6 meter class sailboat

International 6 Metre Association

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SIX METRE EUROPEANS 2024 WEBSITE NOW LIVE – MORE INFO COMING SOON!

Welcome to the online home of the International Six Metre Association. With their elegant lines, effortless sailing performance and exceptional international regatta circuit the Sixes have remained at the forefront of international sailing for over a century.

The class dates back to 1907 and the introduction of the International Rule, also known as the Metre Rule. Throughout the class’s history it has been a hotbed for technical innovation with the world’s leading yacht designers and sailors bringing often radical concepts and technical excellence to the fleet. An Olympic Class from 1908 to 1952, the Sixes were also frequently used as a development testbed for the America’s Cup 12 Metres. The rule was periodically updated to keep the class at the forefront of technical development, whilst at the same time honouring its extraordinary heritage.

The class has inevitably seen peaks and troughs of activity. The 1920s and 30s saw a frenzy of new boat construction, but the advent of the second world war brought a downturn which continued through the post-war austerity years. In 1975 the first of the “modern” Sixes appeared and so began the resurgence of this extraordinary class. Over 1200 6 Metre boats were built in total, of which some 450 are still in existence today.

Clever management of both the rule and the international class association by its dedicated officers and members has seen the International Six Metre return to its rightful place as one of the most exciting and important racing fleets on the planet. It brings together the elegance of the Classic Division with the cutting-edge development of the modern boats in the Open Division, in a regatta circuit that takes competitors to some of the most spectacular yachting venues around the globe. The camaraderie amongst the fleet is exceptional and the après-sailing lifestyle is as elegant as the yachts themselves.

Whether your interest is in sailing purely for pleasure, or racing at the cutting edge, the class has something to offer everyone, and it can be surprisingly good value for money too as the cost of a good second-hand modern boat is likely to be much less than you might think.

Please explore the pages of this website to find out more about the class and the events we run, and for a list of boats for sale or charter.

To find out more about the International Six Metre Association please contact ISMA Class Secretary Tim Russell by Email: [email protected]

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International 6 Meter Class

The International 6 meter class was founded, in 1906, the same year as the establishment of the International Rule, a mathematical formula used to design a number of sailboat classes. From 1906 to 1914, more than 300 of the sloops, ranging from 34 to 38 feet in length, were built as they appealed to consumers with, and without, deep pockets.

While over time the number of Sixes built grew to more than 1,200, today only about 350 of these yachts remain in existence worldwide.

“Coming from the drafting tables of some of the most prolific yacht designers in history — William Fife III, John G. Alden, Bill Luders, Tore Holm and Sparkman & Stephens — the class reached its zenith in the 1930s,” Bill Doyle, co-chairman for the event, said in a statement. “It was an Olympic class from 1908 through 1952 and had large fleets on Long Island Sound and in Europe, the largest in the U.K. With that kind of pedigree, a gathering of Sixes guarantees to be a showstopper.”

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The archive for the International Six Metre Class

Celebrating the history of the international six metres.

The first Six Metres were built over 100 years ago and the class has a rich heritage. This website brings together archive material spanning their full history, made publicly accessible for the first time in one place.

Launched in 2019, this is a growing resource for anyone with an interest in the history of the International Six Metre Class. You can find source material relating to all aspects of the class and the community around it, ranging from regattas and racing to designers and photographs. The material on this site has been sourced from many different collections worldwide, reflecting the international nature of the class.

We welcome and encourage submissions of new material and information from our visitors. Please get in touch if you have anything to add. Feel free to browse our site and enjoy the resources on offer.

View The Archive

Bibis sailing in 1967. Archive record BPLK.1.2.

Six Metres racing out of Harbor Springs, Michigan, in the 1930s. Archive record GRSW.1.2

A class steeped in history

From the Olympics to the World Championships, the International Six Metre Class has played a significant role in the development of competitive sailing. Since the Six Metres first appeared in 1907 following the development of the International Rule, it has been one of the most popular of the Metre classes. More than 1200 boats have been built over the course of more than a century, and over 300 still sail and compete today.

The class is organised by the International Six Metre Association, which is governed by a committee of elected officers from around the world.

