Please select your home edition
Edition

Merlin Rocket Youth Championships 2023 - Entries Now Open

by MROA 23 Aug 2023 10:08 PDT 9-10 September 2023
Merlin Rocket Youth representative Ollie Meadcroft sailing into second place at Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week © Lucy Burn

If you're 25 and under, you could be the first crew to be crowned Merlin Rocket Youth Champion and here's how.

Entries are now open for the inaugural Merlin Rocket Youth Championships at Itchenor Sailing Club on the 9th and 10th September 2023 supported by Box PR Ltd, Creation Covers and Fernhurst Books.

"We are really looking forward to the weekend, we have lots of helms needing crews, crews looking for helms, and ready-made teams looking for boats," comments Freya Lillywhite, Youth representative for the Merlin Rocket Owners' Association. "It's going to be a great weekend introducing the Merlin Rocket to many new young sailors."

The weekend is for everyone the main (compulsory!) requirement that the helm of the boat is 25 or under on the first day of the championship. The crew can be any age so boat owners' (over 25) out there who are willing to loan their boats but only if they can crew, this event is for you too!

There is also no problem if you haven't sailed a Merlin Rocket before as the weekend includes training.

The schedule for the weekend is as follows.

Saturday 9th September:

  • 10:30 start for some on land coaching
  • Launching around 11:45 for 1.5hrs on water coaching.
  • First race of two back-to-back starting at 13:55 approx time 40 mins races
  • Evening meal and social where you will be in the capable hands of the MROA Youth Representatives

Sunday 10th September:

  • Three back-to-back races approx 40 mins each
  • Prizegiving where the first Merlin Rocket Youth Champions will be crowned

Prizes will be awarded to 1st to 3rd overall, first Youth Team (both helm and crew 25 and under), first female helm and first 'New to Experience Merlin Sailing' helm or crew.

Entries are now open: www.itchenorsc.co.uk/event/mirror-southerns-open-meeting-1-2-1

If you are looking to enter and need a hand finding a crew/helm/boat then please get in touch

Related Articles

Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week overall
Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray take the trophy The final day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week dawned to another day of blue skies with a light Southwester forming in the harbour and forecast to increase. The overall result was still up for grabs with both leading protagonists in the morning race. Posted on 4 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 5
Wall to wall sunshine for the 102 teams The fifth morning dawned with wall to wall sunshine and a 5 knot SW sea breeze popped in at the surprisingly early time of 8.30, promising a good day's racing for the 102 teams. Posted on 3 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 4
Random gusts from every direction, including vertical Past the halfway stage and the weather served up another wind direction for the fourth day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week. Posted on 2 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 3
South-Westerly establishes itself after a windless dawn The third day dawned with light cloud and absolutely no wind in the harbour. As often happens at Salcombe, by the time the fleet started to launch a South-Westerly had started to establish itself and by the 10.30 start time there was 4-5 knots. Posted on 1 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 2
First start gets away on the top of the tide With the rest of the UK cooking in 30+ degrees, Salcombe has been veiled in sea mist for the last few days. Monday was the day when this was meant to clear but competitors woke to find the race track still shrouded in mist. Posted on 30 Jun
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 1
Over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers are in the picturesque South Devon Ria The ever popular Salcombe Merlin Week, sponsored by Helly Hansen, Craftinsure and Creation Covers, has again attracted over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers to the picturesque South Devon Ria. Posted on 29 Jun
Delivery to Salcombe Week - Final Call!
Devon's calling, and P&B are answering This weekend finds members of our Sail Loft team at Salcombe Yacht Club, for Merlin Salcombe Week. We'll be making the most of the conditions, the surroundings and the chance to catch up with other sailors who share our passion for competitive sailing. Posted on 26 Jun
Merlin Rockets in the Upriver Race at Ranelagh
A simple windward-leeward 6 times then head for home; what could be simpler? Ranelagh Sailing Club Upriver Race on Sunday in glorious sunshine with the forecast of decent breeze and the promise of bacon rolls and tea on arrival and lunch afterwards was all the encouragement nine vintage/classic Merlin Rockets needed. Posted on 25 Jun
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hampton
On arrival competitors and the duty team were provided with bacon rolls Following on from the Silver Tiller at Queen Mary Reservoir on Saturday, the double-header continued on Sunday at Hampton Sailing Club on the River Thames, with an entry of twelve boats including visitors from Midland, Parkstone and Plymouth. Posted on 18 Jun
Merlin Rockets at Queen Mary
Double black diamond descent in the Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series A keen fleet of Merlin Rocket crews descended upon the Queen Mary reservoir on Saturday 14th June for another episode of the exciting event in the ever hotly contested Craftinsure Silver Tiller series. Posted on 17 Jun