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Zhik - Made for Water
Merlin Rocket

Merlin Rocket

14 foot restricted class with clinker-style hull. Flared hull up to 7'2" beam to give equivalent righting moment to trapezes and wings. Unusual shape of mainsail with long top batten to give sail area high up useful for rivers. Moderate sized conventional spinnaker, and sophisticated rig controls for the string fetishist. Fleets sail on any size of water from open sea to small lakes and narrow rivers. Previously known as the Merlin or the Rocket (two classes merged in 1951).

&copy; David Harding / <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sailingscenes.co.uk">www.sailingscenes.co.uk</a> © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.co.uk
Show news Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
A downwind playground with some stereotypical mast-breaking jeopardy
Posted on 11 Jun Coppet Week Regatta 2026 at Saundersfoot
A classic tale of two halves for the 42-strong fleet
Posted on 9 Jun Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Whitstable
Sunshine, a flooding tide, and a steady easterly F3 set a perfect racecourse
Posted on 3 Jun Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Starcross
Do not use your head to deal with spinnaker poles during gybes
Posted on 2 Jun Merlin Rocket Youth Championship at Fishers Green
A challenging light wind day for the sailors
Posted on 1 Jun Merlin Rocket River Championships at Upper Thames
Event runs on patience, sunshine and consistency
Posted on 29 May Tideway Dinghy Derby preview
Spectacle returns to the Thames, supporting life-changing 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
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
Posted on 15 May Merlin Rockets at Thames and Minima
Light winds for the two Thames Series and Vintage Series events
Posted on 7 May Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green
Light airs in the Lee valley
Posted on 29 Apr Merlin Rocket Youth Training at Burnham
A perfect opportunity to learn how each control changed the functionality of 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
Posted on 27 Apr Merlin Rockets at Parkstone
Craftinsure Silver Tiller Round 4 and Allspars South West Series Round 2
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
Posted on 14 Apr Merlin and Rocket classes split
75 years of collaboration comes to a close today
Posted on 1 Apr Merlin Rockets at Broadwater
Allen South East Series and Craftinsure Vintage Series event
Posted on 31 Mar Merlin Rockets at Wembley
Craftinsure Silver Tiller, Allen South East, Classic & Vintage event
Posted on 24 Mar Merlins face epic fury at Midland
Conditions did not much resemble the Met office's 'light winds'
Posted on 18 Mar Entries open for the 80th Merlin Rocket Nationals
Weymouth to host anniversary championships this summer
Posted on 10 Mar Chichester YC 2026 Snowflake Series overall
Two tactically demanding races on Sunday to conclude the series
Posted on 9 Mar Merlin Rocket Youth Training event 2
Understanding the role of sail controls whilst on the water
Posted on 3 Mar Anniversary Classes at the Dinghy Show
We speak to a number of classes celebrating significant anniversaries
Posted on 1 Mar A look at the new 'Amuse-Bouche' Rockatross
Video tour of the developments at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
Posted on 25 Feb Chichester YC 2026 Snowflake Series day 4
Torrential rain eases shortly before the first start
Posted on 24 Feb Learn more about the world of epoxy
At the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
Posted on 20 Feb Bartley Beast Series Finale
January's cancelled event goes ahead, with sun instead of snow
Posted on 18 Feb Hyde Sails in attendance at RYA Dinghy Show
Ben McGrane and John Brooks are available to speak to
Posted on 18 Feb Merlin Rocket Youth Training event 1
Fishers Green hosts session for 16-25 year olds
Posted on 17 Feb Blithfield Barrel week 4
A light wind conclusion after three character-building winter rounds
Posted on 17 Feb
Links
Tuning Guides:

Photos

Show photos from

Christian Birrell and Sam Breary - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Rob O'Neill Jon Gorringe and Toby Lewis - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Rob O'Neill George Yeoman and Mark Oakley, overall winners - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Rob O'Neill Tom Morris and Chris Kilsby - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Rob O'Neill Storm Nutall and Sally Wakefield - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Rob O'Neill Livvy Bell spotting the camera - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Rob O'Neill Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Chris Martin and Cillian Dyne win Coppet Week 2026 at Saundersfoot
© David Plester Bunching up for the fleet at the pin end - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK James Goodfellow and George Major sailing out to the start - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK On the beach - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK Arrivals - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK Commitee Boat start - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK Hoisting the sails - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK View from above - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK Racing downind - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK Rebecca Videlo and Rob Henderson sailing out to the start - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK James Wells and Anna Aylward lead the fleet downwind - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Whitstable
© Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross
© Matt Shorrock Storm Nutall and Sally Wakefeild win their first race together in 30plus years - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross
© Garnett Showell Jostling for position - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross
© Garnett Showell
Selden CXrCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERZhik - Made for Water
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