I have just finished Peter Males contribution and note that he has decided not to sail at his local club.  Having been a Merlin owner and member of the Association continuously since 1978, I find myself wondering whether the class is becoming solely focused on the "open meeting" brigade.  The constraints of family and professional commitments  have meant that my  sailing for many years has been restricted to club racing  on evenings and the occassional   Saturday afternoon. The open meeting is not an option.
In our club fleet we have a wide range of classes competing --- RS400s,  Merlin(Winder4), Hadron,  Aeros6&9, Wayfarers, RS2000s,  OK , Solos and Lasers. I have tried over the years to promote the MR,  particularly slightly older examples that are available to younger sailors on tight budgets  and an NSM,  a Ghost Rider and Smokers have come and gone. Gone due to lack of success in racing.
My own boat, (old ,immaculate ,well equipped and  an absolute joy to sail), races off a handicap of PY+40.  Racing in this boat I stuggle to compete effectively and confess to using my OK most of the time. Despite being a class not known  as a great handicap boat (apparently  faster than a Laser now),  I do pretty well. This leads to a suspicion that the PY for older MRs is somewhat harsh. The allowance has not changed for years and years despite the "circuit"  boats getting ever faster (and more expensive).  Those of us who love and treasure our "furniture" are being left behind and club racing in these craft seems to be dying.                 Roger Cole

Hi Roger,
I feel your pain!
I own 2 JT sideboards, not immaculate but nice nontheless, either are an absolute joy to sail and look at.
Im setting off to the nationals on Friday to sail with my son in my younger boat which is just over thirty years old and sports a very modern rig - Im obviously going to win as Im super fit, down to weight, and ready to go(not really). But the reality is Im just as excited to be going as many other competitors and am unlikely to embarress myself.
Tim Male will be sailing against us in Peters boat(he will probably beat us) - bring it on, and we will be racing against other friends who I enjoy socialising and catching up with.
This will be the only dinghy sailing I will get to do this year bar some fifteening at one of my old haunts.
I constantly feel the pressure of "upgrading" to a fabulous looking more recent sail number and frequently put it to my son asking him what he thinks - it doesnt add up for us at the moment.
So my advice to you Roger, is to keep on looking for your crew, keep on sailing that immaculate well equiped joy to sail, overlook the results and savour every minute - theyre not making them anymore!
kind regards
Carl Whitehill 3449 3357
 
 
 

 Hi Carl,     thanks for the advice.  I dont need to to look for my crew--my son, and now grandchildren, are brilliant at it!  We sail for the pleasure of it in this beautiful boat and if the results are a priority I sail the OK.
 My concern is that trying to persuade potential racers to enter the game  by buying an older MR for not a lot of money, is a waste of time as they are perceived to be non competitive under the current handicaps.  There must be a number of really nice boats out there in the clubs that are not being used (and no doubt gently rotting away) that could be cheaply purchased and sailed in handicap races.  A great introduction to handling a throughbred dinghy.  
Sadly, the vintage circuit which could have been the answer seems to be dominated by extensively restored ,narrow "river" boats with full carbon rigs--- not quite the  inexpensive introduction to the class that is needed.    My fear is that the Ghosties, Smokers, Winderboxs and Hexagons will soon be gone and as you say  "theyre not making them anymore!"     
                                                               Roger Cole     MR3031