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.
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 1908 London Great Britain (GBR)Blair CochraneCharles CampbellJohn RhodesHenry SuttonArthur Wood Sweden (SWE)Carl HellströmEdmund ThormählenEric SandbergErik WalleriusHarald WallinThe Duchess of Westminster Great Britain (GBR)Philip HunlokeAlfred HughesFrederick HughesGeorge RatseyWilliam Ward
1912 Stockholm Norway (NOR)Thoralf GladThomas AasAndreas BreckeTorleiv CorneliussenChristian Jebe Sweden (SWE)Bengt HeymanEmil HenriquesAlvar ThielHerbert WestermarkNils Westermark Finland (FIN)Bertil TallbergArthur AhngerEmil LindhGunnar TallbergGeorg Westling
1920 Antwerp 1907 rule Norway (NOR)Carl RingvoldThorleif HolbyeAlf JacobsenKristoffer OlsenTellef Wagle No further competitors No further competitors
1920 Antwerp 1919 rule Norway (NOR)Magnus KonowThorleif ChristoffersenReidar MarthiniussenRagnar Vik Norway (NOR)Jens SalvesenFinn SchianderLauritz SchmidtNils ThomasRalph Tschudi Belgium (BEL)Albert GrisarWilly de l'ArbreGeorges HellebuyckLéopold StandaertHenri Weewauters
1924 Paris Norway (NOR)Carl RingvoldRick BockelieHarald HagenIngar NielsenCarl Ringvold, Jr. Great Britain (GBR)Ernest RoneyHarold FowlerEdwin JacobThomas RiggsWalter Riggs France (FRA)Louis BreguetPierre GauthierRobert GirardetAndré GuerrierGeorges Mollard
1928 Amsterdam France (FRA)Donatien BouchéAndré DerrienVirginie HériotAndré LesauvageJean LesieurCarl de la Sablière Netherlands (NED)Johannes van HoolwerffLambertus DoedesHendrik KerskenCornelis van StaverenGerard de Vries LentschMaarten de Wit Sweden (SWE)Clarence HammarTore HolmCarl SandblomJohn SandblomPhilip SandblomWilhelm Törsleff
1932 Los Angeles United States (USA)Owen ChurchillJohn BibyAlphonse BurnandKenneth CareyWilliam CooperPierpont DavisCarl DorseyJohn HuettnerRichard MooreAlan MorganRobert SuttonThomas Webster Canada (CAN)Ronald MaitlandErnest CribbPeter GordonGeorge GylesHarry JonesHubert Wallace No further competitors
1936 Berlin Italy (ITA)Giovanni ReggioBruno BianchiLuigi De ManincorDomenico MordiniEnrico PoggiLuigi Poggi Norway (NOR)Olaf Ditlev-SimonsenJohn Ditlev-SimonsenHans StruksnæsLauritz SchmidtJacob ThamsNordahl Wallem Germany (GER)Hans HowaldtFritz BischoffAlfried Krupp von Bohlen und HalbachEduard MohrFelix Scheder-BieschinOtto Wachs
World Championships
After a long break, the Worlds have been organised for the eight metres in four classes:
1. The World Cup. 2. The Sira Cup – All Classic eights built prior to 1968 3. The Neptune Trophy – All Classics with original deck plan build prior to 1970, wooden spars and Dacron sails 4. Vintage eights – Gaffs build before 1920.
Worlds Venue
Dates Host No.Boats Sailors Ref. Ed. Date Year Host club Location Nat. No. 1 – 1970 Rhu, Argyll & Bute, Scotland 2 – 1975 Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm 3 – 1978 Helsinki, Uusimaa 4 – 1982 – Visby Gotland 5 – 1983 Oslo 6 – 1984 Toronto, Ontario 7 – 1985 Rochester, Monroe County, New York 8 – 1986 Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes 9 18–25 Jul 1987 Helsinki, Uusimaa 10 17–23 Jul 1988 Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm 11 – 1989 Toronto, Ontario 12 – 1990 Rochester, Monroe County, New York 13 – 1991 Mississauga 14 – 1992 Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm 15 – 1993 Helsinki, Uusimaa 16 – 1994 Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes 17 – 1995 Medemblik 18 – 1996 Sodus Point 19 – 1998 Geneva 20 15–21 Aug 1999 Rochester, Monroe County, New York 21 9–16 Jun 2000 Genoa 22 20–27 Jul 2002 Helsinki, Uusimaa 23 14–21 Jun 2003 La Trinité-sur-Mer, Morbihan 20 24 – 2004 Geneva 29 25 13–20 Aug 2005 Toronto, Ontario 15 26 4–14 Jul 2006 Lindau, Lake Constance, Bavaria 21 27 16–21 Jul 2007 Rhu, Argyll & Bute, Scotland 28 – 2008 Oslo 23 29 30Sep −3Oct 2009 Hyères, Var 15 30 21–28 Aug 2010 Toronto, Ontario 15 31 29Jun −3Jul 2011 Glücksburg 25 32 15–22 Jul 2012 Cowes, Isle of Wight 22 33 29Jul −3Aug 2013 Helsinki 27 34 5–12 Sep 2014 La Trinité-sur-Mer, Morbihan 26 35 6–12 Jul 2015 Geneva 36 19–27 Aug 2016 Toronto, Ontario 37 10–19 Aug 2017 Hankø, Østfold 28 38 2–7 Jul 2018 Langenargen 39 20–27 Jul 2019 Cowes, Isle of Wight N/A 15–22 Aug 2020 Buyshaven (CANCELLED COVID) N/A 29Aug −4Sep 2021 Enkhuizen (CANCELLED COVID) 40 25–31 Jul 2022 Geneva 24 41 28Aug −2Sep 2023 Genoa 19 42 17–24 Aug 2024 Rhu, Argyll & Bute, Scotland 13 43 2–9 Aug 2025 Turku 21 155 10 2