Latest additions to the Archive

ISMA Winter Meeting Minutes, 2024

The Whim and Correnzia racing downwind, 1911

Marga sailing in Baia de Guanabara

Ylliam VIII sailing

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Introduction to the The Six Metre – 100 Years of Racing, written by Olin Stephens

“As a retired yacht designer I hope readers will find me justified in outlining technical developments as they affected the Six Metre class throughout its acceptance and growth, as those were the considerations that seemed important to me at the time.

In early days, such developments in naval architecture and yacht design seemed to occur in spurts and have resulted from the individual vision of one man, such as Isaac Newton in the last half of the 17th century, who offered the reach of calculus. This was followed by studies of the dynamics of ships in motion, of which the most comprehensive were carried out by a French scientist, Pierre Bouguer in association with the University of Basle, Switzerland, with his detailed studies of elements, in fields like hydrodynamics and rigging design. I introduce Bouguer because his work led the way to predicted performance which, after a gap of 200 years, Kenneth Davidson’s concentration on the performance in the Six Metre class led the way to its exceptional growth.

Davidson, as an engineer and a sailor, was the first person to envisage the use of very small models for tank tests, in place of the large ones then required by current practice. These were roughly 18 to 20 feet long and weighed in the neighbourhood of a ton. It happened that in searching for a known model to test he came to my office on City Island, New York City, where I had a model of the Six Metre Natka, which had been made by my brother Rod and which he had used in experiments on rigs. Using this model, Davidson continued towing experiments on which his valuable 1936 paper was based.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries design activity was associated internationally with increased in classification and rating rules. The fastest boats, both large and small on both sides of the Atlantic were poor sea boats with light displacement and very long ends. In the US Herreshoff’s “Universal Rule” came into being as a corrective and in Europe in 1906, international conferences met in the UK under the auspices of the Prince of Wales, which produced the First Interational Racing Classes Rule, initially for European use. Subsequently, in 1921 after international discussion and with only partial agreement within the US, Boston and Marblehead holding out, this rule was adopted by the new NAYRU and the NVYC for classes smaller than the 12 Metre class. It became the prototype rule for the Six Metre class and developed into a modified rule known as the Third International Metre Rule.

1924 6-Metre Olympics

Back in the 1930s yachts were considered old after 20 years or less. That age would be doubled today without any surprise, while even older and badly deteriorated hulls are now picked up by delightful owners who spend freely to restore them and it is interesting to speculate just why. Certainly the best materials were available before the Second World War and the best yards then had skilled shipwrights. Perhaps in this age of mass production, there is reassurance of craftmanship and value in the older and simpler hulls.

Appreciation of individually created art is as old as man himself, but the high status of other useful objects such as yachts has come about in only very recent times and with Six Metres only within the last 15 years or so. Am I right that this is new? To be unique contributes value and is surely part of the charm that the Six Metres most certainly have.” (Extract from The Six Metre – 100 Years of Racing, edited by Pekka Barck and Tim Street.)

On the International Six Metre Association website a timeline has been built for the class and can be found at the  Evolution of the 6 Metre Class .

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Vancouver International 6 Metre Fleet

Welcome to our site!

This is the home of the Vancouver 6 Metre Fleet.

What is a 6 Metre

In 1906 the International Six Meter Class came into being with the introduction of the first “International Rule”. Over the last century hundreds of Six Meter yachts have been designed, built and raced under the restrictions of the International Rule formula. The Six Meter Class is still actively raced throughout the world. 2013 saw 34 yachts competing in Flensburg, Germany where Vancouver’s St. Francis IX won the championship in a closely fought series. Subsequently the 2017 Six Meter World Championship was held in Vancouver.

A Six Meter gets its name from the fact that it is roughly six meters on the waterline. Overall is normally just under 40 feet and beam slightly over 6 feet. The weight about 9500 pounds with almost 75% (7100 pounds) of that being concentrated in the deep lead keel. The formula of the International Rule allows significant variations between yachts as designers strive for elusive speed producing combinations by trading off length for sail area and many other dizzying permutations of draft, beam, waterline length and mainsail vs genoa size.

The Six Meter Rule

The International 6 Meter Rile is a formula designed to create racing sailboats of similar yet different proportions. This means that designers around the world can challenge one another with their own design philosophies, while at the same time creating yachts that can be raced against each other.

