Search found 126 matches

by Bill-Conner
Tue Aug 01, 2017 9:46 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Merlin Rocket 2112 History
Replies: 7
Views: 10605

Re: Merlin Rocket 2112 History

THe Merlin Rocket Year Book shows your boat to have been built in 1968 by Chippendale Boats in Fareham Hampshire she is a Proctor mk 9b. I am pretty certain about the date as 2062 was certainle an early 1968 boat! I am unaware of any Irish Merlin Rocket activity at the time, although Jackie O'reilly...
by Bill-Conner
Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:37 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: what's this???
Replies: 18
Views: 16613

Re: what's this???

I agree a Proctor mk 4a National 12 apart from anything else the side decks are far too narrow for a Merlin Rocket
by Bill-Conner
Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:21 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: what's this???
Replies: 18
Views: 16613

Re: what's this???

Much more likely a Proctor 11 (2) National 12 measured with the e bay elastic tape!
Wyche built the first glued clinker boats and this is likely the second or third tranches.
by Bill-Conner
Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:48 am
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Osprey history
Replies: 10
Views: 10144

Re: Osprey history

The very first Merlin Spinnaker Chute fitted as she was built was David Robinsons Ghost Rider 2350
by Bill-Conner
Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:45 pm
Forum: Banter
Topic: Obituary: Major David Goddard (Exeter Maritime Museum)
Replies: 6
Views: 15881

Re: Obituary: Major David Goddard (Exeter Maritime Museum)

Andrew Thornhill took it on, a lot is in a marquee on the waterside of Lake Lothing in Lowestoft, gently rotting, lots of good 14;s and Merlin Rockets, the rest is scattered, some of it National 12 no1 and Enterprise no 1 were renovated and has smart new sails last seen at Wroxham actualy sailing.
by Bill-Conner
Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:30 am
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Sad news
Replies: 2
Views: 6010

Re: Sad news

Especially tio be rembered as the author of The Shakewell Chronicals published first in Yachts and Yachting in the fifties and sixties the doings at Tatlers Hard (Itchenor.) of the International Hepplewight Class,(International 14's the original boats that is.) Republished as "Shakewell Afloat ...
by Bill-Conner
Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:36 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Enterprise questions.
Replies: 26
Views: 22486

Re: Enterprise questions.

It is usually a bit of hose pipe!
by Bill-Conner
Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:06 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Hamble Stars
Replies: 9
Views: 10662

Re: Hamble Stars

Isn't there still a class at Gravesend or that end of the Thames?
by Bill-Conner
Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:46 am
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Dinghy show
Replies: 9
Views: 10469

Re: Dinghy show

If the Merlin Rocket Stand was super busy it would have been due at least in part to David (Dougal) Henshall's superb new history of the class, well researched in minute detail amazing inllustrations anyone who values the post WW11 history of Dinghy Racing should have this on his bookshelves.
by Bill-Conner
Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:12 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Uffa Fox Javelin
Replies: 8
Views: 9646

Re: Uffa Fox Javelin

Are you sure it was not a Peter Milne designed Javelin?
by Bill-Conner
Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:16 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Memory lane...
Replies: 12
Views: 13697

Re: Memory lane...

The Member of Parliant Reggie Bennet a Criminal Phychiatrist is real life was MP for Gosport and always described himself as the MP for Campers (& Nicholson) and Ratseys (Who has a Gosport sail loft in those days). Reggie was the prime mover of the foundation of that great institution the Imperi...
by Bill-Conner
Sat Nov 22, 2014 10:28 am
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: International Canoe K102 "Torment"
Replies: 75
Views: 66782

Re: International Canoe K102 "Torment"

It was actually Alan Warren (Undertaker to the South coast.) and David Hunt.
Who set fire to Gift Horse.
Given the occasion I liked Jack Knights comment at the time.
"In a way that neither would ever understand, they simply let the side down".
by Bill-Conner
Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:51 am
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: I14 K869 Agamemnon
Replies: 27
Views: 28006

Re: I14 K869 Agamemnon

The other thing that made the rig, only for the skilful, and different to look at, was the 14' hound height a hangover from 2 part masts so they would fit in a railway goods van with the boat! It was raised to 16' sometime in the 60's maybe at the same time the one trapeze was introduced. The big ro...
by Bill-Conner
Mon Nov 10, 2014 5:14 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: I14 K869 Agamemnon
Replies: 27
Views: 28006

Re: I14 K869 Agamemnon

Attached picture clearly shows the state of the art Thunder and Lightning using the trapeze in the 1938 POW and the genoa which came back about 7' sheeted outside. For a definitive history of the trapeze read Jamie Campbell's excellent History of The Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Y C. including the il...
by Bill-Conner
Mon Nov 10, 2014 5:05 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: I14 K869 Agamemnon
Replies: 27
Views: 28006

Re: I14 K869 Agamemnon

Just to hold the rig up, there are enough pictures of the genoa sheeted OUTside the shrouds. Not even Stars sheeted close in in those days.