Engineering:8 Metre
Class symbol | |
Finnish 8mR-yacht Sagitta (FIN–2) designed by Charles Nicholson in 1929 and owned by Timo Saalasti. | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Year | 1907 (rule design) |
The International Eight Metre class are class of racing yachts. Eight Metre boats (often called "Eights" or 8mR) are a construction class, meaning that the boats are not identical but are all designed to meet specific measurement formula, in this case International rule. Before WW II, Eights were the most prestigious international yacht racing class and they are still raced around the world. "Eight metre" in class name does not, somewhat confusingly, refer to length of the boat, but product of the formula. 8mR boats are on average some 15 metres long. Between 1907 and 2008 approximately 500 8mR boats were built, 177 of them have survived until today.
History

The International Rule was set up in 1907 to replace earlier, simpler handicap system which were often local or at best, national, and often also fairly simple, producing extreme boats which were fast but lightly constructed and impractical. The Eight Metre class was the medium size rating established under the rule and they were chosen as an Olympic class in 1908 Summer Olympics. The Eights remained in the Olympics until 1936.
Up till 1914 the 8 metre yachts were traditionally Gaff rig. This changed with the launch of Ierne by the Fife yard becoming the first yacht of the class using Bermuda rig. Over time Bermuda rigs became more popular thanks to much more convenient cruising.[1]
New, modern eights are still built utilising newest contemporary technologies, at the rate of 1–3 boats per year. During the 1980s, many old sailboat classes experienced a revival of interest. The class has undergone a renaissance which has continued to the day, with many old yachts restored or rebuilt to racing condition, and 8mr competition is once again thriving with 25–35 boats participating annually at the 8mR Worlds. "The International Eight Register" includes 177 identified existing boats of a total of approximately 500 boats built from 1907 until today.
Olympics
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 London |
Blair Cochrane Charles Campbell John Rhodes Henry Sutton Arthur Wood |
Carl Hellström Edmund Thormählen Eric Sandberg Erik Wallerius Harald Wallin The Duchess of Westminster |
Philip Hunloke Alfred Hughes Frederick Hughes George Ratsey William Ward |
| 1912 Stockholm |
Thoralf Glad Thomas Aas Andreas Brecke Torleiv Corneliussen Christian Jebe |
Bengt Heyman Emil Henriques Alvar Thiel Herbert Westermark Nils Westermark |
Bertil Tallberg Arthur Ahnger Emil Lindh Gunnar Tallberg Georg Westling |
| 1920 Antwerp 1907 rule |
Carl Ringvold Thorleif Holbye Alf Jacobsen Kristoffer Olsen Tellef Wagle |
No further competitors | No further competitors |
| 1920 Antwerp 1919 rule |
Magnus Konow Thorleif Christoffersen Reidar Marthiniussen Ragnar Vik |
Jens Salvesen Finn Schiander Lauritz Schmidt Nils Thomas Ralph Tschudi |
Albert Grisar Willy de l'Arbre Georges Hellebuyck Léopold Standaert Henri Weewauters |
| 1924 Paris |
Carl Ringvold Rick Bockelie Harald Hagen Ingar Nielsen Carl Ringvold, Jr. |
Ernest Roney Harold Fowler Edwin Jacob Thomas Riggs Walter Riggs |
Louis Breguet Pierre Gauthier Robert Girardet André Guerrier Georges Mollard |
| 1928 Amsterdam |
Donatien Bouché André Derrien Virginie Hériot André Lesauvage Jean Lesieur Carl de la Sablière |
Johannes van Hoolwerff Lambertus Doedes Hendrik Kersken Cornelis van Staveren Gerard de Vries Lentsch Maarten de Wit |
Clarence Hammar Tore Holm Carl Sandblom John Sandblom Philip Sandblom Wilhelm Törsleff |
| 1932 Los Angeles |
Owen Churchill John Biby Alphonse Burnand Kenneth Carey William Cooper Pierpont Davis Carl Dorsey John Huettner Richard Moore Alan Morgan Robert Sutton Thomas Webster |
Ronald Maitland Ernest Cribb Peter Gordon George Gyles Harry Jones Hubert Wallace |
No further competitors |
| 1936 Berlin |
Giovanni Reggio Bruno Bianchi Luigi De Manincor Domenico Mordini Enrico Poggi Luigi Poggi |
Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen John Ditlev-Simonsen Hans Struksnæs Lauritz Schmidt Jacob Thams Nordahl Wallem |
Hans Howaldt Fritz Bischoff Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Eduard Mohr Felix Scheder-Bieschin Otto Wachs |
World Championships
After a long break, the Worlds have been organised for the eight metres in four classes:
