9 Metre
A racing yacht class defined by the International Rule rating.
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.
- field
- Yacht racing class
- known_for
- Olympic class in 1920; defined by International Rule rating of nine metres
- typical length
- About 18 metres (59 ft)
- number built
- About 50 boats
- rule period
- 1907 to 1920 (1907 Rule)
Quick Facts
- Design
- Development class
- Loa
- 18 m
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The 9mR was used as an Olympic Class during the 1920 Olympics, though no entries were made. The International Rule was set up in 1907 to replace an earlier, simpler handicap system which was 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, and only about 50 boats were ever built. The 1907 Rule, used from 1907 to 1920, calculated the rating using a formula involving waterline length, beam, chain girth, difference between girth and chain, sail area, and freeboard.
Reader's Guide
The International Nine Metre Class represents a key development in early twentieth-century yacht racing, as part of the International Rule that aimed to standardize competition across nations. Though only about 50 boats were built, the class was significant enough to be selected for the 1920 Olympic Games, even though no competitors entered. The 9mR illustrates the transition from simpler, locally varying handicap systems to a more complex measurement formula that balanced speed, practicality, and seaworthiness. Today, the class endures through active racing and preservation by enthusiasts, maintaining a link to the era when metre classes dominated international sailing and Olympic competition.
Did You Know?
- The 9mR was used as an Olympic Class during the 1920 Olympics, but no entries were made.
- Despite the name, the 'nine' refers to the rating under the rule, not the vessel’s overall length; 9mR yachts typically measure about 18 metres (59 ft) in length.
- Only about 50 Nine Metre yachts were ever built.
- The International Rule was set up in 1907 to replace earlier, simpler handicap systems that often produced extreme, lightly constructed boats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does '9 Metre' mean the boat is nine metres long?
No — the 'nine' refers to the International Rule rating, a formula-based measurement from the early 1900s, not the hull length. Actual 9mR yachts typically measure around 18 metres (59 feet) from bow to stern.
How big is a 9 Metre racing yacht?
Despite the deceptively small-sounding name, these are large vessels, usually about 18 metres (59 feet) in overall length. They were built as serious coastal and offshore racers, not small one-design dinghies.
When did the 9 Metre compete at the Olympics?
The class was on the Olympic programme at the 1920 Antwerp Games as one of the metre-class events. By the following decade the metre classes had been dropped from the Olympic schedule entirely.
How many 9 Metre yachts were ever built?
Roughly fifty hulls were constructed during the class's active window under the 1907 Rule (1907–1920). Because it was a construction class, each boat could have a unique design as long as it satisfied the rating formula.
Why did the 9 Metre class disappear?
The International Rule system that underpinned all the metre classes lost favour in the 1920s, and the class lost its Olympic berth after Antwerp. Without a governing rule, a fleet, or Olympic exposure, new builds ceased and the class effectively faded into history.
More in Olympic sailing classes 1-24
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