Mincing Merlin Mania

You're just a disturbed child, born in bed with a Northern Lass and never got over the shock!   

Had to wait years of eager anticipation before I set foot in one, but when I did it just seemed like a lot investment in money and sailing effort for little return, and upwind just b. hard work compared to a trapeze boat (reminded me of hard hours in an Ent. to be honest).  Didn't even feel quick - with all that freeboard the water is pretty remote and there's little spray.  Very rolly too, even if the high freeboard did at least prevent a capsize.

I might feel differently if I was sailing in predominantly light airs on a pond, mind.  Under thoise circs I'd take another look.  But for the wide open reaches of the Medway I'll stick to the 3k.

£2k's-worth of L3k planes past £15k's-worth of Merlin in the Hoo Freezer a couple of years back (the 3k beat the Merlin by nearly 2 minutes on the water in the end, despite a dip with the kite up on the last lap):

Surely the biggest turn off for boat is the crap that gets pulled if you win, don't win or fail to declare your pimped sails.

Whatever, the string's enough for me to walk past and go 'm'eh'.  Apparently underneath all that clutter there's actually some very pretty boats kicking around.

I went and had a bit of a gander at it as the lads put it together, it's got a rig raking set up which I really want to have a good go over, because i want something like that, but at first glance it's ropes and wheels everywhere.