As the Mercury Class webmaster I would like to welcome you aboard the Mercury Class web site. The class organization, Mercury Class Yacht Racing Association (MCYRA) has over a 55 year history of providing competitive racing in the One Design spirit. Currently we race in some of the best venues the Golden State has to offer. While the competition is top notch, it truely is a family oriented class. At any given regatta, it not unusal to see at least half the fleet made up of male/female couples or children crewing for parents.
If you live in California and are looking for a class to race with local fleets just about anywhere in the state, check us out. Most local fleets host "test drive regattas" for interested parties. Used boats are available at very reasonable costs, and new boats are available from one of the primere builders, Moore Boats in Santa Cruz. Even if you want to get started by crewing, get in touch with a local fleet representative.
Now take a few minutes to sail through the web site and discover Mercury One Design racing. Don't forget to visit again in the future, as we will be updating the site with new features and information on a regular basis.
G.T. Koldjeski
Owner "Significant Other", Mercury 583
With the objective of building a moderately priced all weather sailboat, Ernest Nunes created a design still exceeding those requirements after fifty five years. First launched in the Sausalito area of the San Francisco Bay, the Mercury is equally at home on the breezy Golden Gate and lighter breezes found further down the California coast. Low cost and ease of construction of the boat resulted in fleets starting all along the west coast, and on inland lakes and rivers.
Innovation has been the hallmark of the boat and class. Introduced at the 1939 World's Fair in San Francisco, the Mercury sported the new wonder material of the era, waterproof plywood ! At a time when small boats used heavy plank construction, this approach was on the leading edge. The simplicity of construction permitted Nunes Brothers Boat Works to provide kits for home assembly as well as completed boats.
Perhaps this history has helped the Mercury Class Yacht Racing Association (MCYRA) recognize change as a vital part of the class. Formed in 1947, the founders quickly identified the parameters which directly impacted performance and established strict measurement controls. However, owners were left the freedom to experiment and rig boats as they desired. This approach insured two concepts still seen today: old boats would not be made obsolete by a rule change, and as the new technology evolved, it would find its way into the class. This is a key concept for any class to survive in a marketplace where technology changes are occurring faster every year.
This approach was reaffirmed with the decision to accept fiberglass hulls in 1967 and again in 1970 with the use of aluminum spars. Both decisions, while controversial at the time, helped the class by lowering maintenance requirements, and improving the overall quality of the boats. These changes also resulted in safer hulls with full floatation. And yet the class still provides plans if someone wants to build a wood hull !
The MCYRA has held a National Championship every year since 1947. The regatta location is rotated each year. Venues include Huntington Lake, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Diego, Stillwater in Carmel Bay, Santa Cruz, Clearlake and for 1997, San Francisco Bay. Because of the ease a Mercury can be trailered to other locations, regattas around California are well attended by statewide fleet members. The Rosman Travel Trophy rewards such activities.
On June 18, 1988, the MCYRA celebrated its' 50th birthday at the San Francisco Yacht Club. Over 150 current and past Mercury sailors attended the festivities, which included racing in Raccoon Straits, followed by a dinner at the S.F.Y.C. club house. Honored guests included past champions, including Jim Wyatt, the first National Champion (1947). Three generations of Mercury sailors were in attendance. Hull #6 raced in the regatta, and had all four of her owners present !
In 1995 the MCYRA is continuing to evolve and grow. Our licensed builder, Moore Sailboats, is providing new hulls using up to date methods. Just as plywood was seen as a "breakthrough" material, Moore's balsa cored, vacuum bagged hulls provide an outstanding value for new buyers. However, the basic principles established by the class to protect older boats from obsolescence are still followed. New boats must meet strict minimum weight requirements and hull laminates must equal their plywood sisters in weight. The class also continues to watch the evolution in sail making materials. When it became obvious newer high tech materials provided more cost effective sails then the older dacron technology, these were materials were accepted.
Many call MCYRA a great class to get started in and a better one to come home to. With a large percentage of members being active participants for more than ten years, MCYRA guarantees great competition on the water and fun onshore. For over 55 years the Mercury has been attracting good sailors and the MCYRA good people.