Merlin Rocket

  Far left, Kate, Jack Holt's first Merlin design
Number of Crew 2
Trapeze

N/A
Length 4.3m
Beam 2.2m maximum
Sail area (main + jib) 10sq.m
Spinnaker 8sq.m symmetrical
PY number 1024
Designer & date Various since 1946
Highest sail number 3592
Class web address www.merlinrocket.co.uk
Notes The Merlin class was launched in January 1946 after an eight man syndicate from Ranelagh Sailing Club, on the Thames in London, had commissioned Jack Holt to design a lightweight 14ft. clinker hull with a 100sq.ft. sail plan and a moderate sized spinnaker.

The Class Association was formed in 1947, the first of its kind, and which has been used as a pattern by many other classes. The rules were devised to allow for the development of hull and rig rather than be of a 'one-design' nature.

The 'Rocket' class was formed in 1949 when a group of Tynemouth sailors commissioned Wyche & Coppock of Nottingham to design a half deck 14ft. dinghy. This boat had more sail area, narrower decks and was lighter. After much debate the Classes merged in April, 1951 to form the 'Merlin Rocket Class'.

Wyche & Coppock introduced glued plywood construction in 1953 replacing the solid planked, ash ribbed, nailed clinker hulls which up until then were the only means of construction. Terylene sails were adopted in 1959 replacing cotton sails, and at the same time aluminium masts were being experimented with which produced a far more powerful rig. These, coupled with the development of transom flaps, lead to the development of wider and wider hulls - flaring out to over well over 7ft 6ins. to increase sitting out power.

Modern Merlin Rockets are of high tech carbon fibre, foam sandwich construction, although still of clinker planked appearance.

 
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