Definition
What is a Merlin Rocket
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Hull: At 14ft by 7ft 2ins, the modern boats are very wide compared to other classes, giving maximum righting moment when hiking, without needing a trapeze. The earlier hull shapes were much narrower, when river sailing was a priority. We are one of the few classes to stick with clinker construction (wood or plastic), making very beautiful boats, and no - that doesn't make them heavy! |
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Sails: Mainsail shapes are very distinctive, with a long top batten giving extra area high up. The rules allow for different sail plans but most new boats since the early 1990s have opted for what has become more or less a class 'standard'. A large symmetric spinnaker gives exciting reaches, and allows running too - an important consideration on rivers and restricted water where asymmetrics cannot operate. |
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Spars: Most boats launched in the last 15 years have deck stepped masts and are rigged with systems that easily allow the mast rake to be adjusted under way, so the boat is always well balanced. (The newest boats have a single string that controls the rake and adjusts all the relevant controls at once!) The top crews opt for carbon fibre to keep weight right down, but most boats have aluminium spars. Twin spinnaker poles are normally used, stowed along the boom. |
Sailors: A few 'household' names have been heavily involved with the class, from Jack Holt who designed the first Merlin in 1946, through Beecher Moore, Spud Rowsell, Phil Morrison, Ian Proctor, Jon Turner, John Oakley and Lawrie Smith. Looking around todays fleet, you will notice many more female crews than in other classes, plus a high proportion of husband/wife and parent/child combinations. Right from the start the class was designed to encourage this equality, and it also makes for better socials too! |
Topic | Author | Latest Post | Views | Posts | |
Itchenor Racing 3/4 October - all invited | George Yeoman | 28/09/2020 14:54:49 - | 347 | 1 | |
Chairman Announcement | M.R.O.A. Committee | 27/09/2020 17:50:41 - | 509 | 1 | |
Merlin Rocket General Meeting 2020 Announcement | M.R.O.A. Committee | 26/09/2020 12:58:31 - Lou Johnson | 413 | 1 | |
Free! Proctor 9B centreboard | Team Downham | 24/09/2020 19:31:46 - Richard | 606 | 3 | |
Nationals 2021 | Chris M | 16/09/2020 14:11:31 - Chris Martin | 1160 | 4 | |
MROA EGM - 17/10/2020 at HISC | Chris Kilsby | 15/09/2020 13:26:45 - Matt 3494 | 1698 | 8 | |
Event photos and reports | Lou Johnson | 14/09/2020 13:14:15 - | 398 | 1 | |
Tamesis - De May & Thames Series opens - 19th September 2020 | Joe McL | 14/09/2020 12:42:44 - Tammy Merlins | 375 | 2 | |
Is this a Merlin Rocket Emblem? | Eric | 12/09/2020 21:19:07 - Mark | 1391 | 3 | |
Midlands Open Meeting | Mark Reddington | 11/09/2020 09:34:06 - Redders | 590 | 2 | |
Ranelagh Downriver Race - September 6th - Thames and de May Open | Frances Gifford | 09/09/2020 14:11:17 - Chris M, TSC. | 1521 | 8 | |
paint - technical question | 08/09/2020 20:15:15 - John B | 4139 | 13 | ||
Jib tack back and other upgrades | Steve M | 08/09/2020 08:13:02 - Gareth Griffiths NHRC | 1014 | 9 | |
My name''s Martin and I''m a ...... | Rousey | 05/09/2020 22:42:36 - NicW | 835 | 5 | |
3656 Wild Card FOR SALE | Olly Turner | 05/09/2020 10:35:17 - Olly Turner | 1428 | 5 | |
UTSC Open De May and Thames Series 12th September 2020 | Jeremy | 01/09/2020 12:14:52 - Chris Rathbone | 433 | 2 | |
Lymington Town Sailing Club Merlin Rocket Open 29 - 30 August | Louise Johnson | 31/08/2020 08:59:44 - Jemma 3704 | 1600 | 13 | |
MR 2720 | 28/08/2020 00:54:50 - Jerry Ibberson | 1011 | 14 | ||
