Merlins Magic Yields Another Record

[Photoboy]

While you were watching your favorite NBA or NHL team's playoff hopes go up in smoke,
The Mighty Merlin was engaging in her 2nd regatta under the stewardship of new owner Bill Merlin.

The race this time was the 456 nm Reach, Run Ride from Tampa Bay the Isla Mujeres off the Cancun Coast.




Reports Chris Watts, mainsail trimmer:

Winds angles were mostly in the 95-135 degrees, with pressure in 15-16 knot range in super flat conditions.

"Our main competition was the Tripp 75' Sgt Reckless sailed by the USMMA Sailing Foundation, which rates
-166 to our -99. A good training workout for the crew to have some keen competition"




Merlin would go on to beat the Tripp 75 by two hours and take 7 hours and change off the previous record set in
2013 by William Terry's J-120 Tampa Girl of 50:30:59.

Merlin is currently en route to Newport Rhode Island where she will ready for her next big test, The Newport Bermuda Race
which begins June 15th. Then it's on to Chicago to do the Chi-Mac Race before returning to the West Coast. She will most likely
reside in the SoCal area and do some of the offshore events there before the 2019 Transpac.



Merlin leads Sgt Reckless into the finish at 2018 Regata del sol al sol
http://yb.tl/rdsas2018


http://merlinyachtracing.com/


Results

[Tonapah Low]

Not bad, 2 1st's and a record for the new owner.

Bermuda race will be a much tough test, I would guess.