Hi all,

I have recently purchased 3284, a 1980s NSM. 
This is my 2nd  time owning a Merlin (and the 3rd owned within my family), after a brief hiatus without crew leading to a Phantom. 

Looking to sail with some other Merlins and wondered what the demographic is? Are there many of you in the North? (I am in Cumbria, not too far from Windermere).

In the Phantoms they have a Northern Championship series, is there anything like this here? (I remember participating in a Scottish series). 

Thank you,

Liam.

Hi
We have Silver Tiller events at Hollingworth, Plas Heli, Blithfield and Midland Sailing club & Midland Circuit events at Swarkstone & Trent Valley to come this year.
Birmingham is the most Southerly of these.
See the fixtures list.

 Hi Liam,
 
There is a fleet of Merlins active at Hollingworth if you fancy popping down some weekends.  There are also Merlins around the area, Blackpool and Bolton have some on the books.  I also believe there may be one or two around the Lake District, but currently there isn't much in the way of a Northern Circuit or Champs.
 
Regards

Hi guys,
Thank you for your replies. I will take a look at the fixtures list and definitely try to get to some if not all of the events mentioned above. 
I saw on the PY page age adjustments (mine being around 1030) is this used in the class racing events or just to be used as a guide for club racing?
Thank you
Liam.

The adjusted PYs are for club handicap racing only, but based on events so far this year you should have some "peer group" boats to race against. Also I doubt very much whether you'd be outclasses at at most of those venues.

Hi Liam
 
You should join the association. All details on membership form  on website 

Hi Liam, the impromptu Scottish series is going ahead again this year - I've got 3236 (also an NSM1) which is to lend, and 3376 (my racing boat). There's also 2978, 3072, 3122, 3468, 3546, 3579, Wuthering Heights, a Gnome I can't remember the number of offhand, a ghost rider, an frp nsm2 (which is getting carbon rig and decks) and two Summer Wines (keep hearing of more boats I didnt know about) so your boat would be in good company. Plan is dual results (line and handicap) to reflect boat ages, although line takes priority as it is a development class after all.

Currently we are all still getting boats ready after a protracted winter, but looks like first weekend is East Lothian YC early June, then Largo Bay late June. Last weekend August is Cumbraes regatta in Largs, and first weekend Sept is Loch Lomond for an informal Scottish champs to help decide on 2 boats to send to RYAS Champion of Champions. A couple of us are looking at doing Hollingworth ST to finish the season. There will hopefully be some training in there somewhere if our RYAS grant application is successful too.

Search "Scottish Merlin Rockets" on Facebook if you want to keep abreast of developments!

Andy