MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : 3364 Shadowfax

What news of Shadowfax Michael? Email me some pics if you have any?! Hope all's well, A


Posted: 23/10/2013 10:49:09
By: Andy
What news of Shadowfax Michael? Email me some pics if you have any?! Hope all's well, A


Posted: 23/10/2013 10:49:09
By: Andy
Indeed - boats don't make a class...people do. Although Merlins are nice enough that they certainly help :-)


Posted: 23/10/2013 10:49:09
By: Andy
I recently bought my first Merlin, 3364 Shadowfax. Aside from what is on the measurement certificate, I know very little about the history of the boat. 

Does anyone have any old pictures or stories from her heyday in the mid 80s? I see she won the Silver Tiller in 1986. Must have been a well known boat at the time.


Posted: 03/12/2013 21:39:51
By: Michael MacL
Pretty sure this was originaly sailed by Chris Howarth & Nigel Appleton so would have been right up there in the early to mid 80's.


Posted: 04/12/2013 13:18:56
By: RH .
A very successful boat. Chris Howarth and Pete Richards went down to the wire for the 86 nationals with Andys Street and Pickrell at Abersoch.  It was a nice looking Rowsell boat.


Posted: 04/12/2013 23:07:34
By: Mark Nicholson
If I recall it was Chris and Nigel Howarth that owned it - Nigel Appleton may have guested on occasion..

GGG


Posted: 05/12/2013 11:19:04
By: Measurement Man
I've written about the boat already in the book but don't have access right now to that chapter (upgrading the IT!) but from what I recall, it was a Rowsell hull that Chris and Nigel completed themselves.
The boat had a wonderful record - in 1986 it was runner up in both the Inlands and Nationals but won the Silver Tiller(having been runner up the year before).

D


Posted: 05/12/2013 12:04:26
By: Dougal
All sounds encouraging.

She's in the garage just now getting the decks revarnished, and generally tidied up a bit. Overall, she's in very good condition. The hull is rock solid.

The rigging needs a bit of attention which I'm looking forward to getting stuck into.

Expect lots of questions before the spring on rigging and all that fun.


Posted: 05/12/2013 13:10:30
By: Michael MacL
Sorry for the lack of knowledge here, what design is Shadowfax?

I have 3365, which is also built by Rowsell.


Posted: 05/12/2013 15:52:54
By: Piers Barrow
3364 is a Phil Morrison designed NSM4.


Posted: 05/12/2013 17:22:19
By: Tony Lane
That's interesting.

Would it be normal for the builders of the time, such as Rowsell to switch between different designs?

The reason for asking is If 3364 is an NSM4, it would indicate they would as to the best of my knowledge 3365 is an NSM2 which was also a Rowsell boat.

Unless of course 3365 isn't a NSM2 but is a 4.


Posted: 06/12/2013 09:42:25
By: Piers Barrow
Piers, 3365 'Del Boy' is indeed an NSM 2 and you will find that 3362 is a Summer wine. All 3 boats are likely to have been in the shed at the same time. It was not unusual back then for a builder to be building various designs at the same time as customers had different requirements.


Posted: 06/12/2013 09:58:48
By: Jez 3719
Thanks Jez. I thought that was the case,

Very interesting, I was also quite amazed when I saw the rear end of Shadowfax on the Pure magic facebook page how similar the NSM4 and the NSM2 look.

Perhaps Michael we can share pics as I'm also currently giving 3365 a strip down and a lick of paint and varnish - and new hardware.


Posted: 06/12/2013 10:16:00
By: Piers Barrow
I think that if Piers Barrow joined the Merlin Rocket Owners' Association he'd find that the Year Book contains most of the information he's been seeking. The MROA started in 1945 with the assistance of the Yachting World. I've been involved in the class one way and another since I was a schoolboy and I'm certain that without the association there would be no Merlin Rockets. So Piers if you've already joined welcome, if not I urge you to do so.


Posted: 16/02/2014 08:29:45
By: Robert Harris
Chris Howarth also won the Hamble Warming Pan in Shadow Fax in 1986. Probably new boat this season as he won in 1985 in Filter Tipped.


Posted: 30/04/2020 22:37:14
By: Viv Holt
Shadowfax has been looking for a new owner recently (Facebook - Merlin Rocket Revival Fleet) fingers crossed has found one together with a carbon rig,good news for the classic fleet..............


Posted: 17/05/2020 22:35:26
By: Carl Whitehill
She has been bought by my friend Simon Moss, he is collecting her in the next month to start the restoration.
 
 


Posted: 21/05/2020 13:52:21
By: Gareth Griffiths

REPLY

To Reply, please join/renew membership.

Owners Association


Developed & Supported by YorkSoft Ltd

Contact

Merlin Rocket Owners Association
Secretary