S/V Merlin

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Merlin approaching Diamond Head Yacht "Merlin" TRANSPAC Yacht Race.jpg
Merlin approaching Diamond Head

The Merlin is a 68 foot long by 12 foot wide monohull (ULDB) racing yacht designed by Bill Lee. Weighing 25,000 pounds, it is considered one of the most famous racing yachts in the United States, and has won numerous offshore yacht races including the Transpac (Transpacific Yacht Race) in 1977, establishing a course record that stood for 20 years. The victory became the subject of a feature article in Sports Illustrated, further enhancing its prestige. [1] In 2017, Merlin was purchased by Chip Merlin.

Contents

History

The Merlin was designed by Bill Lee and finished in 1976. [1] [2] In 1977, it set a race record at the Transpacific Yacht Race by finishing over 22 hours ahead of the previous record set in 1971. [3] The record lasted 20 years until beaten by the Pyewacket in 1997. [3]

William “Chip” F. Merlin purchased the Merlin in 2017. [4] In 2018, it won three separate regattas. It also set another course record in the 50th running from St. Petersburg, FL, to Isla Mujeras.

Design

Part of the reason why Merlin is lauded amongst the racing community is that it is heralded as the first of its kind. [3] [5] The design of the Merlin is considered to have started a new generation of ultra light displacement boat design. [1] [3] It is long, narrow, and light weight. [3]

Lee’s innovative, yet at the time controversial, design reshaped the schematics applied to racing vessels. Lee’s background was certainly not given proper attention, as he held a mechanical engineering degree and worked in the defense industry performing stress and weight analysis tests on amphibious crafts and submarines prior to his yacht racing endeavors.[ citation needed ]

Course Records

Transpac’s The Merlin Trophy

In 2009, Trisha Steele, a fourth-generation Transpac racer and herself a former owner of Merlin, dedicated a new trophy, The Merlin Trophy, [13] for the fastest elapsed time for the unlimited class of yachts competing in the Transpac Race. The trophy was built by Ken Gardiner and is a scale model of Merlin itself. [14] The Merlin Trophy was for RSS 51 and 52 waiver yachts (exempt from the Racing Rules of Sailing limitations on moveable ballast and/or stored power) up to 100 feet with the shortest elapsed time but since 2019 the trophy has been awarded to yachts with manual power only, making previous winners like Alfa Romeo in 2009 now ineligible. [15]

Ownership

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Yachting. January 1985.
  2. 1 2 3 "Merlin Finishes First, Sets Pacific Race Mark". The New York Times. 1977-07-12. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Merlin makes 40th year Homecoming at the 2017 Transpac". Sail World. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Merlin's Move to the Sunshine State". Latitude38. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  5. 1 2 "Those 'Downwind Sleds' Are Chosen to Battle for California Cup". Los Angeles Times. 1985-04-12. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  6. ↑ Johnston, Richard W. "GOING WITH THE WIND". Vault. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  7. ↑ Merlin Log.pdf "1978 Victoria to Maui Race" (PDF).{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. 1 2 "Transpac 2019". 2019.transpacyc.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  9. ↑ Museler, Chris (2018). Merlin's Return. Sail Magazine. p. 40.
  10. ↑ Yumpu.com. "Knight Errant V1:2021". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  11. ↑ "2018 Race - Newport Bermuda Race". bermudarace.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  12. ↑ "2024 Regata del Sol al Sol". 2024 Regata del Sol al Sol. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  13. ↑ "Transpac 2017". 2017.transpacyc.com. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  14. ↑ Mysailing, Systems (2009-07-12). "Alfa Romeo smashes Transpac record - Mysailing". Mysailing | Australian Sailing News, World Sailing, Yacht Racing. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  15. ↑ "Transpacific Yacht Club". transpacyc.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  16. ↑ "Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation - Hall of Fame 2016, Jere Sullivan".
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