Would appreciate some advice on which club would be better for me as a Merlin sailor, UTSC or CRSC. I have been to both and they are very friendly, As a novice I am finding little difference bar price at the moment. It seems the deciding factor may be how active they are with Merlins, as the race results also seem similar. Many thanks

Uh-oh, this is bound to spark fierce rivalry! Hows about some guidelines; lets hear FACTS about only the clubs you have sailed on more than 10 times...?

I've found most sailing cluibs quite friendly - whether or not they sail Merlins. It has to do with a common interest ;-)

Seriously, if you're looking at the activity of a fleet at a club, consider that some clubs don't have large-scale races because they have a large group of travelling competitors (ie - they sail at other club's events regularly).
That gives the club a good press, but can mean that the home races are a bit under supported.

If you're a little undecided, offer to crew for someone (as a guest) for a few week-ends at either club. You'll find out whether you're happier with one or the another (and it's going to be your preference - we can't make your mind up)

All the best,
Colin

I like that Mags. As I have only sailed at each club in about 4 events, and have not sailed 10 times I don't have to give fact, just opinion!!

In my opinion, they are both nice.

Here is an interesting fact, in other peoples opinion the rating on sailfun for each club are Cookham 4 star - UTSC 3.5 star

Look them up, and other clubs, get clicking on the voting buttons to change the rating and write reviews if you like

Why not visit Cookham next Saturday 9th May as it's our open day.
Talk to all the merlin sailors and go out for a sail, followed by tea and cakes.
Hope to see you their.
John Haynes

Sorry you missed UTSC's open day, which was last Sunday! You could have had a sail and then tea and cakes with us! Don't worry though as there is another opportunity to see UTSC in full swing at Bourne End Week, starting Saturday 23rd May. Series racing for Merlins and other classes over 4 days/8 races with a busy social programme too - so much Pimms, so little time....... Treat it as a 4 day test drive! For full details see www.utsc.org.uk

Mark,B/e week can be fun but its only 4 days out of the whole season.What you need to consider is how active is the home based Merlin fleet and what are the sailing conditions like at each club.Here are some facts about Cookham.Our Spring series started on the 5th April and we have sailed up to and including last w/e 12 races, in which a total 13 differant boats have raced, at an average of just under 4 boats per race. Comparative figures with UTSC would be interesting ,perhaps Alan can provide them.As John H pointed out, our open day is this Saturday , I shall be there come and have a chat with me. The folowing w/e we are hosting the Vintage Merlins on the Satuday and holding our Silver Tiller Open Meeting on Sunday, you might like to come along to both.I look foreward to seeing you.

Many thanks for your helpful replies, I will take the excellent advice and spend some time with each at the up and coming events. Kindest regards Mark

quite frankly Mark, you have it all wrong! I have just had a similar dilemma, but walked into my local club at Shustoke and after seeing the beer taps instantly knew there was no where else..they only sell Church end beer, nectar of the gods, so found it very easy to decide.
Maybe if you followed your taste buds the choice will become clearer!

Mark,
We are looking to build our Merlin fleet and keen additions to the fleet are always welcome. It's a good water to sail on, the social life is active and we have one of the best bars in the country, serving Rebellion Bitter, Bittberger lager and lots of different wines and spirits at good prices. Good catering, Wednesday evening racing and fun sailing on Saturdays. The racing is keen and we have active members who are at the top of their fleets in OKs and Wayfarers. Alan, have I left anything out?!

Whoops! Should have mentioned that I was referring to UTSC.

Out of the two ? Cookham Reach Sailing Club.Modern active Merlin fleet,good people.Wonderful welcome for new members.

Mark, what a can of worms you have opened!
I have read the responses and feel as though I should correct some of the inaccuracies.
I have sailed at both many more than 10 times – so I am qualified it seems.

