MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Champs Update

Fantastic weather. A couple of boats went out for a blast and reported back on the shallows.

Looks like 65 to 66 entries, although a few to enter & pay ...

Looking forward to a good week.


Posted: 14/08/2010 18:39:09
By: Andy Hay - Champs Chappie
Race 1 - 65 Entrants after Stu Bithell finished the medal race at the Sail for Gold ..

1st 3701 Stomper Tom Stewart & Liam Dempsey
2nd 3691 Quick Fix Mike Calvert & Chris Downham
3rd 3662 Attack of the Clones Dave Winder & Pippa Taylor
4th 3699 Stu Bithell & Christian Burrel
5th 3703 Faithless Richard Whitworth & Ollie Turner

Report to follow when I have pinned my scribe down for five minutes ...


Posted: 15/08/2010 17:06:23
By: Andy Hay - Champs Chappie
Y&Y

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153361

Posted: 15/08/2010 22:35:29
By: ()
Curious as to what the new Turner boats are like?  Can anybody give any feedback/comments?  Many thanks


Posted: 16/08/2010 09:23:30
By: James
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/photos/?s=64&PID=53727


Posted: 16/08/2010 10:16:43
By: ;)
There's a picture of Dark Star 3720 on Fotoboat..


Interesting stern tank and very flat deck..from what I can see

Tom Gruitt..may have some close ups..

Tim B

http://fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=278337&pictureid=13251389

Posted: 16/08/2010 12:41:57
By: TimB
It certainly looks different and interesting.

Hopefully it does well which would be good for the class!


Posted: 16/08/2010 14:43:13
By: James
Of course there's always the hazardous zero9 which also seems to be going quite well in new to MR hands, came above JT yesterday


Posted: 16/08/2010 14:49:06
By: Rob
Day two. More sunshine, shifty northerly.

1st 3699 Stu Bithell & Christian Burrel
2nd 3701 Tom Stewart & Liam Dempsey
3rd 3703 Richard Whitworth & Ollie Turner
4th 3685 Willie Warren & Chris Downham
5th 3705 Matt Biggs & Ben Hollis

Looking forward to more wind .....


Posted: 16/08/2010 19:33:33
By: Andy Hay - Champs Chappie
Overalls:

3701 from 3699 with 3691 in third.

Really close competitive racing throughout the fleet.


Posted: 16/08/2010 19:36:32
By: Andy Hay - Champs Chappie
Blimey, is JT sporting a mullet or is it National David Hasselhoff look-alikey day?


Posted: 16/08/2010 20:50:14
By: Beezer
Where are the full results? Are they posted anywhere, seen sundays on Y&Y but not Mondays


Posted: 17/08/2010 08:09:34
By: Rob
Every class, evey regatta, results appear in a rush of enthusiasm, and then the ennui induced by the very hard work of running a Championship, the odd protest etc delays everything those of us desk bound just have to be patient or ring a friend!


Posted: 17/08/2010 08:35:24
By: ()
Tried that they are all asleep, I hope there is a typo on the results as I am not sure Chris Robinson will be happy about Chris Downham taking his place


Posted: 17/08/2010 09:12:36
By: Crew
Rather more seriously getting the results published quickly with a bit of blurb is only fair to the sponsors who see little enough for their money otherwise it becomes charity not sponsporship!


Posted: 17/08/2010 09:32:05
By: ()
Dear (), I'm sure that Andy would appreciate your assistance in getting the results and blurb in to the press, seeing as how he's juggling twenty other Champs-related tasks as well.


Posted: 17/08/2010 09:50:15
By: Alistair
Delegation - that's what's needed... takes the pressure of the organiser(s), keeps the sponsors happy and those of us not there have one less thing to be miserable about! 

Would happilly help out myself - there are enough people down there with my number so feel free to call and I'll put something together.


Posted: 17/08/2010 11:26:47
By: sophie
I have spoken with Caroline Hay this morning and raised our concerns. Together we hope to increase the publicity in the nationals, fingers crossed a full update should be with us all later on today.

Has anyone managed to find any results on the Penzance website, if so a link through on here would be much appreciated?


Posted: 17/08/2010 12:29:11
By: Lou
good luck to all, hope you're having a good time despite being one womble down! 

Also, what's going on? Why is Andy sailing the salmon and Phil sailing the General?

I've been a bit out of touch this season....


Posted: 17/08/2010 12:43:45
By: dangerous
Should the host club not be posting results daily ?