International Six Meter Formula Rating in meters = (L + 2d – F + √S)2.37 = 6.0 meters where L = Length in Meters           D = Girth difference I meters           F = Freeboard in meters           S = Sail are in square meters

Full Circle        Mathew Henley

The early ‘60s were dark time for the Class. The glory days of Olymic and International competition was but a memory, new builds were now a rarity. It seemed as if the yachting community no longer wanted these expensive anachronisms. There were still a few embers in this gloom. The brightest shone in Seattle, USA, some 250 km south of Vancouver or Victoria. In fact, these happy days that directly led to the formation, with the cooperation of the remaining European fleets, of ISMA.

As the Sixties ended, a meeting of Australia and Puget Sound enthusiasts culminated in a Mach Race series held at the neutral ground of San Francisco’s St Francis Yacht Club. This event marked the first event of a Modern (aka Open) Six in competition. Building on this success, the Puget Sound fleet went on to organize the Class’s first World Championship in 1973. Twenty boats sailed for a trophy donated by the Port of Seattle, for the biennial competition.

This and subsequent World Championships led to a bust of new interest in builds in the class. Soon a wide variety of hull shapes, rudders, and keels – some with wings – could be seen on the start line. While new boats still conform to the rule, it soon became apparent in all conditions, they were faster than the traditional designs. This, in addition to increasing fleet size, led organizers – beginning at the 1988 European Championships – to score “Moderns” and “Classics” separately. Finally, in the 1995 Worlds, separate starts were introduced. As an interesting aside, this separation of the 6 Meter fleets could well be said to be the beginning of the Classic Yacht renaissance.

Fast forward to 2000 – a small group of passionate yachtsmen and women in Vancouver and Puget Sound began looking for, and restoring, long-forgotten local Sixes in an effort to rejuvenate interest in racing them again. Within a few years, these boats began showing the Pacific Northwest “Flag” at international events, and winning too! In 2013, at Flensburg, it was proposed and accepted that the 2017 event be hosted in Vancouver, Canada.

The Six Meter World Championship has come home.

Since 2017, many of the Pacific Northwest boats, including boats from Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, have competed in the 2018 European Championship in France and the 2019 World Championship in Hank Finland. In 2020 the European Championship will be held in Spain, with the subsequent 2021 Worlds also being held in Spain.

The Vancouver Fleet primarily sails out of Royal Vancouver Yacht Club! 3811 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Fleet Captain, Richard James, [email protected]