We, at Cookham, are not naturally boastful but, when it comes to sailing – frankly we are much better at it!
Facts:
Cookham members have won the Merlin Champs 4 times – the Silver Tiller 6 times and so on…. Against a zero score on all counts from our friends upstream.
Colin’s point about travelling and club racing – also doesn’t stand up. CRSC has 24 members of the Merlin Rocket association – quite a few with several boats. So again significantly more than UTSC. Merlins are the biggest class at Cookham and still have good club racing every Sunday – even when some of us are away at open meetings.
I could also boast about the OK class – as Cookham members have won the World and National titles on several past occasions. Although I have to confess that Terry Curtis (from UTSC) is the current king in that class. We can’t compete on Wayfarer sailing as who wants to sail a Wayfarer on the river anyway? 

Seriously - the two clubs are quite different and there is a great deal of friendship between the two (or there was until I wrote that bit above). Only about a mile apart up the river bank and separated by a railway bridge. UTSC is a splendid traditional institution founded in 1884, it is a bigger club than Cookham with full time catering staff etc. It has a beautiful traditional Victorian/ Edwardian clubhouse and a Reach, which has become very overgrown with trees.
Cookham, on the other hand is mere upstart, having been founded in 1947 in the austerity of the post war boom in dinghy sailing. Cookham was one of the first clubs to adopt the new fangled Merlin class – and Merlins have been the main class at Cookham ever since. It is a small, friendly, family orientated club run by the members. The riverbank is open to the west and there is a 90-degree bend in the river, so we can usually achieve a course that encompasses all points of sailing. We love it so come and see us.

A picture is worth a thousand words.... and on the CRSC website we have more than 190 Merlin pictures!
Either use the link below, or visit www.cookhamreachsc.org and select the 'Photo Bank'. Enter "merlin" or "merlin open" as keywords for your search, and you will be able to see all that goes on at Cookham. You'll even find some UTSC boats sailing at our Open Meetings, and a few CRSC boats at other Opens.

CRSC has scheduled a total of 85 Merlin races this year between April and mid-October, followed by 18 more through to Christmas in which Merlins compete with other Classes (Albacore, Enterprise, Solo, Lightning, etc) in PY Handicap races.

Come and view on Open Day (9th May)! Better still, sail at our Merlin Open Weekend (16/17th May) - full details at www.cookhamreachsc.org/merlin.htm

I am an annual visitor to UTSC for Bourne End week and have visitted Cookham once for a training day followed by an open meeting. As a total neutral if I lived in the area and wanted to sail a Wayfarer, OK or Thames Rater I would take it to UTSC. If I lived in the and wanted to sail a Merlin I would take it to Cookham. Both great river clubs.

My thanks to everyone that contributed to my decision re clubs, you have as always been very supportive, friendly and helpful and is very much appreciated. This is the main reason why I chose to sail Merlin Rockets in the first place. Tough a decision as it was, because both clubs have much to offer, I have joined CRSC. The deciding factor was because on my first visit to CRSC, I met Peter an Octogenarian who was considering re-joining CSRC after being a member some 40 years ago. His enthusiasm for sailing and the CSRC and the fact we got on so well, meant I was really only left with one choice!

Dear Mark,

While we're obviously disappointed not to have you as a new Merlin member at Upper Thames, we wish you all the very best of luck at your new club.
Meanwhile back up the river, we are always on the lookout for new Merlin members. In truth, the UTSC Merlin fleet is struggling a bit at present but then so are the 14s and Fireflies as well. Hopefully, all you Thames sailors will come to our Merlin Open Meeting next month which is a Thames Circuit event. Please support us-we need your help!!
Best wishes,

Chris

There's always a welcome for you at Cookham Chris. You could sail 3 races on a Sunday with us and socialise at UTSC the rest of the week.
I hope B/E week goes well and that you get a good turnout. Unfortunately I will not be able to sail with my broben hand but I will be on the bank with a pint of Rebellion Bitter in the other hand watching all the action. A good 4 days sailing drinking and socialising for those who have never been, give it a try.

Bourne End week is awesome!