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Merlin Rocket The 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
Ranelagh SC -RTYC Merlin Open 2011 On a beautiful November day 18 boats took to the Thames at Putney for the 61st RTYC Merlin Open. 9 home boats were joined by 9 visitors from 7 other Clubs, for the final race of the 2011 Thames series which had started at Ranelagh back in April. With a F2 ESE wind, the start was the usual Ranelagh running start towards Hammersmith to a mark on the Surrey bank opposite Crabtree. With some congestion and a light wind at the leeward mark, there was an opportunity for places to be gained but the first 4 boats were round and clear before the rabble arrived. With 2 loops of the course to complete on that stretch of the river and then a return to the Putney, changes were occurring throughout the fleet, as first one boat would get some wind then another. At the front, Elusive, Birthday Suit and General Lee were fighting hard, these 3 pulling out a gap from Flying Wild, Tiersel and Flinkydink. In the fleet places were also changing constantly, hitting a mark and re-rounding could cost you 6 or 7 places, if the wind dropped at the wrong time. After nearly 90 minutes of sailing, last year’s winners, David Vines and Fran Gifford, took the bell to be followed home 3 minutes later by Ranelagh Rear Commodore Christopher Edwards and Una Hodgkins. Andy Dalby and M Gray were less than a minute behind while Mike Stephens and Nicky Erskine Tulloch took 4th from Michael Gifford and Rebecca Johnson, who held off a charging Pat & Jilly Blake by just 19 seconds. Photos
Results, Ranelagh Merlin Rocket Trophy 3rd April 2011
2010 RTYC Merlin Autumn Trophy Photos 16 boats from 7 clubs turned out on a pretty good November day, a North to North-easterly wind with the odd gust to F3, catching out just the author. This was the last race of the 2010 Thames series which was still up for grabs, Duncan Salmon and David Vines being tied on points. A long beat with the tide to the mark opposite Crabtree saw David in Elusive leading from Christopher Edwards in Birthday Suit with Stuart Gurney 3rd. At the downwind mark in front of the Club, Duncan was lurking in 4th ahead of Alan Broadbent, Tosh and Mike Stephens. Wind at this mark was quite light and many struggled to get round, coming out into the stream too early and then suffering in the strong adverse tide as the wind dropped. Lap 2 saw a few changes, the most significant being Duncan’s move from 4th to 2nd so the two main series contenders, were now first & second. With just one more lap to go, David held a 2 minute lead from Duncan with Stuart Gurney 3rd. On the last lap, the first two held station while Mike Stephens edged ahead of a small pack of 4 boats to snatch 3rd from Martin Hunter, Christopher Edwards and Alan Broadbent. Stuart Gurney dropping to 7th, just ahead of Ken Duffell in Harry. The Avenger Trophy for Vintage boats, at least 30 years old, was well won by Pooh, sailed by Martin Hunter, in 4th place overall, just ahead of Birthday Suit by 2 seconds on the water, two and a half minutes on corrected time. Prizes were presented by John Stokes, Honorary member of the RTYC.
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 3rd for most of the race, taking second place on the last lap with The Holy Grail 4th, 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. 1st 3650, Headcase,
Lawrence Tosh & Chloe, Wembley 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 5th 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 3rd 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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Ranelagh Sailing Club