Posted: 17/08/2010 13:03:53
By: ...
With what we pay to the host club, why can we not use the results they provide to uploaded directly to Y&Y and the MR website. Have we asked them ? Perhaps it could be a condition when considering venues.


Posted: 17/08/2010 13:06:03
By: ()
A different ()! 
I note the Y&Y results in full posted on Sunday evening were by the Host Club!
It is of course just a few key strokes to upload the results but as () said there is irrespective of class, venue or club always a rush of enthusiasm that runs out pretty quickly, maybe because no one says thank you to the repaporteur!


Posted: 17/08/2010 13:53:29
By: ()
It might only be a few key strokes to upload but it is a huge hurdle if you have not got an internet connection and most clubs have not - cost outweighs benefit.


Posted: 17/08/2010 14:04:42
By: Pat2121
They have a computer cut a memory stick and go to an internet cafe if you can't find a hot spot not difficult these days or use one of the many blackberry's there will be there!


Posted: 17/08/2010 15:56:39
By: ()
The club does have internet and computers on site.


Posted: 17/08/2010 16:02:28
By: Penzance Pirate
to be fair ur lucky if you get any info outta cornwall,ive known great srong men to have visited the place for a mere week, and have never quite been the same since!


Posted: 17/08/2010 16:03:52
By: frank rowsell
1st Ian Dobson and Andy Tunnicliffe
2nd Stu Bithell and Christian Burrel
3rd Taxi and Tom Pygall
4th Will Warren and Chris Robinson
5th Jon Gorringe and Pete Horn


Posted: 17/08/2010 16:09:36
By: sophie
Penzance sailing will be posting the results daily on Y&Y yesterday this did not happen but it should happen for the remainder of the event. 

I can report that Penzance Sailing club have been doing a fantastic job looking after our fellow merlin sailors and their families both on and off the water. Andy Hay and his support team are all volunteers, some competitors and they are all are on holiday, therefore trying to balance a mass of responsibilty. So those of us not fortunate to make the event may just have to have a little patience in waiting for the results, but they are on their way. Thank you sophie has kindly posting them today.

I gather from speaking to Andy they have had a third day of shifty northerlys so are looking forward to a southerly soon. At the daily prize giving the race winner has been doing a question and answer session about why they made the decisions they did on the race course in order to win, which has been well received by all. Today it will be Ian Dobson's turn, followed by the fancy dress!

I am sure we look forward to the final closing report which will include a huge thank you to the sponsors at the end of the week


Posted: 17/08/2010 17:43:34
By: Lou
Results after 3 races on Y&Y at http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153403 with photos from day 1.

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153403

Posted: 18/08/2010 06:37:41
By: Mark Jardine
What happened to Ian Dobson then? He has gone from 1st to last?


Posted: 18/08/2010 08:39:16
By: Jez3645
I hear there were some protests yesterday, maybe Ian was the one who lost out.


Posted: 18/08/2010 08:45:50
By: Keith Callaghan
Would he not have been a DSQ then rather than 64th?

Wicked looks to be going well Keith, you must be pleased.


Posted: 18/08/2010 09:58:45
By: Jez3645
Steve is sailing Wicked very well, his middle race was only because he did not get a great start. Good boat speed upwind. Boat looks good on the water.


Posted: 18/08/2010 10:03:06
By: craig
We think the results are wrong and Ian was first, results at the club show this!


Posted: 18/08/2010 10:10:55
By: craig
Photos of the merlins

http://fotoboat.thirdlight.com/gallery.tlx?containerid=145272

Posted: 18/08/2010 10:17:24
By: Mel
It is nice to see that there is still half a dozen EZ Rollers out there and hand full of new and older designs still competing at a good level.


Posted: 18/08/2010 11:40:21
By: Jez3645
whats happening at the champs today


Posted: 18/08/2010 17:07:31
By: lb
1 - simon blake and alex jackson
2 - ian dobson and andy tunnicliffe
3 - richard whitworth and ollie turner
4 - william warren and chris robinson
5 - rich adams and rob kennaugh


Posted: 18/08/2010 17:38:03
By: sophie
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153418


Posted: 18/08/2010 22:40:56
By: ()
Link

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153418

Posted: 19/08/2010 08:36:36
By: Jez3645
Or even!

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153418

Posted: 19/08/2010 08:37:12
By: Penzance Pirate
The new Turner ship must be fairly on the money. Not bad for someone who hasnt sailed Merlins for ages and turned up with a new boat, new design etc.


