Ranelagh Sailing Club 

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Merlin RocketThe Merlin was designed in 1946 by Jack Holt for the Ranelagh Sailing Club and was the first class to have an owners association. The rocket was designed  by Wyche & Coppock Ltd in 1949 and the two classes were merged in 1951.   Old Merlin photos

Next Meeting RTYC Merlin Rockets February 18th 2007 start at 1330 club open from 11.30 with free tea/coffee & biscuits

Merlins at Ranelagh January 2005

  
                Merlin Open at Ranelagh Feb 2006

Merlin Rocket Vintage meeting June 11th 15.00 start

Merlin Rocket 2005 River Thames Series Open Meeting Jan 23rd Result & Photos

RTYC Merlin Rocket Open Meeting November 14th 13.45 report

RTYC MERLINS AT RANELAGH 13/11/04 

With low winds forecast only a lucky 12 crews turned out on Sunday. Old heads at Ranelagh said the wind would arrive with the tide and so it proved for the duration of the race held in beautiful sunshine, the wind falling as the last boats finished.

The 2004 Graham Donald Thames River Series results were still in the balance but without the results of the previous race it wasn’t clear what that balance was!

The single race on the traditional sausage course got under way with a beat down tide to the weather mark at Crabtree. Then competitors sorted themselves, some hugging the bank and some braving the tide for stronger wind further out. Those that chose the middle ground lost out but the leaders favoured the stronger wind. Headcase took an early lead from Scantily Clad. Last years winner in Poached Salmon was 3^rd for most of the race, taking second place on the last lap with The Holy Grail 4^th, ably crewed by Morgan, a fine crew in the light winds. These 4 pulled away from the chasing pack and the Ranelagh vessels who were having a rare old battle to be first old boat, won by The Stolpers in Scoobee Doo.

 Prizes were presented by Jack Edwards, Rear Commodore of Royal Thames Yacht Club.

 1^st 3650, Headcase,                  Lawrence Tosh & Chloe, Wembley SC
2^nd 3644, Poached Salmon,     Duncan Salmon & Ian Garwood, Wembley SC
3^rd 3560, Scantily Clad,             Olly Houseman & Catherine Ashley, Thamesis
4^th 3574, The Holy Grail,           Hywel & Morgan Bowen-Perkins, Hampton SC
5^th 3580,                                      Natt & Alan Fuller, Hampton SC

Ranelagh Vintage Merlin Open 5/6/03

A benevolent North wind greeted the 13 Merlins that turned out for the second Vintage Merlin meeting of 2004 on June 5^th at Ranelagh, 6 visitors & 7 home boats, the youngest being a sprightly 30 years old, not a cotton sail amongst them. 

Two races were run, the first a warm up of 4 short laps in front of the Club House saw much place changing as people sorted themselves out but a comfortable win in the end for Berry Ritchie and Bambusa ahead of Thomas & Sonia Stolper in Scoobee Doo

 After a break for sustenance the longer second race was run, two laps of the traditional sausage course at Putney. A mass start saw the Edwards in Merlin’s Moon first to the weather mark followed by Joker and Bambusa the latter two having swapped places by the end of the first lap after a long run with spinnakers gave everyone a chance to compare sizes and length of pole. Those without spinnakers at all, were at a severe disadvantage on the long run against the tide.  Final places were determined by age handicaps, the only losers being the Stolpers who lost 3^rd place by 35 seconds to Will Mackinnon in Joker.  M Stevens in Avenger gained 3 places on the final lap to finish second but couldn’t catch the flying Ritchie who had a well deserved win of the 14ft Merlin Rocket trophy.  Photos

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