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

[edit on Wikidata]

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[edit]

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[edit]

### 1907 rule[edit]

Olympic 7 m yacht "Blue Bird" built in 1910, compliant with the First International Rule[1]

Used from 1907 to 1917.

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

where

* L {\displaystyle L} = waterline length (LWL)
* B {\displaystyle B} = beam
* G {\displaystyle G} = chain girth
* d {\displaystyle d} = difference between girth and chain
* S {\displaystyle S} = sail area
* F {\displaystyle F} = freeboard

### 1919 rule[edit]

Used from 1920 to 1933.

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

where

* L {\displaystyle L} = waterline length (LWL)
* G {\displaystyle G} = chain girth
* d {\displaystyle d} = difference between girth and chain
* S {\displaystyle S} = sail area
* F {\displaystyle F} = freeboard

## Olympic results[edit]

Gamest  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze

|
|
|

1908 London
details |  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
details |  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[edit]

1. ^ "First International Rule - Bluebird classic sailing yacht". Retrieved 13 October 2022.

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

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Olympic sailing classes

Current classes|

* 470
* 49er
* 49erFX
* Finn
* Formula Kite
* IQFoil
* Laser
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* Nacra 17

Former classes
(In order of first use)|

* Ton classes (0–½, ½–1, 1–2, 2–3, 3–10, 10–20, 20+ & Open)
* 6 Metre
* 7 Metre
* 8 Metre
* 12 Metre
* 10 Metre
* 12 foot dinghy
* 18 foot dinghy
* 6.5 Metre
* 8.5 Metre
* 9 Metre
* 15 Metre
* Skerry cruiser 30 m2
* Skerry cruiser 40 m2
* French National Monotype 1924
* Snowbird
* Star
* O-Jolle
* Firefly
* Swallow
* Dragon
* 5.5 Metre
* 12 m2 Sharpie
* Flying Dutchman
* Tempest
* Soling
* Tornado
* Windglider
* Division II
* Lechner A-390
* Europe
* Mistral One Design
* Yngling
* RS:X
* Elliott 6m

Youth classes|

* Nacra 15
* Techno 293

Former youth classes|

* Byte

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