David Henshall's article

Just to settle the development v restricted class debate, Merlin Rockets are officially a development class. The first line of the Class Rules (approved by RYA) states that

'The Merlin Rocket is a development class where design and ingenuity is rewarded within the spirit of the rules.'

Originally posted by getafix Good posts, I agree regards the clinker in Merlins but not the statement that it is not a development class, yes the Cant Tales derivatives dominate hull shapes but you can hardly say that sail or rig development has been 'stale'. I would guess that the amount of cash needed to get a new hull shape designed and made is what's putting punters off, rather than an inability to do it due to the class rules, just like Paradigms and DCB's are getting sold in bigger numbers in 12's, the question to punter with ~£10k or more has to ask is do I want to bet this money or buy something 'safe'? something with an uncertain lead-time or something with a reasonably defined lead-time?

I think it would be more accurate to say that existing N12 Paradigms and DCBs are being recycled through the 2nd hand market.

N12 Class association own stats which can be viewed at http://www.national12.org/boats/index.php would indicate that there is little new boat building activity in the fleet. I believe (correct me if I am wrong) Rondar no longer market the Paradigm and the stats suggest no new ones have been launched since 2012? Those same stats would also indicate that new DCBs are not exactly flying off the shelf!

As a former dyed in the wool N12 sailor I used to be generally critical of the Merlin Rocket approach to design, development and the overall management of their class for the future (ie don't p*ss off your existing customer base).

My view is somewhat different now.

The latest development in the Merlin fleet have been hatchet boards aft carbon bouyancy tanks and thinner rigs. And all tried and tested on the stable latest wonder platform...!

There is more that can be done with the rig, Jib halyard locks, rotating, canting etc are all possible within the rules.

The low aspect hatchet boards by John turner look very good and Jon Gorringe has been very fast all year with one.

That said so has Olly Turner been very quick while using a conventional board and a ten year old boat. So it's hard to know what is really fast in the pimping of the fleet at the moment.

Dave Winder is using a pump hoist kite to good effect, probably the quickest hoister in the fleet.

As well as hull development for the top end of the fleet I feel there is a neglected sector for the larger crews. Most people want to sail the boat with a friend or a partner and they are struggling to get under the 24stone design weight of the Tales Winder latest design.

Possibly a great market to design an aesthetically more modern looking boat with more weight carrying ability....???

Edited by NHRC - 23 Dec 14 at 12:58pm

Thing is with Merlins, there is a great wealth of talent to go racing against.
The way they run their class keeps those people there and attracts more.
It is a lucky blend of competitive racing and boat development and it's accessible to a good range of people. Which other classes have so many examples of two generations of families racing seriously?
Lots of jealous outsiders happy to tell them they're doing it wrong of course.

I really can't see enough people with the budget to write off the value of a hull every two years to make a decent sized vibrant class just in the UK.

There have been a lot of 'modern' trends the Merlins have avoided over the past 60 years, e.g. Trapezes, asymmetrics, t foils, self draining etc.

Pure Development is all very well in theory, but it does't get the boats on the start line, or we'd all be racing A or B class cats.