As the recent owner of a Merlin, and an interested reader of this forum, can any one explain;

One String?

Drop nose?

Thanks

One string;
Is the moving of the rake of the mast with just one string which not only adjusts shrouds (Lowers and uppers.) and jib haliyard(forestay.) proportionaly, but also adjusts the other things that moving the rake effects like the kicker, these are also seperately adjustable.
Dropping the nose:
Refers to keeping the same basic hull shape but lengthening the bow (nose) vertically which so the thesis runs gives the bow more grip going to windward supposedly necesitated because as crew average weights got lighter it was harder to get the bow in the water to windward it also because nothing else is altered reduces (Flattens.) the rocker in sideways profile. The longer bow concept in dinhies was first promulgated by Austin Farrer in his International 14 for Stewart Morris "Bolero" and later by Ian Proctor in his MK Eleven a development of the much more succesful MK Nine. IT fell out of fashion until David Winder ammended his Canterbury Tales varient of Ian Holts design.

Various useful info here....