Posted: 19/08/2010 09:07:53
By: :0)
Feedback is that she is quick upwind but downwind, may be the age/lack of preparation due to short leadup time. However, looks as if this one may go further and give another option.


Posted: 19/08/2010 14:42:53
By: Barnsie
Quicker than the modern Winders? Wouldn't that be great for the class ey!


Posted: 19/08/2010 14:57:29
By: ?
Actually it would be good for the class to have another competitive option (if he intends to build them for customers?) or otherwise the Merlin fleet will become a one design and one builder class as it does not look like the Hazardous design has stirred much interest to date .... might be wrong. So it is quick upwind but not quick down wind?


Posted: 19/08/2010 15:16:04
By: :0)
1 - stu Bithell and christian burrel
2 - ian dobson and andy tunnicliffe
3 - simon blake and alex jackson
4 - william warren and chris robinson
5 - mike calvert and chris downham


Posted: 19/08/2010 15:28:13
By: sophie
So it is now a straight fight between Stu and Ian, Stu needing a top 5 result or Ian to finish out side the top 4.

Willi Warren can still win, but would need a bullet with Stu outside the top 10.

At least it has gone to the last race!!

Wish I was there.


Posted: 19/08/2010 15:44:14
By: Jez3645
Of the 65 boats how many are not Winders ? how many builders are there this year ?


Posted: 19/08/2010 16:06:32
By: :0)
so a potential 1,2,3 for Goacher Sails?!


Posted: 19/08/2010 16:19:07
By: interested observer
1. I wish that this forum would make it obligatory for contributors to name themselves!
2. All this talk about new designs, good for the Class etc... is just talk, it seems. Remember that last year a non Winder, non Canterbury Tales (sort of) wooden boat won the Nationals. What happened? How many 'Business as Usuals" were built? None.
I wish Jon the very best of luck if he intends returning to the business of building Merlin Rockets.


Posted: 19/08/2010 16:52:08
By: Keith Callaghan
I did not know if Stu was using Goacher Sails, but that would be a turn up, might stop people buying Hydes all of a sudden.

By My count 12 boats that are not Winder Tales. There is obviously Jon in his new boat and Nick in his, but there is a Ticket to Ride (3713 which is in the book as a Winder but isn't), Gangsta and BAU both LIR's, Wicked 3708 Callagan/Smart, Danger batt Winder/Holt I think, a few EZ Rollers, and a Rowsell Tales.

So that would be 8 designs all bar one a derivative of the Tales. Wicked was fresh thinking which is nice. But Jon has a few trick bits on his which you can see in the pictures which are obviously making some difference.

Also a number of builders represented out there. Winder (Guy and Dave), Laurie Smart, Rowsell, Jon Turner, Nick Turner, Kevin Driver, Linton Jenkins and even Jacko is out there! Although he is sailing a winder you can bet he has one of his masts on there along with half the fleet.

It is a little harder to tell what the rigs and sails are, but I bet there is a few different sail makers out there. Has anyone got a CST Mast on?


Posted: 19/08/2010 16:52:30
By: Jez3645
Keith, I totally agree that it would have been nice to see some people opting for a wooden boat again, however I would imagine allot of the boats that have been built since then were ordered before then.

I for one would buy a new wooden boat from either Kevin, Laurie or Jon if I had the money, knew it would be quick and thought I would get a good second hand value for it. The problem is that I have no money to buy a new one and can't guarantee the used value. This is the problem as you could almost have a glasses guide for the winders now as they are so predictably priced.


Posted: 19/08/2010 17:11:08
By: Jez3645
It might be a Goucher 1,2,3 but look at the sailers, Olympic Squadies !!
And Will has won the nationals with P&Bs, won Salcombe week with Speeds so is it the sails ?? Where are the 1st gouchers that have been paid for !!


Posted: 19/08/2010 17:28:42
By: another observer
'another observer' (whoever you are) - why not donate a trophy for the nationals - to the first helmsman and crew who have not received any sponsorship. How far down the list would you have to go?


Posted: 19/08/2010 17:51:48
By: Keith Callaghan
Jez, you've hit on a point about wooden boats. A wooden boat is the most cost effective way to produce a prototype new design (unless you are a Jon Turner), but then how do you make the transition to FRP or whatever, if that wooden prototype is successful? In the current climate, it is not going to happen. And anyway, who is going to commission a one-off prototype? There are very few Rob Holroyds around. (Only one, in fact).


