Spotlighting the Six Metre World Championship

The Six Metre World Championship, a biennial international yacht race, will be held at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club from September 17 to 21 in Vancouver, Canada. This is the first time Canada has hosted the regatta since it began in 1973.

The crews of 45 participating yachts from 11 countries include former King Juan Carlos I of Spain, four-time America’s Cup yacht race winner Dennis Conner (USA), Olympian Annie Haeger (USA), and Star World Champion Lars Grael (BRA)

With a history dating back more than 100 years, the 6mR class was once the most important international yacht racing class and was an Olympic event from 1908 until 1952. A Canadian crew won a bronze medal in the event at the 1932 Games in Los Angeles.

“The 6mR class is undergoing a renaissance all around the world including Canada,” said Gerald Cullen, Commodore of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. “Classic yachts are being restored and modern ones are being built. The spectacle of 45 yachts in full sail racing across English Bay with some of the world’s best sailors at the helm will be a unique experience.”

The six-metre designation refers to the International Six Metre Rule, a formula established in 1907 and amended several times since then. The rule is based on the measurement of several design components and not the length of the boats, which are typically 10-12 metres long and have a crew of five.

Competitors will be racing in one of two fleets. Most of the older boats have wooden hulls and will race in the Classic Division, while the newer yachts are fiberglass and will compete in the Open Division.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

Source: Chris Freimond