Boat Name: Saga Sail: US 73, ex, K 49, ex. KC 33 Year Built: 1936 Designer: Bjarne Aas Builder: Bjarne Aas Owner: Kimo Mackey Status: For Sale History: Read the " Saga saga ". Built in Fredrikstad, Norway for Eldon and Kenneth Trimmingham of Bermuda who promptly won the 1936 Prince of Wales Cup in Hamilton, Bermuda. Saga competed in the first King Edward VII Gold Cup, also held in Bermuda. "Saga" lost to Briggs Cunningham's US72 Lulu , but an interesting story resulted from this series. Cornelius Shields came to Bermuda to compete in the same series with US 65 Challenge . When arriving at Hamilton, Bermuda on a ship, Cornelius Shields saw Saga out practicing and was so inspired by Saga's beautiful lines and gracious overhangs, that he couldn't get Saga out of his mind. Upon returning to New York, with Saga his inspiration, Mr Shields commissioned Bjarne Aas to design the International One Design and build 25 of them. The " Bermuda Gold Cup " is now a major stop on the Professional Match Race Series tour and still competed for in the IOD. Saga left Bermuda and sailed with the large fleet on Long Island Sound in 1938, then moved to San Francisco for 1939 and 1940, owned by Myron Spaulding. She made her way to Seattle for Ray Elliot, who sold her to the Murray brothers, who then passed her to Kirk Hull. Kirk placed second in the 1958 Toronto Globe & Mail 6 Meter North Americans in Bellingham with Saga and later won the event in 1961 in Tacoma. Saga competed in the initial World Cup in Seattle in 1973 placing 7th of 20 for Bill Buursma (third among the Classics), and made a good showing in the 1979 World Cup, also in Seattle, where she placed 16 of 25 (second among the Classics) for Paul Longridge. She went to the 1983 World Cup at Newport Harbor, where she was the oldest competitor by 37 years. In the lumpy, challenging conditions of the Pacific Ocean, she still managed to place 13 of 15 and collected the Djinn Trophy for the highest placing Classic. Saga has often been the boat to beat, having won the 2015 Sir Thomas Lipton Cup, her 5th time winning this race over the years. Additional sales listing information: "Kimo, you have the finest 6 metre in the world." - Henrik Andersin, owner of the 6 metres FIN 51 May Be VI, FIN 67 Djinn, as well the 12 metre 'Blue Marlin'. Extensive refit (over 3,000 hours) was recently completed by current Owner of 30 years. The boat is in A-1 Condition throughout and extremely strong and able to tolerate the very high loads of modern sails and rigging. Superb condition due, in large part, to the unusually high quality of materials used in her original construction. SAGA’s Backbone (Stem, wood Keel, Rudder Post and Horn Timber) are constructed of Burmese Teak and the parts are held together by Bronze rod. Also of Teak are her Floors, Mast step, Rudder and Transom. SAGA is the only Classic 6 known to have been constructed in this way. Her hull planking is full length, old growth Fir (aka Oregon pine) and 100% Original. Frames are of Elm and original (with the exception of the lower half of all Frames between Mast Step and Rudder stock which were replaced with laminated Oak frames of increased scantling by Erik Jespersen Boatbuilders). More information here. Lying Port Madison, Bainbridge Island, Washington. Asking price Euros 130,000. Contact: Kimo Mackey, [email protected] . For more photos please refer to Article in 2016 May/June Issue of WoodenBoat Magazine. Sail Inventory: North 3Di Carbon Main, Two No1 Genoas, also 3Di. Sails new for 2017 Worlds and very low hours. Light and Medium air Spinnakers. Mast is Black Anodized Aluminum (Zephyr Section by Erikson of San Francisco). Standing Rigging is SS Rod and Running rigging is Dynema. The boat and her recent upgrades were featured in Wooden Boat Magazine's May/June 2016 edition . Post restoration Saga's crew continue to excel in the boat placing 6th of 21 at the 2017 World Championships at Vancouver with 2 first place finishes. Saga and crew came 2nd of 9 overall and 1st Place Classic in the 2018 North Americans. US 73 Saga and USA 124 Bear Photo from Wooden Boat by Neil Rabinowitz:

Saga undergoes some restorative work below. The photos show her new cockpit layout, new deck beams, new cockpit sole and new transom.

6 meter international

The 6 meter international is a 36.74ft fractional sloop designed by various and built in unknown material since 1907., 1200 units have been built..

The 6 meter international is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is not stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat.

6 meter international for sale elsewhere on the web:

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About The Dragon

Development

From the beginning the boats had the characteristics which have maintained the class. They are very elegant and always attract attention. They are interesting and technically rewarding boats to sail.

Further refinement has continued, but always carefully controlled and in a way that minimises discrimination against older boats which are always able to upgrade. In 1971 metal spars were introduced and in 1973 glass fibre construction arrived. In 1975 the spinnaker was enlarged and the shape improved. More recent changes have focussed on sail and rig controls, often making use of new rope fibres. The class has remained loyal to Dacron sails however, mainly to keep costs down.

The Sailors and the Competition

The dragon’s enduring appeal.

GRP is the most popular material, but both new and old wooden boats regularly win major competitions while looking as beautiful as any craft afloat.

Exotic materials are banned throughout the boat, and strict rules are applied to all areas of construction to avoid sacrificing value for a fractional increase in speed.

Class Structure and Governance

Under the IDA there are 31 National Associations to which individual sailors belong. The IDA selects the venues for major regattas and elects an Executive Board which oversees the class rules (with the assistance of a long-established Technical Committee) and championship rules, and seeks to ensure the highest quality of racing is maintained with continuous oversight of Championship Regulations and event management. The National Associations run their national events and, above all, are responsible for the membership and ensuring that the class remains one to which sailors are proud to belong.

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