Posted: 19/08/2010 17:58:40
By: Keith Callaghan
Merlins always have had Olympic contenders and pros sailing, surely it is an attraction of the class (Solos have the same situation happening this week)that you can sail against the very best, I still fondly remember as a seventeen year old crossing Phil Crebbin sailing Substitute at the windward mark at Arun, you can't compete directly with the best in any other sport.

I also notice the rather harsh comments about the online results coverage both hear and previously for Salcombe, the solution is simple, turn up and sail.


Posted: 19/08/2010 17:59:55
By: David
here here


Posted: 19/08/2010 19:18:04
By: ..
We looked at the option of producing a new FRP mould 3 years ago and ran through the numbers. With the requirement of 20 boats to make it worth tooling up and looking at the size of the market, decided I could not be the benefactor to that extent and opted to put a deposit on a top end Winder as it would be hard to better. Unfortunately the deposit is still there, but the house is going up and the garage has a workshop/cradle area in the roof to take a Merlin and trailer. The guys on site were puzzled by the structures design until I enlightened them today. So hopefully we'll soon have the boat in the roof ready to push the buttion when required. Roll on next year (one hopes). Bye for now


Posted: 19/08/2010 23:47:02
By: barnsie
Dear Keith, I'd love to commission another wooden boat but suspect Sonia might have a few terse words..........! Having gone that route with Enchantment and I guess to a lesser extent with Deep Thought, I can report that it is a satisfying exercise. However, when you can afford to do it, conversely you haven't the time to sail it properly (i.e. on the circuit) and I can see the attraction of a well laid out FRP boat. Sigh...right off to get the lotto ticket.


Posted: 20/08/2010 10:33:03
By: (Chris Rathbone
Stu Bithell may be a squadie but still competes regularly at Hollingworth in club racing (as do Andy T& steve goacher)
Observers familiar with the class will remember he crewed for Boris for two years guiding him to 3rd in the silver tiller in 2000
he first helmed the 2003 nationals finishing 12th and commissioned and owned "NORA" for some time therfore his Merlin credentials outstrip many

good luck today


Posted: 20/08/2010 10:40:57
By: julian parry
In his current form Julian I think he will do it. It will take a bad race from him and a good race from the other two to deny him now.


Posted: 20/08/2010 11:10:21
By: Jez3645
If they race at all the conditions look "challenging" to say the least! Eitherway he's odds on.


Posted: 20/08/2010 11:11:52
By: Penzance Pirate
Good luck to Stuart I also can remember him as Boris's cheeky crew. Wasnt lacking confidence back then! GOOD lUCK

As far as boat designs/builders etc i always felt taking a mould off a Let it Ride would have been the way forward. Which one to take it off not sure but my brothers old boat Rong Number was a very quick boat built in wood. What it would be like being lighter, stiffer etc would have been interesting, but will never know?


Posted: 20/08/2010 12:17:12
By: James - Charge 3431
Is the Ticket to Ride not a mould of Gangsta? I thought it was but had been played with a little. I agree with James though, that would have been a good move I think.


Posted: 20/08/2010 12:27:24
By: Jez3645
I think Ticket to Ride was a moulded Easy Roller which was twicked to be more like a Let it Ride, rather than a mould taken off a wooden Let it Ride boat.  Like all things unless a top helm uses these latest designs they rarely get proven and so people want buy them.  But all the Let it Rides built by Kevin Driver all went extremely well.


Posted: 20/08/2010 12:32:18
By: James - Charge 3431
I meant 'won't' buy them


Posted: 20/08/2010 12:33:34
By: James - Charge 3431
I had the only LIR not built by Kevin and she went very well too. Particularly on the river oddly enough! It is a real shame that nobody has bought another one from him as I still think they are the fastest design out there.


Posted: 20/08/2010 13:02:37
By: Jez3645
1 - stu Bithell and christian burrel
2 - richard whitworth and ollie turner
3 - ian dobson and andy tunnicliffe
4 - jon gorringe and pete horn
5 - mike calvert and chris downham


Posted: 20/08/2010 14:13:40
By: sophie
well done stu


Posted: 20/08/2010 14:33:03
By: lesb
Brilliant news - well done Stu & Christian.

Have a good party tonight!

ATB

GGGGGGG


Posted: 20/08/2010 15:28:32
By: Measurement Man
Well done Stu and Christian. Also well done to Ian And Andy for making them earn it!!

