Classic Merlins, Rockets and Merlin Rockets are a subject worthy of a book in themselves.

Bearfacemedia is building up a photographic and records based archive of both Vintage and Classic boat details.

Just for starters, here are some pictures to whet the appetite.

Looking very sad and sorry, Merlin 36 was Ian Proctor's boat in which he came 3rd at the first ever Nationals held at Haylin Island.

Now in the hands of John and Lynn Gardiner the boats looks fabulous with it's new suit of sails

and the transom, so battered and broken when the boat was recovered now looks like....

But Merlin 36 is far from the old lady of the fleet. Check out Number 6, complete with full suit of cotton sails

Some 15 years after this rig was developed the times were changing. Cotton sails on a spruce mast had given way to Terylene on aluminium yet a quick look shows a spreaderless rig, but Diamonds and jumpers (not to mention the plank boom and high cut jib.

Looking very much the part with a 'today' rig - The Class Association Classic rep sailing in 799 at the Shearwater event shows how much extra power comes from a carbon mast

Another real rarity! 2121 is the only Proctor IXD, now lovingly cared for by Sandy and Pat. Rumours abound of a redecking project this winter, if so expect photo's to follow

The Champinship winning Wotnot, first boat to break the all important 6' 6"barrier shows how the business end of the boat was managed. Within two years the latest crop of  boats from  new designers such as Morrison would force the beam even wider yet start pulling in the waterline beam

With the appearance of Wotnot at the recent CVRDA Championshps at Netley, we can only hope that the boat will be see out and about a lot more - she certainly looks the part!

Wotnot at Netley, late July 2008.

Thames SC hosted a cracking Classic event late on in July 2008. The great racing enjoyed on the Saturday was somewhat spoilt when the wind refused to arrive for the main event on the Sunday. Thames have been able to attract a number of Classic Merlins, not least No 6 - Iska, but 111, Secret Water, a very early Holt design that had been towed down all the way from Scotland.

Another of the Classic Merlins making an appearance at Thames. Wozzo is a bob Hoare built Proctor 12, dating from 1962.

Water Nymph meanwhile is a tad younger, being a boat built late on in 1967. Originally known as Water Hog, now far more aptly named as 'Water Nymph, 2069 is a very nice example of the IXB, built at Wyche & Coppock.

The boby of the fleet at Thames was this nicely turned out Rowsell Smokers, Storm 10. 3101 is getting a new lease of life in the hands of Harry Ellens. Normally based at Lymington, the hope is that this is a boat that can be tempted up to Southampton Water for the long talked about Classic Merlin event proposed for Netley.