URGENT - UPDATE ON RUDDER FENCES | Dan Alsop, Class Technical Officer | 25/08/2020 14:26:33 - Antony Gifford | 5602 | 105 | |
What boat numbers are competitive? | 22/08/2020 22:48:01 - Stuart Bates | 2910 | 23 | ||
Plans for 2021 Season | M.R.O.A. Committee | 19/08/2020 12:28:55 - | 496 | 1 | |
Inland Championships Bala - Cancelled | M.R.O.A. Committee | 14/08/2020 12:09:06 - | 347 | 1 | |
Itchenor event w/c 8 August - thoughts? | George Yeoman | 13/08/2020 18:40:28 - George Yeoman111 | 1777 | 12 | |
Committee Vacancy for the role of Honary Treasurer | Martin Smith | 10/08/2020 18:08:42 - Martin Smith | 431 | 1 | |
Sailing a Merlin 2 people different households | Logan | 07/08/2020 14:33:44 - Louise Johnson | 1975 | 19 | |
Proposal to amend the Owners’ Association Rules | Chris Kilsby | 06/08/2020 11:53:33 - Chris Kilsby | 707 | 7 | |
Ian Garwood | Chris M | 04/08/2020 13:49:22 - Stephen Crowder | 4189 | 28 | |
Silver Tiller Cancelled | M.R.O.A. Committee | 03/08/2020 21:01:48 - Richard | 422 | 3 | |
Merlin 3560 LUKA | Stuart Jenkins | 29/07/2020 20:13:10 - Stuart J | 439 | 1 | |
Latest mag | Tim Medcalf MR596 | 29/07/2020 17:02:29 - Chris | 1441 | 19 | |
Salcombe years gone by | RC3715 | 26/07/2020 19:28:53 - RC3715 | 439 | 2 | |
Race your Merlin in Barbados | Paul Hollis | 21/07/2020 18:48:57 - Andy Jones | 3994 | 30 | |
Apparent wind | Logan | 21/07/2020 16:22:24 - Rousey | 542 | 8 | |
East Lothian champs dates | Logan | 19/07/2020 23:09:27 - Pat Blake | 449 | 5 | |
Adur 3 | Tim Medcalf | 16/07/2020 08:27:01 - David Seer | 2168 | 14 | |
1963 Merlin rocket | Tim Clothier | 15/07/2020 14:32:33 - Former Whitstable Pro | 992 | 2 | |
Spinnaker Poles for sale? | Carl Mayhew | 08/07/2020 11:03:39 - Ben Green | 608 | 5 | |
Spinnakers for sale? | Carl Mayhew | 04/07/2020 20:04:29 - Frances Gifford | 415 | 2 | |
Getting Back on the water RYA | RC3715 | 03/07/2020 13:13:08 - | 503 | 1 | |
Scamming sales enquiry ? | Rob Hatley | 01/07/2020 23:05:59 - Loz | 722 | 3 | |
rules, i love rules. | Matt 3494 | 30/06/2020 17:51:14 - Jo & rod sceptical | 1259 | 14 | |
Ken Lawton sad news | Colin | 26/06/2020 12:07:54 - David Greening | 636 | 2 | |
Links around the website | Rousey 3634 | 26/06/2020 11:55:09 - Martin Smith | 428 | 2 | |
Shoreham ST cancellation | William Warren | 24/06/2020 12:22:55 - | 714 | 1 | |
2002 merlin rules | Ezi dave | 24/06/2020 11:10:43 - Stuart Bates | 816 | 5 | |
Poole Week | JonCG | 18/06/2020 20:52:45 - | 525 | 1 | |
One String System | Ainslie French | 16/06/2020 16:34:46 - Ainslie French | 1364 | 22 | |
New jib Bar | Matt | 13/06/2020 08:16:02 - Chris Martin | 734 | 5 | |
Fly Guy Sail Nos 3312 | Paul Good | 11/06/2020 10:18:54 - Stuart Bates | 870 | 4 | |
Problems with Coast & Country Cottages booking for Merlin Week | Keith Callaghan | 05/06/2020 19:25:09 - Jo Haworth | 1848 | 26 | |
Minima YC De May & Thames Series Event CANCELLED. | Stuart Jenkins | 02/06/2020 14:28:30 - Stuart J | 11775 | 1 | |
Tenby Championships - Cancelled | MROA Committee | 01/06/2020 21:31:31 - | 724 | 1 | |
Merlin 3009/3911 | William Grime | 01/06/2020 20:52:14 - David Greening | 816 | 9 | |
Silver Tiller Questionnaire | M.R.O.A. Committee | 01/06/2020 09:23:00 - MROA Committee | 580 | 2 | |
Free sails | Chris Grosscurth | 31/05/2020 11:05:56 - Grozzer813 | 429 | 1 | |
Free sails | Chris Grosscurth | 31/05/2020 10:51:25 - Grozzer813 | 311 | 1 | |
Masts | Timothy Rogers | 23/05/2020 21:42:10 - Richard B | 1266 | 9 | |
Mainsheet hoop track | Timothy Rogers | 23/05/2020 21:15:49 - Gareth Griffiths NHRC | 850 | 7 | |
Merlin Rocket National Championships Update | MROA Committee | 23/05/2020 00:25:47 - Martin Smith | 2408 | 16 | |
What we are missing this weekend | Andrew Mills | 22/05/2020 09:20:17 - Andrew Mills | 441 | 1 | |
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