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 | |
East Lothian champs dates | Logan | 19/07/2020 23:09:27 - Pat Blake | 376 | 5 | |
Adur 3 | Tim Medcalf | 16/07/2020 08:27:01 - David Seer | 2080 | 14 | |
1963 Merlin rocket | Tim Clothier | 15/07/2020 14:32:33 - Former Whitstable Pro | 924 | 2 | |
Spinnaker Poles for sale? | Carl Mayhew | 08/07/2020 11:03:39 - Ben Green | 554 | 5 | |
Spinnakers for sale? | Carl Mayhew | 04/07/2020 20:04:29 - Frances Gifford | 351 | 2 | |
Getting Back on the water RYA | RC3715 | 03/07/2020 13:13:08 - | 444 | 1 | |
Scamming sales enquiry ? | Rob Hatley | 01/07/2020 23:05:59 - Loz | 661 | 3 | |
rules, i love rules. | Matt 3494 | 30/06/2020 17:51:14 - Jo & rod sceptical | 1198 | 14 | |
Ken Lawton sad news | Colin | 26/06/2020 12:07:54 - David Greening | 572 | 2 | |
Links around the website | Rousey 3634 | 26/06/2020 11:55:09 - Martin Smith | 360 | 2 | |
Shoreham ST cancellation | William Warren | 24/06/2020 12:22:55 - | 657 | 1 | |
2002 merlin rules | Ezi dave | 24/06/2020 11:10:43 - Stuart Bates | 731 | 5 | |
Poole Week | JonCG | 18/06/2020 20:52:45 - | 461 | 1 | |
One String System | Ainslie French | 16/06/2020 16:34:46 - Ainslie French | 1284 | 22 | |
New jib Bar | Matt | 13/06/2020 08:16:02 - Chris Martin | 675 | 5 | |
Fly Guy Sail Nos 3312 | Paul Good | 11/06/2020 10:18:54 - Stuart Bates | 803 | 4 | |
Pebbles 3377 | Tobester | 06/06/2020 22:00:56 - | 445 | 1 | |
Problems with Coast & Country Cottages booking for Merlin Week | Keith Callaghan | 05/06/2020 19:25:09 - Jo Haworth | 1779 | 26 | |
Minima YC De May & Thames Series Event CANCELLED. | Stuart Jenkins | 02/06/2020 14:28:30 - Stuart J | 11699 | 1 | |
Tenby Championships - Cancelled | MROA Committee | 01/06/2020 21:31:31 - | 626 | 1 | |
Merlin 3009/3911 | William Grime | 01/06/2020 20:52:14 - David Greening | 748 | 9 | |
Silver Tiller Questionnaire | M.R.O.A. Committee | 01/06/2020 09:23:00 - MROA Committee | 521 | 2 | |
Free sails | Chris Grosscurth | 31/05/2020 11:05:56 - Grozzer813 | 353 | 1 | |
Free sails | Chris Grosscurth | 31/05/2020 10:51:25 - Grozzer813 | 253 | 1 | |
Masts | Timothy Rogers | 23/05/2020 21:42:10 - Richard B | 1183 | 9 | |
Mainsheet hoop track | Timothy Rogers | 23/05/2020 21:15:49 - Gareth Griffiths NHRC | 772 | 7 | |
Merlin Rocket National Championships Update | MROA Committee | 23/05/2020 00:25:47 - Martin Smith | 2330 | 16 | |
What we are missing this weekend | Andrew Mills | 22/05/2020 09:20:17 - Andrew Mills | 342 | 1 | |
3364 Shadowfax | 21/05/2020 13:52:21 - Gareth Griffiths | 2639 | 14 | ||
Hull / Deck join | Elodie Grenen | 18/05/2020 10:44:55 - Elodie Grenen | 557 | 5 | |
