in the Design Guide there is no mention of the pairing, why may i ask (as a complete novice to Merlin sailing!!); are there no records?? : as far as i can tell they were very influential, certainly in the rivers, so why aren't they listed!!
peter

For some reason there are no designs listed in the Design Guide from before the late 1960s. Jack Holt and Ian Proctor were the most influential designers in the 1950s and early 1960s. They are not in the Design Guide yet many of the their boats are prominent in Vintage and river racing. 

Also missing from the Design Guide are Mike Jackson who designed some fast boats, R. Debenham and Nick Truman, designers/builders of the successful 'Scoter' series, Tony Watts designed 'Krakawot' no. 2258 that won the 1969 Championship, several others are also missing including Brookes and Deadman.

Information about this period could be useful to people like Peter thinking of joining the class.

Possibly there's additional information available elsewhere.

Ian Proctor's designs are covered but not Holt's nor the others named.  Chris Martin who updated the modern guide would not even have been a gleam in his mother's eyes at the time so you can understand why the old designs were not covered.

If someone from the Vintage fraternity wrote a guide to the vintage designs, I am surely Mags would find space to post it here.

The original design guide (see link) does in fact mention several of the old designs which are popular with river sailors, such as the Scoter series - I had a forerunner, a Northern Light, which went very well at Ranelagh but was a handful at Salcombe.  Proctor IX, IXb, XI, XII and XVI are all still good river boats and many were built.  The later Holt designs are rare and sought after e.g. Passing Cloud, and are not mentioned in the design guide.

I knew  George and Nigel quite well and had a boat from them ( 1934 ) which was half way between a Adur 7 and 8 . Tom Lance had a lot of input into their designs which after the Adur 3 went in the direction of flatter rocker and max rise of floor ( they went too far with the Adur 6 !!! )

Sorry Neville Brookes

looks as though i'd better do some research then, doesn't it!!! : then pass the results on - will that be ok?? - peter