Enjoy the party.


Posted: 20/08/2010 15:34:14
By: Jez3645
Well Done Stu & Christian.


Posted: 20/08/2010 15:52:26
By: Stuart Bates (MR3615)
well done Stu and Christian


Posted: 20/08/2010 16:22:07
By: Sally Townend
A fantastic result, well done boys.


Posted: 20/08/2010 17:03:06
By: Ian Platt
Well done Stu 
Drinks are on Les, Platty you have no excuse now!!!!


Posted: 20/08/2010 17:09:15
By: julian parry
Oh and Christian !


Posted: 20/08/2010 17:10:20
By: julian parry
Brilliant campaign , well done Stu & Christian .


Posted: 20/08/2010 18:07:01
By: Andy Pilkington
I wonder when we will get the final results in full.


Posted: 20/08/2010 18:33:32
By: Keith Callaghan
Here we go ...


Posted: 20/08/2010 18:55:15
By: David
Just wondering......


Posted: 20/08/2010 19:50:23
By: Keith Callaghan
Oh!  Yachts and Yachting have the results!

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153462

Posted: 20/08/2010 19:54:46
By: Keith Callaghan
I hope every body had a good week, it sounds as if it was a classic hard fought week, with worthy winners, and interest in new designs too. There have been several posts making mainly good points, from the view of a distant observer I thought I should add some thoughts.

In common with a lot of people I maintain a keen interest in the class that gave me 9 happy years and which is arguably the finest two person racing dinghy there is.

I do not think anyone has (as has been suggested.) made harsh comments in this thread, simply a request to know what is occurring somewhere, where many wish they were, but cannot be, for any number of honourable reasons. This business of getting results to the wider world quickly, is apposite, it is no good saying, “go there and sail”, nor is pleading lack of help at the regatta really a very good reason. I was at a regatta two weeks ago where the places at each mark and vaguely what was happening on the water were twittered to the wider interested world, in almost real time. (Gave the WAGS and HABFS someting to look at too!) Sadly there are many who for good reasons are not where they would like to be – on the water racing at The Merlin Rocket Championships – Including some of the sponsors. I would hazard an educated guess that there are lots of people in Penzance at the Sailing Club texting to various correspondents all the time. (There always are!) So why not enlist them? Sponsorship is hard to get and will get harder, it is to the credit of the organizers the Merlin Rockets got as many as they did.), one thing for sure the sponsors do not do it from entirely altruistic reasons and most expect the wider coverage of press and media generally too, others will do it in recognition of business received and hoped for in the future, all would hope for media exposure and publicity. Some classes give the competitors transponders which with a sat link mean you can watch the race from above and probably know more than those on the water, very instructive post race to watch a replay too!

I would not have thought that the class as presently constituted represented a big enough market for Sail Makers to start a sail-making price / gift war, but that is their business. One thing is for sure the rest will pay for it! Since the 1960’s the class has had its professional sailors who were either boat builders, spar and sail-makers even designers. Even the occasional very rich owner and owner sailor. It has always attracted visiting talent and grown its own too. It used to have amateur boat builders, amateur sail-makers and most did maintenance themselves, today few of us do that in any class, though we still know how, our lives are busier than they were, this is of course a lot more expensive

I am sure it is common ground that the class is for many reasons, risk averse, I do not believe for one minute that the ultimate boat has been built nor the ideal layout or rig arrived at, but the cost of going it alone puts off nearly everybody, though perhaps it need not be as expensive as it is, a keep it simple approach might help.

Keith Callaghan makes some good points so does Jez, and others too.

Keith makes the suggestion of a “Corinthian Trophy” I do not know, but I would hazard a guess that that is what the Deed of Gift of the Yachting World Trophy says! So an “All Comers Trophy” might be more appropriate? (Adopting the ISAF Sailor Classifications which provided the form is filled in honestly gives the classification the sailor is.-You can do it online in 5 minutes.) I do not know but worth checking the Deed of Gift. That is if enough people are worried about the situation.

I accept that time has blurred the amateur/sham am/professional distinctions and definitions and application are no longer as draconian as they once were. Maybe across the sport (Away from the Five Ring Circus, which is professional - The RYA Olymopic Squad even have their own falconer to frighten the seagulls!.) maybe they need to be again, maybe not I am agnostic.


Posted: 20/08/2010 22:48:52
By: David Child

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