Merlin Rockets; doing our bit to make sure there continues to be a world of opportunity for sailors

Merlin Rocket stand at the RYA Dinghy Show © MROA

The theme for the RYA Dinghy Show 2020 is a 'World of opportunity - see where dinghy sailing can take you', and on the Merlin Rocket stand we are putting our own twist on the theme.

With so much talk on climate change and the state of our oceans, we have started to think more about doing our bit. In 2019 we held our first beach cleans at two major events, we took advice from 'The Final Straw', which was a great success. More litter came out of zipped buoyancy aid pockets and buoyancy bags than off the ground.

Looking forward, we want to do more to ensure there remains to be a world of opportunity out there. We will continue to have beach cleans, which are brilliant at making us aware of plastics and rubbish in general, but we are delighted to announce that from 2020, we are supporting Olympic 470 sailor Hannah Mills' 'Big Plastic Pledge', and are taking steps to reduce single use plastics in our sport.

We need your help, and in return you will be in with a chance of taking home a dual branded (Merlin Rocket and Big Plastic Pledge) high quality, stainless steel, double walled insulated bottle, so that you can keep your cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for years to come! We want to inspire you to use quality reusable products and ditch single use plastic, once and for all. Here's how to get involved:

• Make your 'Big Plastic Pledge' on the Merlin Rocket stand G20 - let us know how you are going to reduce your use of plastic within the sport you love
• Take a picture with your pledge and post on social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) including #BigPlasticPledge #MerlinRocket
• Come back to the stand at 1530 when the winners from the day will be announced, and you may well get to claim your lovely new bottle
• Continue to share online the steps you are taking to reduce single use plastics in our sport

Please join us and make your pledge, so together we can eradicate single use plastic in sport.

The Merlin Rocket stand is often a hive of activity, with lots of people looking at the innovations in our Restricted Development Class, and as such we will have the latest Winder Boats build on the stand, here's what's different about it.

The hull is the 2019 modified shape, proving successful on the water, the gunwales have been faired more giving a more streamlined bow. There has been lots of development around the jib sheeting options, and the system provides a fore/aft and in/out option which can easily be retrofitted to older boats. The jib is fitted on the bow, making a larger jib which has proved popular and the sheeting angle for the jib and the spinnaker are sheeted forward and inboard, this is something that now comes as standard. It has the SeaDeck flooring and a Harken fit out with HD Sails. Come and take a look at the cool colour scheme and see which string does what!

In addition to the Merlin Rocket on display on the Class Association stand, G20, Matt Biggs' Pokey will be on the Harken Stand B50, John Fildes' Rockatross will be on the Allen Stand B34.

Please join us at the RYA Dinghy Show in association with Yachts & Yachting, at Alexandra Palace, London, over the weekend of 29 February- 01 March, make your Big Plastic Pledge, be in with chance of taking home a cool drinks bottle and see the latest innovations in the class.