LVMYC members regularly
race three class yachts

The Six Metre Yacht

The International One Metre

The RC Laser

Note: Illustrations above are not to scale

 

6
The Beautiful Sixes

The sixes are basically semi-scale versions of their full size cousins. The six metre radio controlled yachts are usually around 1500 mm in length, are yacht-like in appearance and displace around 12 Kg. The class is very active in the UK but seems temporarily dormant in other countries.

Six Metre yachts were raced in the Olympic Games from 1908 until 1936. The rule used today dates from the last rule simplification in 1933.

 

The Rule used to calculate the rating for a radio controlled 6 metre yacht is shown below:

Rating (mm)=
L+2d-F+S + penalties
 
.....2.37

The rating for any given yacht should be no greater than 833mm

Where:

L

is the hull length 13mm above the waterline, plus taxes concerned with the hull shape at bow and stern, which typically add another 80mm to the hull length used in the formula (for the purposes of rating calculations)
d

is the girth difference between the skin girth and the chain girth measured at a fixed point along the hull
F is the freeboard which shall be no more than 101mm
S is the square root of the sail area
  penalties are added for excessive draught and tumblehome

NOTE: This is a much simplified version of the rating calculations. Please refer to the class rules on the Six Metre Owners' Association web site for more precise information.

Measuring a Six Metre yacht is a complex procedure requiring specialist equipment including a measuring tank and measuring rig (see picture right).
In the picture above the measurer is setting the water line gauge prior to moving the hull up to it's measuring position.

This picture shows a typical 'dry' measuring rig in which measurements including draft, girth, water line length etc are taken.
The whole measuring process may take up to 4 or even 5 or more hours before the boat's certificate can be 'signed-off'.
In both photographs a District Senior Measurer poses for the photographer during the measure by a local measurer of Boat No GBR1058.

Six metre yacht pictures can be seen in the Picture Gallery




The Fun Ones

The International One Metre (IOM) class yacht is, as the name implies, one metre in overall length. The design was created around 1988/89 with the aim of creating a class of model yacht that controlled costs while at the same time allowing the home builder some latitude in hull design and construction, within certain limits. There is now a wide range of designs and kits available from specialist suppliers. Contact the club or speak to a club member (pop down and meet us - you'll be made very welcome) if you wish to get started by either buying new, building or buying second hand.

Other One Metre yacht pictures can be seen in the Picture Gallery

 

Both Sixes and One Metre yachts are featured in the SAILSetc catalogue. For a copy of the current SAILSetc 36 page catalogue, giving full details of sails, fittings, spars, plans, kits and yachts, please send your full postal address to: SAILSetc.
The Racy RC Laser

The RC Laser is the official 1/4 scale radio controlled version of the Olympic Class Laser Dinghy. The RC Laser was the joint creation of Bruce Kirby and John Elmaleh. Over 1,700 have been sold worldwide. The Laser is delivered ready to sail from the box in under 7 minutes. For more information go to the RC Laser page.


Watch Out! - There's a rule about.

We are happy to teach beginners the yacht racing rules.

Come along any 2nd, 3rd or 4th Sunday in the month.


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