1. The World Cup.[2]
2. The Sira Cup – All Classic eights built prior to 1968[3]
3. The Neptune Trophy – All Classics with original deck plan build prior to 1970, wooden spars and Dacron sails[4]
4. Vintage eights – Gaffs build before 1920.
Worlds Venue
| Dates | Host | No. Boats |
Sailors | Ref. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ed. | Date | Year | Host club | Location | Nat. | No. | 13px | 13px | Nat. | Cont | ||
| 1 | – | 1970 | Template:Yachtclub | Rhu, Argyll & Bute, Scotland | ||||||||
| 2 | – | 1975 | Template:Yachtclub | Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm | ||||||||
| 3 | – | 1978 | Template:Yachtclub | Helsinki, Uusimaa | ||||||||
| 4 | – | 1982 | Template:Yachtclub – Visby | Gotland | ||||||||
| 5 | – | 1983 | Template:Yachtclub | Oslo | ||||||||
| 6 | – | 1984 | Template:Yachtclub | Toronto, Ontario | ||||||||
| 7 | – | 1985 | Template:Yachtclub | Rochester, Monroe County, New York | ||||||||
| 8 | – | 1986 | Template:Yachtclub | Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes | ||||||||
| 9 | 18–25 Jul | 1987 | Template:Yachtclub | Helsinki, Uusimaa | ||||||||
| 10 | 17–23 Jul | 1988 | Template:Yachtclub | Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm | ||||||||
| 11 | – | 1989 | Template:Yachtclub | Toronto, Ontario | ||||||||
| 12 | – | 1990 | Template:Yachtclub | Rochester, Monroe County, New York | ||||||||
| 13 | – | 1991 | Template:Yachtclub | Mississauga | ||||||||
| 14 | – | 1992 | Template:Yachtclub | Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm | ||||||||
| 15 | – | 1993 | Template:Yachtclub | Helsinki, Uusimaa | [5] | |||||||
| 16 | – | 1994 | Template:Yachtclub | Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes | ||||||||
| 17 | – | 1995 | Template:Yachtclub | Medemblik | ||||||||
| 18 | – | 1996 | Template:Yachtclub | Sodus Point | ||||||||
| 19 | – | 1998 | Template:Yachtclub | Geneva | ||||||||
| 20 | 15–21 Aug | 1999 | Template:Yachtclub | Rochester, Monroe County, New York | [6] | |||||||
| 21 | 9–16 Jun | 2000 | Template:Yachtclub | Genoa | [7] | |||||||
| 22 | 20–27 Jul | 2002 | Template:Yachtclub | Helsinki, Uusimaa | [8][9] | |||||||
| 23 | 14–21 Jun | 2003 | Template:Yachtclub | La Trinité-sur-Mer, Morbihan | 20 | [10][11][12][13] | ||||||
| 24 | – | 2004 | Template:Yachtclub | Geneva | 29 | [14][15] | ||||||
| 25 | 13–20 Aug | 2005 | Template:Yachtclub | Toronto, Ontario | 15 | [16][17][18][19] | ||||||
| 26 | 4–14 Jul | 2006 | Template:Yachtclub | Lindau, Lake Constance, Bavaria | 21 | [20][21][22][23] | ||||||
| 27 | 16–21 Jul | 2007 | Template:Yachtclub | Rhu, Argyll & Bute, Scotland | [24][25][26][27] | |||||||
| 28 | – | 2008 | Template:Yachtclub | Oslo | 23 | |||||||
| 29 | 30Sep −3Oct | 2009 | Template:Yachtclub | Hyères, Var | 15 | [28][29] | ||||||
| 30 | 21–28 Aug | 2010 | Template:Yachtclub | Toronto, Ontario | 15 | [30][31] | ||||||
