First time helming a Merlin Rocket

[@roythompson6137]

Used to love the wooden planked Merlins back in the 70s/80s. One of the most stylish dinghies...

[@johnpurdie5141]

Good commentary, and good to be able to hear the communication between crew as well

[@nedaustin1157]

Funny to hear as an old sailor that you have never sailed with a symmetrical spinnaker before. Great video.

[@MozzySails]

I know, right?!

[@roadie3124]

Nice to see this. Merlin Rockets have changed since that last time I sailed with them in 1965 or 1966 on the River Severn. In those days they were beautiful clinker-built wooden boats. I was sailing National 12s that my school's sailing club owned. Very similar in sailing characteristics. Very responsive boats and 30Kts was not a problem. Nice to see that they still do roll tacks. 10 years later I'd moved on to A-Class catamarans.

[@the-naked-sailor]

I can't wait for an ac15's! I'd build one myself but I don't have anywhere to build it.

[@pridgway]

Good to see both you guys and Steve and Sarah doing battle. Nice work for a first sail in unfamiliar territory!

[@RichPacker]

Good to see you in a boat with a proper spinnaker

[@chrismartin5870]

Super crew. Amazing how quickly the old pole flies away. Hardly looks like it is released at all pre gybe.

[@seanricketts941]

Great video, Merlins are one of the nicest boats in the UK but have a lot of rope to deal with

[@MozzySails]

Yes they are!

[@julianharms4109]

Top crew for a first outing. It’s the strength and depth in the fleet that we love !

[@MozzySails]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Superjetjim]

Interesting how ‘ahead of their time’ these hull designs were compared to other back then (GP14, Enterprise etc) - not an easy boat to sail, but rapid on a broad reach or down wind.

[@BrendanHills]

Good selection of bikes in the garage! :-D

[@MozzySails]

Indeed!

[@q.e.d.9112]

I was seven when my father and a couple of friends set up the SYSC on a reservoir just out of Sheffield. Since Dad and Toby had GP14 #25 ‘Kestrel’ and Ted had a Merlin Rocket #69 (name escapes me) these became the two classes adopted by the club. Later my brother and I got Cadet #806 ‘Tilikum’ (cost dad £5). This was the days of cotton sails, wooden spars and, in the case of the M/R, old fashioned clinker planking over steamed frames with copper rivets. Safety was ex RAF “Mae Wests” for the adults, kapok vests for the kids and a clinker built workboat with a 5hp Anzani outboard as a rescue boat. With that engine it needed rescuing more often than we did. Within a dozen years I had graduated to a Merlin, by now a frameless, glued edge clinker planked design with a beam of about 6’10”, compared to old #69’s 5’3”. Aluminium spars and Terylene sails. Not that dissimilar to the one shown here, except for the beautiful varnished finish they still had back then. But we did have the spinnaker chute and centre mainsheet arrangement by then. I finally gave up sailing about 5 years ago when I realised I didn’t have the stamina to “hand, reef and steer” my 34’ cruising sloop any longer. Counting from my old ‘Tilikum’, I’ve owned about 12 different boats in my lifetime. Funny thing, once I gave up I didn’t miss it at all. This video did give me a bit of nostalgia, I must admit.

[@MozzySails]

Fantastic to hear from you Q.E.D... the technology may change, but the enjoyment of getting up early to sail around the nearest bit of water with some mates never changes

[@robmorris3890]

Looks like you enjoyed yourselves: just remember to release your snodger next time!

[@stevecockerill8063]

Nice Video Tom, we (in the 400) are sadly one of the smallest teams in the UK so we do have to go low when we carry that huge gennaker - hence we mostly two sailed the top reach until we were certain we could carry it.

[@MozzySails]

tricky call with gusts dropping over the club house at the top of the course, but it wouldn't be a harbour race without a questionable spinnaker leg!

[@Multiverse27]

Great video

[@chrisburn7178]

Looks like bikes and sailing must be good bed-fellows... I seem to have got bitten by both as well.

[@tomalexander1300]

Is it worth the money? Hope the old foam sandwich boats get plenty of use? so much life left in some of those boats.

[@happychappy7115]

too many ropes for me. I had about 2 in my Laser.

[@savetheclimate2292]

Why dont you play more with the centerboard?

[@MozzySails]

I normally sail skiffs where it's never touched during a race... so I just forgot. It does get moved for each leg by the crew though

[@johnscott7313]

What club are you from.

[@MozzySails]

I sail at Hayling Island SC

[@JB-rt4mx]

4:30 mins main luffing while reaching for way to long