National Merlin Rocket Class

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Winter Series 2009-2010

“Three races remain in a Winter Series which has been dominated by Richard and Harry Harris in Passing Cloud (1079), who have now won both the Black Mark Trophy and the Winter Handicap Trophy. Their tally for the Black Mark Trophy stands at ten points with a perfect ten firsts to count. In the Handicap Trophy, a couple of second places in amongst the firsts bring their total to twelve points.

Second place in both series is also currently held by the same crew, in this case Mike Stephens and Doug Pope sailing Luka (3560), Passing Cloud’s modern sister-ship. However, their hold on second is much more tenuous with Phil Plumtree in Splatter (1631) a single point behind in the Black Mark Trophy and seven points behind in the Winter Handicap.

Nine boats have qualified so far and several more could still complete the necessary ten races. Twenty-nine helms have competed throughout the course of the series.

The Winter Travellers Series, comprising results from the 10:30 Handicap and the main class races is currently led by Ken Duffell and Brian Corking in Harry (3599).

The Merlin Class Dinner will take place on Saturday 10^th April and a sign-up sheet will be in the Clubhouse shortly.”

Mike Stephens and David Vines racing upstream on 10 January 2010 (Photo: Chris Balmbro)

Richard and Peter Mason in Smart Cookie (Photo: Carolyne Vines) 

Chris Balmbro and Liz Woods in Bad Company (Photo: Carolyne Vines)

Barry Mourant and Kate Barnes in Fair Kop (Photo: Carolyne Vines)

Merlins sailing in the Travellers series in March 2009 (Photo: Suzy Balmbro)  

Mike Stephens and Doug Pope winners of the 2009 Travellers series (Photo: Suzy Balmbro)

The Merlin Rocket

The Merlin Rocket is a fast 14ft dinghy that was developed after the end of the second world war as a rival to the International 14.  It is a restricted development class that has evolved from the original Kate and Wizard designs produced by Jack Holt for a syndicate in 1946.  The class insignia in the shape of a wizard's hat derives from this second boat when the class name was changed to Merlin, after King Arthur's wizard.  The Merlin made its racing debut at Ranelagh's Easter Regatta in 1946 and gradually spread to other Thames river clubs.  A rival design called Rocket was produced by Dick Wyche as a larger, faster version of the National 12 and built by Wyche and Coppock in Nottingham.  The Merlins grew in number in the south of England while the Rockets were stronger in the north.  In 1950 the Rocket design was altered to comply with the Merlin rules and in 1951 the Yacht Racing Association (predecessor of the RYA) brought the two classes together with the promise of national status if they merged.  

A full history of the class can be read in The Merlin Rocket Book written by Jim Park, Ian Holt and Jim Lowden and published by Jim Lowden in association with the Merlin Rocket Owners Association in 1986 (ISBN 0 9511186 0 9).  

The first Merlin arrived at Tamesis in 1949 and Merlins gradually displaced the more expensive International 14s to become the club's largest class. There are currently 53 Merlins in the Tamesis fleet, which is the largest in the UK, with regular turnouts of between 14 and 20 boats in club races and up to 30 in open meetings.

  For more details please contact Tamesis Merlin Rocket Class Captain: Chris Balmbro (phone 07785 343333) Chris.Balmbro@chertseyst.com.

National Merlin Rocket Association website:  www.merlinrocket.co.uk

MERLIN SUMMER SERIES 2009

MERLIN SUMMER HANDICAP 2009

HANDICAPS SUMMER 2009

MERLIN WINTER SERIES 2009-2010

MERLIN WINTER HANDICAP 2009-2010

TRAVELLERS SERIES 2010

HANDICAPS WINTER 2009-2010

Points table designed and maintained by Chris Balmbro.

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08.03.10