15 Metre

the 15mR Ma'oona in 1908

The International Fifteen 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 this case the International Rule. 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).

History

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. Only twenty boats were ever built, and 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

Tuiga is one of four 15mR survivors

Used from 1907–1920

$15~{\mbox{m}}={\frac {{\textrm {LWL}}+B+{\frac {1}{3}}G+3d+{\frac {1}{3}}{\sqrt {S}}-F}{2}}$

where

• ${\textrm {LWL}}$ = Load Waterline Length in m
• $B$ = beam in m
• $G$ = chain girth in m
• $d$ = difference between girth and chain in m
• $S$ = sail area in m²
• $F$ = freeboard in m

Boats

launch	yacht	sail			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
1908	Mariska	D1			William Fife III	Fife & Son	A. K. Stothert	refitted 2009.
1909	Ostara				Alfred Mylne	Robert McAlister & Son	William P. Burton
1909	Anémone II				C. Maurice Chevreux	Chantier Vincent, Cannes	Philippe de Vilmorin
1909	Encarnita				Joseph Guédon	Astilleros Karpard de Pasajes	Marquis of Cuba
1909	Hispania	D5			William Fife III	Astilleros Karpard de Pasajes	King Alfonso XIII of Spain	Refit by the Foundatión HISPANIA from 2003 to 2007.
1909	Tuiga	D3	D9	1	William Fife III	Fife & Son	17th Duke of Medinaceli	Owned in the 1920s by Warwick Brookes. refitted 1993.
1909	Vanity				William Fife III	Fife & Son	W. & Benn Payne
1910	Paula II	D8			Alfred Mylne	Robert McAlister & Son	Ludwig Sanders
1910	Tritonia				Alfred Mylne	Alexander Robertson & Sons	Graham C. Lomer	later rechristened Jeano, Gerd II, Rinola, Fortuna II and Cisne Branco
1910	Sophie-Elisabeth				William Fife III	Fife & Son	L. Biermann	1913/1914 sold to G.Eyde, Norway, and rechristened "Beduin"
1911	Senta				Max Oertz	Max Oertz	Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
1912	Istria	D7			Charles Ernest Nicholson	Camper & Nicholsons	Charles C. Allom	World's first Marconi topmast. Topped Class standings in her first season.
1912	The Lady Anne	D10			William Fife III	Fife & Son	George Coast	refitted 1999.
1913	Pamela				Charles Ernest Nicholson	Camper & Nicholsons	S. Glen L. Bradley
1913	Paula III				Charles Ernest Nicholson	Camper & Nicholsons	Ludwig Sanders
1913	Isabel Alexandra				Johan Anker	Anker & Jensen	E. Luttrop
1913	Maudrey				William Fife III	Fife & Son	W. Blatspiel Stamp
1917	Neptune				Johan Anker	Mandrup Abel	S. Klouman

References

The Foundation Isla Ebusitana take the HISPANIA under pupilage following the bankruptcy of Hispania Foundation

Bibliography

• Dr. William Collier (1994-04). "La Saga des Quinze Mètres". Le Chasse Marée. No. 78. Abri du Marin. p. 38. {{cite magazine}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Dr. Daniel Charles (2005-08). Tuiga 1909. Yachting Heritage. ISBN 978-0-9550777-0-8. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• François Chevalier (2008). "Tuiga". Classic Yachts. Thomas Reed Publications. ISBN 978-1-4081-0518-4.