| 31 | 29Jun −3Jul | 2011 | Template:Yachtclub | Glücksburg | 25 | [32][33][34] | ||||||
| 32 | 15–22 Jul | 2012 | Template:Yachtclub | Cowes, Isle of Wight | 22 | [35][36] | ||||||
| 33 | 29Jul −3Aug | 2013 | Template:Yachtclub | Helsinki | 27 | [37][38][39] | ||||||
| 34 | 5–12 Sep | 2014 | Template:Yachtclub | La Trinité-sur-Mer, Morbihan | 26 | [40][41][42][43] | ||||||
| 35 | 6–12 Jul | 2015 | Template:Yachtclub | Geneva | [44][45][46] | |||||||
| 36 | 19–27 Aug | 2016 | Template:Yachtclub | Toronto, Ontario | [47][48][49] | |||||||
| 37 | 10–19 Aug | 2017 | Template:Yachtclub | Hankø, Østfold | 28 | [50][51][52][53] | ||||||
| 38 | 2–7 Jul | 2018 | Template:Yachtclub | Langenargen | [54][55] | |||||||
| 39 | 20–27 Jul | 2019 | Template:Yachtclub | Cowes, Isle of Wight | [56][57] | |||||||
| N/A | 15–22 Aug | 2020 | Template:Yachtclub | Buyshaven | (CANCELLED COVID) | [58] | ||||||
| N/A | 29Aug −4Sep | 2021 | Template:Yachtclub | Enkhuizen | (CANCELLED COVID) | [59] | ||||||
| 40 | 25–31 Jul | 2022 | Template:Yachtclub | Geneva | 24 | [60] | ||||||
| 41 | 28Aug −2Sep | 2023 | Template:Yachtclub | Genoa | 19 | [61][62] | ||||||
| 42 | 17–24 Aug | 2024 | Template:Yachtclub | Rhu, Argyll & Bute, Scotland | 13 | [63] | ||||||
| 43 | 2–9 Aug | 2025 | Template:Yachtclub | Turku | 21 | 155 | 10 | 2 | [64][65] | |||
Worlds Results
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | 1st Sira Class | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Silja | ||||
| 1975 | Silja | ||||
| 1978 | Iskareen | ||||
| 1982 | Iroquois | ||||
| 1983 | Iroquois |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholson (1930) | |||
| 1984 | Octavia |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholson (1930) | |||
| 1985 | Golden Feather |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholson (1930) | |||
| 1986 France | Gitana Sixty |
Ayana Design – F. Camatte 1947 Walter Latscha | |||
| 1987 | Spirit |
Wye Design – C.E. Nicholson 1935 Sigfrid Svensson | |||
| 1988 | Gefion |
Wanda Design – Tore Holm (1937) Lasse Björk | |||
| 1989 | Gefion |
Venture II Design – E.A. Shuman (1938) Lorne Corley | |||
| 1990 | Gefion |
Venture II Design – E.A. Shuman (1938) Lorne Corley | |||
| 1991 | Gefion |
Venture II Design – E.A. Shuman (1938) Lorne Corley | |||
| 1992 | Spirit |
Isabel Gustav Estlander 1928 Bo Persson | |||
| 1993 | Sarissa |
||||
| 1994 | Gefion |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholsen (1930) Eric Mallet | |||
| 1995 | Natural |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholsen (1930) Eric Mallet | |||
| 1996 | Sarissa |
Iskareen Olin Stephens (1939) Ralph Reimann | |||
| 1998 | Yquem |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholsen (1930) Eric Mallet | |||
| 1999 | Golden Feather |
Norseman Design – William J. Roue (1930) Cedric G. E. Gyles | |||
| 2000 | Gefion |
Vision Design – C.E. Nicholson (1930) Eric Mallet | |||
