Merlin Rocket developments - a look at the new 'Amuse-Bouche' Rockatross design at the Dinghy Show

Please select your home edition

Edition

Merlin Rocket developments - a look at the new 'Amuse-Bouche' Rockatross design at the Dinghy Show

by Mark Jardine 25 Feb 07:30 GMT 22 February 2026

The bow of 'Amuse-Bouche', the new Rockatross design Merlin Rocket on display at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show © Mark Jardine

It's the 80th Anniversary of the Merlin Rocket, and as a development class they come up with some pretty innovative ideas... and then proceed to give them wacky names!

We take a look at Tom Low's new Rockatross design called 'Amuse-Bouche' and learn what Stuffers and Snodgers are, and how the complex one string rig controls mean you can rake the rig fore and aft, even when under full rig load.

Related Articles

Tideway Dinghy Derby preview
Spectacle returns to the Thames, supporting life-changing programme for young people For the first time in half a century, 80 dinghies are set to race ten miles up and down the River Thames as part of the Tideway Dinghy Derby supporting a life changing sailing programme for young people. Posted on 21 May

Merlin Rocket Women's Championship at Northampton
Close racing, great quality coaching and a fantastic social atmosphere After weeks of unpredictable weather, the dinghy park quickly filled with Dryrobes, woolly hats and plenty of discussion in the busy women's changing rooms about exactly how many layers would be required. Posted on 20 May

Rooster title sponsor HISC multi-class open
The Flying Fifteen, Fireball, 505 and Merlin event will be on 6-7 June Hayling Island Sailing Club is delighted to announce that Rooster will be the title sponsor of our upcoming Open Meeting for the Flying Fifteen, Fireball, 505 and Merlin classes from Saturday 6th - Sunday 7th June 2026. Posted on 15 May

Merlin Rockets at Thames and Minima
Light winds for the two Thames Series and Vintage Series events On Saturday 2nd May a ten strong fleet of Vintage and Modern Merlin Rockets arrived at Thames SC for the first event in the 2026 Rowsell Sails Thames Series. The open meeting was also the third event in the national Craftinsure DeMay Vintage Series. Posted on 7 May

Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green
Light airs in the Lee valley Next up on the Allen South East series was Fishers Green in the Lee valley. The forecast was light airs though a pleasant 19 degrees and spring was in the air as we turned up and rigged on the daisy filled lawn. Posted on 29 Apr

Merlin Rocket Youth Training at Burnham
A perfect opportunity to learn how each control changed the functionality of the boat I first jumped into the Merlin Rocket one year ago crewing at the Royal Corinthian Allen South East Series open meeting. Over the year I gradually picked up the controls, quickly finding out how much there is to adjust and experiment with in the boat. Posted on 28 Apr

P&B Merlin Rocket Womens Championship Entry Open
Taking place at Northampton Sailing Club on the 16th and 17th May Northampton Sailing Club set to host the P&B Merlin Rocket Women's Championships on the 16th and 17th May 2026, and the entries are now open. Posted on 27 Apr

Merlin Rockets at Parkstone
Craftinsure Silver Tiller Round 4 and Allspars South West Series Round 2 Twenty Merlin Rockets arrived at Parkstone Yacht Club on Saturday 18 April for an intense double-header: round four of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller and round two of the Allspars South West Series. Posted on 21 Apr

Merlin Rockets at Salcombe
Wind, Sunshine and a Whole Lot of Action for Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars SW Series Open Salcombe welcomed 23 boats on Saturday 11th April with blue skies overhead and seriously windy conditions, with gusts punching well over 30 knots at times. Posted on 14 Apr

Merlin and Rocket classes split
75 years of collaboration comes to a close today 75 years of collaboration came to a close today when the Merlin and Rocket dinghies decided to go their separate ways. Posted on 1 Apr