That new wooden Merlin

There are other 2 sailed boats out there...in fact, the market is pretty well served, especially as people choosing a boat without a spinnaker are unlikely to be going for ultimate speed, and established classes have a built in good racing circuit, generally. So with boats ranging from Firefly, Grad and N12 at the small end, through Ents and Tasars to the Albacore for the bigger boned, there is choice, but I think the Icon will offer something a little different, which gives it a chance. Provided enough people who want something a little different don't also want a kite to play with.

I'll certainly be wanting to jump into a demo boat and have a play when it all happens - it would be great to have a fast boat that is truly competitive on small lakes across the weather conditions.

Toby i hope you are taking the piss about the Albs dude!!

They are made by Ovington for a start and celebrate some pretty healthy nationals attendances as well as world and European champs (Not sure if thats proper worlds or just something the class has picked to call a champs)

Still its a big, active class.

I think some fairly serious thoughtand effort has been thrown at wing masts for Merlins in the not so distant past? Not successfully. Not sure they all been pear shaped either?

At the end of the day, it's a highly developed boat that delivers close racing. That's what it's for, fleet racing, over a variety of conditions. and it does it very well. A class that delivers such good (quality and quantity) fleets at opens and championships will be a tough place to prove anything radical, unless it really is a better all round solution. You'd think extra 'free' sail (wing) area was a dead cert, but unless it's as controllable up to F6 and has no more weight aloft, there are down sides.

The Aus classes with wing masts don't seem to catch on here in the UK, not sure why. Possibly it's the no kite thing, which may only be marketable for 'simple' boats here, i.e. not too many rig controls, with the strange exception of the N12.

Perhaps when the Merlins and RS400's get blown away by wingmast boats at the major pursuit/handicap races over a range of weather, we'll be convinced.

To stumble back in the general direction of the OP, how much is a new Merlin?

both wood and plastic?