| 2002 | FRA 29 – Fleur de Lys 2002 – Jacques Fauroux
|
I16 – Bona Design – Baglietto (1934) | |||
| 2003 | FRA 29 – Fleur de Lys 2002 – Jacques Fauroux
|
SUI-8 Yquem 1985 – Pelle Petterson & 2003 Van Oosanen Wing keel
|
GBR-2 Lafayette 1986 – Jacques Fauroux
|
I16 – Bona Design – Baglietto (1934)
|
[11] |
| 2004 | NED-2 Lafayette
|
FRA 29 – Fleur de Lys 2002 – Jacques Fauroux
|
Lafayette GBR-2 1986 – Jacques Fauroux
|
Cutty Tou 1930 – C.E. Nicholson
|
|
| 2005 | NED 1 Hollandia 2005 Ian Howlett
|
Iskareen Olin Stephens (1939) Ralph Reimann | |||
| 2006 | SUI-10 Sarissa |
SUI-11 Aluette |
NED 1 Hollandia 2005 Ian Howlett |
Z-9Froya 1939 Bjarne Aas |
|
| 2007 | SUI 11 Aluette | Saskia William Fife III 1931 John & Micheal Stephen |
|||
| 2008 | SUI 11 Aluette | SUI 2 YQUEM II | GBR-2 Lafayette | N-33 – Sira Johan Anker 1938 His Majesty Harald V of Norway |
|
| 2009 | GBR-2 – Lafayette
|
SUI 11 Aluette | NED 1 Hollandia 2005 Ian Howlett |
Severn Design – William Fife 1936 |
|
| 2010 | SUI 11 – Aluette Helm – |
CAN 25 – Raven<brAlfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 1938 |
|||
| 2011 | NED 1 – Hollandia Helm – |
CAN 25 – Raven<brAlfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 1938 |
|||
| 2012 |
|
YQUEM II SUI-2 |
Lafayette GBR-2 |
4th – CAN 25 – Raven<brAlfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 1938 |
|
| 2013 | NED 1 – Hollandia |
SUI-2 YQUEM II | JUANITA | 5th / CAN 25 Raven 1938 Alfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats |
|
| 2014 | NED 1 – Hollandia Design – Ian Howlett (2005) Helm – |
YQUEM II | JUANITA | 5th / CAN 25 – Raven Design – Alfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 1938 |
|
| 2015 | – Yquem II Helm – |
Wyvern Starling Burgess / A&R Rüdiger Stihl | |||
| 2016 | NED 1 – Hollandia Design – Ian Howlett (2005) Helm – |
Bangalore Design - Shannon Howard Bart Meuring |
|||
| 2017 | GBR 007 – Miss U (2014) Helm – |
Pandora (ex. Raven) Werner Deuring Alfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 1938 |
|||
| 2018 | Conquistador (2005) Helm – |
Luna Design – C.E. Nicholson (2011) Harri Roschier |
|||
| 2019 | SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – | ||||
| 2022 | SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – |
GER 16 Starling Burgess | K 35 Pandora | ||
| 2023 | SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – |
AUT-277 Conquistador |
ITA-16 Bona |
GER-16 Starling Burgess | |
| 2024 | SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – |
SUI-8 Spirit | KC-3 Vision | ||
| 2025 | SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – |
GER 16 – Starling Burgess
|
K 35 – Pandora
|
GER 16 – Starling Burgess
|
[65] |
References
- ↑ "Eight Metre "VERANO II" (Snarken) - Part 1". 9 February 2011. https://snarken.page.tl/Part-1.htm. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ↑ "IEMA". http://www.8mr.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118&Itemid=107.