Worlds Results 1970Silja1975Silja1978Iskareen1982Iroquois1983 IroquoisVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholson (1930)1984OctaviaVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholson (1930)1985Golden FeatherVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholson (1930)1986 FranceGitana SixtyAyanaDesign – F. Camatte 1947Walter Latscha1987SpiritWyeDesign – C.E. Nicholson 1935Sigfrid Svensson1988GefionWandaDesign – Tore Holm (1937)Lasse Björk1989GefionVenture IIDesign – E.A. Shuman (1938)Lorne Corley1990GefionVenture IIDesign – E.A. Shuman (1938)Lorne Corley1991 GefionVenture IIDesign – E.A. Shuman (1938)Lorne Corley1992SpiritIsabelGustav Estlander 1928Bo Persson1993Sarissa1994 GefionVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholsen (1930)Eric Mallet1995 NaturalVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholsen (1930)Eric Mallet1996 SarissaIskareenOlin Stephens (1939)Ralph Reimann1998 YquemVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholsen (1930)Eric Mallet1999Golden FeatherNorsemanDesign – William J. Roue (1930)Cedric G. E. Gyles2000GefionVisionDesign – C.E. Nicholson (1930)Eric Mallet2002FRA 29 – Fleur de Lys2002 – Jacques FaurouxI16 – BonaDesign – Baglietto (1934)2003FRA 29 – Fleur de Lys2002 – Jacques FaurouxSUI-8 Yquem1985 – Pelle Petterson & 2003 Van Oosanen Wing keelGBR-2 Lafayette1986 – Jacques FaurouxI16 – BonaDesign – Baglietto (1934)2004 NED-2 LafayetteFRA 29 – Fleur de Lys2002 – Jacques FaurouxLafayette GBR-21986 – Jacques FaurouxCutty Tou1930 – C.E. Nicholson Alain & Gilles Minos2005 NED 1 Hollandia2005 Ian Howlett IskareenOlin Stephens (1939)Ralph Reimann2006 SUI-10 SarissaSUI-11 AluetteNED 1 Hollandia2005 Ian HowlettZ-9Froya1939 Bjarne Aas2007 SUI 11 AluetteSaskiaWilliam Fife III 1931John & Micheal Stephen2008 SUI 11 AluetteSUI 2 YQUEM IIGBR-2 LafayetteN-33 – SiraJohan Anker 1938His Majesty Harald V of Norway2009GBR-2 – LafayetteSUI 11 AluetteNED 1 Hollandia2005 Ian HowlettSevernDesign – William Fife 19362010SUI 11 – AluetteHelm – CAN 25 – RavenAlfred Mylne &Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 19382011NED 1 – HollandiaHelm – CAN 25 – RavenAlfred Mylne &Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 19382012YQUEM II SUI-2Lafayette GBR-24th – CAN 25 – RavenAlfred Mylne &Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 19382013NED 1 – HollandiaSUI-2 YQUEM IIJUANITA5th / CAN 25 Raven1938 Alfred Mylne &Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 2014NED 1 – HollandiaDesign – Ian Howlett (2005) Helm – YQUEM IIJUANITA5th / CAN 25 – RavenDesign – Alfred Mylne &Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 19382015 – Yquem II Helm – WyvernStarling Burgess / A&RRüdiger Stihl2016NED 1 – HollandiaDesign – Ian Howlett (2005) Helm – BangaloreDesign -Shannon HowardBart Meuring2017GBR 007 – Miss U (2014) Helm – Pandora (ex. Raven)Werner DeuringAlfred Mylne & Sir Thomas Glen-Coats 19382018Conquistador (2005)Helm – LunaDesign – C.E. Nicholson (2011)Harri Roschier2019SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – 2022SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – GER 16 Starling BurgessK 35 Pandora2023SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002)Helm – AUT-277 ConquistadorITA-16 BonaGER-16 Starling Burgess2024SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – SUI-8 SpiritKC-3 Vision2025SUI 2 – Yquem II (2002) Helm – GER 16 – Starling BurgessK 35 – PandoraGER 16 – Starling Burgess
References The International Rule – The Eight Metre Class – John Lammerts van Bueren, 2007
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 Russian Eight Metre Association (Russian)