The Metre Boats

The metre boats continue to delight, over 100 years since they first sailed. Fleet racing will be organised for classic and modern 6mR, 8mR and 12 mR. Other classes will be accommodated depending on attendance - but never fear - all boats are welcome and we would expect entries from 5mR, 5.5mR and 10mR.

• The 6mR Nationals will be held in Falmouth. They will attend a classic event at La Trinité, Brittany and the Worlds this year are being held in Finland. The British boats may also be seen out in the Solent during the Southern Sixes (Royal Southern YC) in June. For details goto www.6mr.org.uk.
  
  
• The 8mR The 8mR World Cup this year will be at Toronto, Canada, in mid-August and the 8mR Euro Cup during the Rolex Baltic Week in early July.
  
  
• the 12mR fleet are organising a British Tour for 2012 to include British Nationals (Royal Southern YC), Worlds (Royal Yacht Squadron), Match Racing (Royal Thames YC) and a more relaxed final event in Christchurch Bay (Royal Solent YC)
  
  

Now 100 years since the first rule was written, metre boats have been at the forefront of yacht development - they were amongst the first boats sailing in the Olympics, right from the 1908 London Olympics until 1968 in Mexico, 6mR were used for the British-American Cup (team racing) through the 1930’s, some of the 23mR were converted to ‘J’-class yachts and the 12mR were the boats used to challenge for the Americas Cup for 30 years once racing started again after the war and until a more modern derivative was designed. There has been a real resurgence of interest with many old boats being restored, new boats being built and some of the mega-stars of the sailing world choosing metre boats for their personal sailing.