MROA AGM Cancelled | Chris Kilsby | 18/05/2020 10:23:56 - | 467 | 1 | |
Sad News Mike Liggett. | Jon Cowper 3463. | 17/05/2020 17:45:59 - Tony Johnson | 556 | 2 | |
Merlin Week update 30/3/2020. | Graham Cranford Smith SYC. | 16/05/2020 19:43:36 - Steve M | 1627 | 8 | |
Merlin Rocket e-Sailing - RYA Spring Championships - ENTER! | Chris Kilsby | 16/05/2020 11:12:16 - Chris Kilsby | 903 | 5 | |
Merlins and social distancing | Andrew Mills | 14/05/2020 17:33:13 - Dan H | 993 | 7 | |
Merlin Week 2021 | Graham Cranford Smith SYC. | 13/05/2020 11:27:27 - RH | 2541 | 9 | |
Brightlingsea SC Silver Tiller 6-7th | Andy Bines | 04/05/2020 10:09:24 - | 509 | 1 | |
3646 | Hamish ex3321 | 01/05/2020 18:52:08 - Andy 3376 | 862 | 4 | |
ST results to date | Ross | 27/04/2020 12:25:07 - Ross | 513 | 1 | |
Salcombe Guide on Y & Y | Andrew Mills | 20/04/2020 11:54:06 - David Greening | 754 | 5 | |
Spring Magazine | Pat Blake | 15/04/2020 23:23:37 - Derik Palmer | 1393 | 14 | |
Sheerline | Tim Rogers | 15/04/2020 13:20:35 - Timothy Rogers | 572 | 3 | |
Dickie Dee | Richard Adams | 11/04/2020 16:22:54 - | 662 | 1 | |
NSM1 design | Mike Blunt | 10/04/2020 19:08:45 - mike blunt | 752 | 6 | |
One string rake | Rousey | 10/04/2020 08:36:50 - Gareth Griffiths NHRC | 608 | 5 | |
And now a boom | Timothy Rogers | 10/04/2020 06:50:21 - Albatross | 507 | 2 | |
Mk VIII | 09/04/2020 11:00:29 - Pat Blake | 1162 | 6 | ||
Spinnaker pump halyard drawing | Chris Grosscurth | 09/04/2020 10:47:23 - Stuart Bates | 814 | 7 | |
Vintage Merlin Rocket Wanted | John Michael Whelan | 07/04/2020 20:18:25 - Tim Medcalf | 772 | 2 | |
Sailing on TV - Tuesday 7 April at 5:30 pm | Louise Johnson | 06/04/2020 20:01:30 - | 431 | 1 | |
Whitstable Silver Tiller cancelled | John Cooper | 06/04/2020 18:57:15 - | 380 | 1 | |
Covid-19 | Rousey | 04/04/2020 17:34:07 - Ian Mackenzie | 927 | 7 | |
Parkstone Merlin Training & Silver Tiller 2/3 May | Nick Scroggie | 01/04/2020 14:42:36 - | 1587 | 1 | |
Jack the Lad 1529 | Peter Keeble | 01/04/2020 14:34:58 - | 354 | 1 | |
3735 updates | James Wells | 30/03/2020 15:29:11 - Chris K | 909 | 5 | |
Salcombe Silver Tiller 2021 and Merlin Week 2020 update. | Graham Cranford Smith Salcombe Yacht Club | 29/03/2020 13:30:46 - Louise Johnson | 725 | 2 | |
A video to amus if we are missing going sailing | Andrew Mills | 27/03/2020 20:42:09 - Andrew Mills | 705 | 3 | |
Dinghy Show | Colin Simmonds | 25/03/2020 21:59:47 - Gareth Griffiths NHRC | 2013 | 21 | |
Cheap MR sails on ebay | RB | 22/03/2020 16:16:57 - | 452 | 1 | |
Ranelagh Thames and De May Series - Cancelled | Frances Gifford | 22/03/2020 08:06:22 - | 355 | 1 | |
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