9 Metre

The International Nine Metre Class (9mR) is a type of racing yacht governed by the International Rule, a measurement system created in the early 1900s to rate sailing vessels. As a construction class, 9mR yachts vary in design but must all meet a formula that yields a rating of nine metres.

This “nine” refers to the rule’s rating, not the boat’s overall size; actual 9mR yachts are typically around 18 metres (59 feet) long. Metre classes were leading international racing categories in their time and provided the framework for Olympic sailing in the early twentieth century. Though no longer part of the Olympics, Nine Metre yachts are still actively sailed and maintained by dedicated enthusiasts.

The 9mR was scheduled as an Olympic class for the 1920 Games, but no boats actually entered. The International Rule was established in 1907 to replace earlier, simpler handicap systems that were often local or national, and which tended to produce fast but lightly built and impractical extreme designs. The rule underwent several revisions over its history, and only around 50 Nine Metre yachts were ever constructed.