was 101kg at Pwllheli with 4kg of correctors.

PLEASE don't start talking about taking weight out of the boat again!  Look at the Y&Y attendance tables - MR 76 (or 78) N12 39 I14 32 RS400 39 and factor in the full attendance at Salcombe Week.

There in fact a number who failed to come to the line at all during Salcombe wee and a couple of spare places no taken up.

Do not fear I have not been recording that one if offered on purpose. Not on my agenda.
BFN

Right nearly there but Taxi I need your weight as you're currently listed vvvvvery heavy. Await email with interest.
BFN

According to the Solo gear guide Taxi is 83 kilos. True or false!

Does a Taxi have an unladen weight?

hey every one by the way the merlin 2009 champs group is up! if u have facebook and your thinking of coming JOIN IT!! 


THANKS!! 

cya there

yes Barnsie i am 83kgs

all double hard muscle

Guess you won't be needing us after our tremendous performance!

Thanks for that. Have you in at 83 kg now.
Nearly there. Info with be in the next newsletter.
BFN

For Matt Biggs
Matt, Need yours and Rob's ages.
BFN

If the idea is to show the breadth and depth of different size and shapes of people sailing Merlins, and thus encourage new people into the class as they see its not all "22-stone and not an ounce more", then you will need to do more than just have the rport in the class magazine.....

CJ we will be publishing first in the class magazine to give Pat the first bite. Once this has been done, as most people look to changing classes over the winter, we'll be publishing another report in Y&Y or DSM post that. The idea is to use this as a media/jo public push for the class.
BFN

In which case why limit publication to the converted?

That measn it is not old news and that adds value to the association newsletter. No other reason than that. It will no doubt appear in other publications soon thereafter in other formats.
BFN

Why would one want to add value to a magazine with a captive audience?
The boat buying/selling season for those keen enough for this to be of more than academic interest is now. Excellent though The Magazine really is I doubt its why people join the association.

Who is this . Well done Barnsie on collating an interesting set of statistics. Look forward to seeing all this fascinating data. I am sure others are too!

The magazine is greatly enjoyed by most Merlin members.  Barnsie's information on helm and crew weights, etc. will give some factual information on a subject where conjecture may well be rife - even within the Class.

The table is now completed and we believe it all to be correct. There are a few surprises and all will be revealed in the next newsletter and then be handed over to Y&Y etc. Thanks to all who helped.
BFN

Nice one Mark.

Any chance of getting this guide somewhere on the forums as a quick reference?
I am intrested in the numbers of people using lifting rudders compared to fixed and who the most popular foil maker is.

Barnsie (with Pete) is on a Farr 40 in the Tasman Sea heading for Hobart for the B14 Worlds.  He reports Force 4-5 and 19'C.  Its a hard life.

So the guide will have to wait until he gets back in January.

Having a great time, just been alongside Ilse des Phoques to chase the Sea Lions off. Seeing some amazing scenery and sailing with some great blokes. Had some full on sailing and should be in Hobart after some detours on the 23rd. Climbing some small mountains to keep fit as we go. Dolphins and other a plenty, signing off and heading for a beer!!!!
Barnsie, Pete, Fish, Brett, Russ, Boycie

Nice!!

Good luck boys, Brightlingsea boys are on their way, come on the Bines and Gibbons, bring the trophy back to Brightlingsea, see if you can do as well as the Cadets!

Please don't hesitate to call me to book accommodation for the 15th Aug 09. At Whitstable Yacht Club, I will be on the deck to hand out keys and maps to those who have already booked places to stay. I now have houses to let for that week on loan from other sailors and friends.Regards Deborah Mylcrist

PS>Following on from last message: my numbers are in Merlin Magazine, or  www.hillcrossestates.co.uk. from Deborah.

I know it was a while ago, but going back to Barnsie's 'gear guide'...

I can get the list of top 10 champs equipment published in Y&Y magazine (they run one each month normally), but I just need to check the spar brands used. Barnsie's list only noted the mast manufacturer, but Y&Y typically publish the choice of boom and spinny poles too.

The top 10 all used Chipstow (apart from one C-Tech) - so do you reckon those people all used Chipstow booms and poles too? Just trying to get it all correct!

Mags some boats will have Superspar booms, and few use Jacko's poles.

Lewnsie and I used a full set of C-Tech spars (boom, poles, mast).

Alex and I had Chipstow mast, boom and (I think!) poles.

alex's poles aren't chipstow