- ↑ "IEMA". http://www.8mr.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=116.
- ↑ "IEMA". http://www.8mr.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=115.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2002 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-helsinki-2002.
- ↑ "8 Metre World Cup in la Trinite sur Mer Overall". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/10088/8-Metre-World-Cup-Overall.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "2003 Worlds Report". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-la-trinite-sur-mer-2003.
- ↑ "2003 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-la-trinite-sur-mer-2003.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2004 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-geneva-2004.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2005 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-toronto-2005.
- ↑ "8 Metre Worlds at Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/18675/8-metre-worlds-at-Toronto.
- ↑ "RCYC 8 Meter Worlds". http://www.rcyc.ca:80/Regatta/8meter.html.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2006 8m Worlds Official Event Website". http://www.lsc.de/8/.
- ↑ "2006 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-lindau-2006.
- ↑ "Ergebnisliste 8mR World Cup 2006 Chopard". http://www.lsc.de/8/ergebnisse/060714Erg00406-alle.htm.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2007 8m Worlds Official Event Website". http://8metre.rncyc.com/.
- ↑ "2007 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-the-clyde-2007.
- ↑ "8 Metre Worlds at Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club Overall". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/137512/8-metre-worlds-at-Rhu-overall.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2009 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-hyeres-2009.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2010 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-toronto-2010.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2011 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-flensburg-2011.
- ↑ "24 8-Metre yachts enter worlds during Rolex Baltic Week". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/157279/24-8-Metre-yachts-enter-worlds.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2012 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-cowes-2012.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2013 8m Worlds Official Event Website". https://events.sailracer.org/eventsites/default_8mr.asp?eventid=147050.
- ↑ "2013 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-helsinki-2013.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2014 8m Worlds Official Event Website". http://8mr-worldcup2014.e-monsite.com/.
- ↑ "2014 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-la-trinite-sur-mer-2014.
- ↑ "8mR World Cup at Société Nautique de la Trinité-sur-Mer". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/179063/8mR-World-Cup-at-La-Trinite-sur-Mer.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2015 8m Worlds Official Event Website". http://www.nautique.ch.
- ↑ "2015 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-geneva-2015.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2016 8m Worlds Official Event Website". http://www.8metreworldcup.com/home/.
- ↑ "2016 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-toronto-2016.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2017 8m Worlds Official Event Website". http://www.8metre-worlds2017.no/.
- ↑ "8mR World Championship manage2sail". http://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/f24bb8fc-90d5-48fb-8373-e902934e1051#!/results?classId=9b843e3c-6969-420c-8553-83ee1316ecaf.
- ↑ "2017 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-hanko-2017.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2018 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-langenargen-2018.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ "2019 Class History Event Page". https://www.8mr.org/iema-events/world-cup-cowes-2019.
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Template:World Sailing regatta
- ↑ Yacht Club Italiano (2 September 2023). "8 Metre World Championship at Yacht Club Italiano – Overall". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/266067/8-Metre-Worlds-at-Genoa-Italy-overall.
- ↑ Smith, Emily (24 August 2024). "Eight Metre World Cup at Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club – Overall". https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/278600/Eight-Metre-World-Cup-at-Helensburgh-overall.
- ↑ "World Cup Turku, Finland 2025". https://www.8mr.org/world-cup/2025/home.
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 "International 8 Metre World Cup 2025". https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/ec70b1d2-ef0a-4f8b-9623-b8645a76926c.
External links
- International Eight Metre Association
- IEMA - The Boat Regstry
- IEMA World Cup Site
- Metre Boat Index
- North American Eight Metre Association
- British Eight Metre Association
- Finnish Eight Metre Association (in Finnish)
- Russian Eight Metre Association (Russian)
Template:Olympic class sailboats Template:Classes of the International Sailing Federation
