7 Metre

7 Metre

Class symbol
Boat
Crew	4
Draft	1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Hull
Hull weight	7,500 kg (16,500 lb)
LOA	13 m (43 ft)
LWL	8.5 m (28 ft)
Beam	2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Rig
Former Olympic class

The International Seven Metre Class is a construction class, meaning that the boats are not identical but are all designed to meet specific measurement formula, in this case International Rule. At their heyday, Metre Classes were the most important group of international yacht racing classes, and they are still actively raced around the world. "Seven" in class name does not, somewhat confusingly, refer to length of the boat, but product of the formula; 7 m boats are, on average, 13 meters long.

History

The 7 m was used as an Olympic class during the 1908 and 1920 Olympics. 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 rule changed several times in history. About 200 boats were ever built.

Rule development

1907 rule

Olympic 7 m yacht "Blue Bird" built in 1910, compliant with the First International Rule

Used from 1907 to 1917.

$7.000{\mbox{ metres}}={\frac {L+B+{\frac {1}{3}}G+3d+{\frac {1}{3}}{\sqrt {S}}-F}{2}}$

where

• $L$ = waterline length (LWL)
• $B$ = beam
• $G$ = chain girth
• $d$ = difference between girth and chain
• $S$ = sail area
• $F$ = freeboard

1919 rule

Used from 1920 to 1933.

$7.000{\mbox{ metres}}={\frac {L+0.25G+2d+{\sqrt {S}}-F}{2.5}}$

where

• $L$ = waterline length (LWL)
• $G$ = chain girth
• $d$ = difference between girth and chain
• $S$ = sail area
• $F$ = freeboard

Olympic results

Gamest	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1908 London	Great Britain (GBR) Charles Rivett-Carnac Norman Bingley Richard Dixon Frances Rivett-Carnac	The second competitor failed to make it to the start.	No further competition
1920 Antwerp	Great Britain (GBR) Cyril Wright Robert Coleman William Maddison Dorothy Wright	Norway (NOR) Johann Faye Sten Abel Christian Dick Neils Neilsen	No further competitors

References

• Bird, V. (2013). Classic Classes. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4081-5890-6. Retrieved 2021-05-05.