The IYRU Fifteen Metre class yachts are constructed to the First International rule of 1907. A total of twenty 15mR yachts were built between 1907 and 1917, the four that have survived are still actively raced.

Class symbol
Class symbol
The 15mR Ma'oona in 1908.
Development
Year1907 (design rule)
DesignDevelopment class

History edit

The IYRU International Rule was set up in 1907 to replace the YRA 1901 revised Linear Rating Rule. The IYRU 15mR boats would replace the YRA 52-raters and open competition to foreign nations, replacing local or national systems with a unified rating system across Europe. The rule changed several times, but the 15mR boats only raced in the first rule of 1907. The twenty boats that were built, were raced in Spain, France, Britain and Germany. The rule was proposed for competition in the 1908 Olympics but there were no entries.

1907 Rule edit

 
The four restored 15mRs in their first races together

The 15-Metre class is a construction class, meaning that the boats are not identical but are all designed to meet specific measurements in a formula. In their heyday, Metre classes were the most important group of international yacht racing classes, and they are still actively raced around the world. "Metre" does not refer to the length of the boat, but to her rating; the length overall of 15mR boats measuring almost 30 metres (98 ft).

The 15mR formula used in the First International Rule from 1907 to 1920:

 

where

  • L = load waterline length in metres
  • B = beam in metres
  • G = chain girth in metres
  • d = difference between girth and chain in metres
  • S = sail area in square metres
  • F = freeboard in metres

Boats edit

Launch Yacht Sail no. Designer Shipyard First owner Details
1907 Ma'oona Alfred Mylne   Robert McAlister & Son J. Talbot Clifton later sold to Almeric Paget
1907 Shimna William Fife III   Alexander Robertson & Sons William Yates later rechristened Slec, and Yildiz in 1938. damaged and broken up in Turkey 1949.
1908 Mariska D1 William Fife III   Fife & Son A. K. Stothert restored by the Charpentiers Réunis de Méditerranée in 2009
1909 Ostara D2 Alfred Mylne   Robert McAlister & Son William P. Burton
1909 Anémone II C. Maurice Chevreux   Chantier Vincent, Cannes Philippe de Vilmorin
1909 Encarnita Joseph Guédon   Karpard de Pasajes Marquis of Cuba
1909 Hispania D5 William Fife III   Karpard de Pasajes King Alfonso XIII restored by the Astilleros de Mallorca in 2012[1]
1909 Tuiga D3 D9 1 William Fife III   Fife & Son 17th Duke of Medinaceli owned in the 1920s by Warwick Brookes.[2] rechristened Betty IV, Dorina, Kismet III. restored by Fairlie Restorations in 1993[3]
1909 Vanity D4 William Fife III   Fife & Son W. & Benn Payne
1910 Paula II D2 D8 Alfred Mylne   Robert McAlister & Son Ludwig Sanders
1910 Tritonia D3 Alfred Mylne   Alexander Robertson & Sons Graham C. Lomer later rechristened Jeano, Gerd II, Rinola, Fortuna II, Cisne Branco and Albatroz. served in the Gremio de Vela da Escola Navala in Brazil until 1986
1910 Sophie-Elisabeth D6 D4 William Fife III   Fife & Son L. Biermann 1913/1914 sold to G.Eyde, Norway, and rechristened Beduin,[4] later Magda X
1911 Senta Max Oertz   Max Oertz Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
1912 Istria D7 Charles E. Nicholson   Camper & Nicholsons Charles C. Allom World's first Marconi topmast. broken up in Norway 1924.
1912 The Lady Anne D10 William Fife III   Fife & Son George Coats restored by fairlie Restorations in 1999 with her 1914 rig configuration
1913 Pamela D1 Charles E. Nicholson   Camper & Nicholsons S. Glen L. Bradley
1913 Paula III D2 D8 Charles E. Nicholson   Camper & Nicholsons Ludwig Sanders
1913 Isabel Alexandra D5 Johan Anker   Anker & Jensen E. Luttrop
1913 Maudrey D3 William Fife III   Fife & Son W. Blatspiel Stamp
1917 Neptune Johan Anker   Mandrup Abel S. Klouman

References edit

  1. ^ "Hispania" (in Spanish). Fundación Isla Ebusitana. Archived from the original on 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  2. ^ "Royal Southern Yacht Club". The Times. 1922-08-07. p. 3, column F.
  3. ^ "Fairlie Restorations". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  4. ^ "Die Yacht", 1914,Vol.27, p.672

Sources edit

Bibliography edit