The Merlin Rocket is a 14 foot dinghy sailed in the United Kingdom. It is an active class, now with over 3700 boats built. The boat designed around a box rule, meaning that all class boats need to be within a certain length and width, but can be any shape. This allows for quick modernization of the class. The great advantage to this is quick adoption to new technology and the ability to change a boat to a person's weight and ability. Although the rules allow for many sail plans, many modern Rockets have similar sails. Most have a high batten allowing for a large roach in the sail. Although the rules are open, they are not unlimited. Use of a Trapeze is forbidden in this class.
When competing in a mixed fleet, the Merlin Rocket uses a Portsmouth Yardstick handicap of 1002 in the RYA scheme and 77.9 in the US Sailing scheme.
Jack Holt is credited with the first Merlin Rocket design along with Beecher Moore.
Famous quotes containing the words merlin and/or rocket:
“Of Merlin wise I learned a song,—
Sing it low, or sing it loud,
It is mightier than the strong,
And punishes the proud.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“A rocket is a reed that thinks brilliantly.”
—José Bergamín (1895–1983)