The aim of this participative wiki-type website is to take advantage of the well-named World Wide Web to collect and make public as much information as possible about the « 5.5 metre International Class » yachts, born in 1937, and to build up a documented history of the Class.
6096 documents, links and infos have already been uploaded and made accessible to everybody via the web, since the creation of this wiki in November 2005.
[ More ]
The very first « 5.5 metre » racing yacht design, and the Rating Rules issued from this project were created in 1937 by Charles E. Nicholson. However, the first unit built (K-1 « The Deb ») and launched conforming to these rules wasn’t until 1949, about eight years later. No further notes needed to explain that long gap…
Since that date, the successful « 5.5 metre » has not only been recognized as an « International Class » by the World Sailing association (named « IYRU » at this date), the but also by the Olympic Games Committee as an Olympic category for the games that held in Melbourne, Australia in 1956, until the last campaign in 1968 at Acapulco, Mexico.
Approximately 800 original and different boats have been designed, built and sailed all over the world by ca. 131 designers, 184 boat builders and more than 1573 owners over almost 34 countries to date ! What a record !
This heritage is now regularly preserved in two famous spots: the Yachting Heritage Center - Robbe & Berking Museum in Flensburg (GER) and the Musée du Léman in Nyon (SUI). [ Less ]
2025-08-26
Added photography «Austrian Open, Salzkammergut Preis 2025» to the gallery.
2025-08-26
Added racing result «Austrian Open. Salzkammergut Preis» to the racing history.
2025-08-20
Added note «The boat has due to significant restoration needs been destroyed.».
2025-08-18
Added note «The boat has been purchased by YC Odet and is enhancing the fleet in Benode
2025-08-18
Added note «5.5 FRA 62 "Pan" has been sold to a new owner. The actual location is Haaps
2025-08-05
Added note «The actual owners are Joe Strelow and Michael Bloor, Ann Arbor (MI).»
2025-08-05
Added new owner Joe Strelow for boat USA-103.
2025-08-04
Added racing result «Willi Lehmann Preis 2025» to the racing history.
2025-08-04
Added photography «Willi Lehmann Preis 2025» to the gallery.
2025-08-04
Added photography «German Open 2024» to the gallery.
2025-07-25
Added racing result «European Championship» to the racing history.
2025-07-22
Added photography «5.5 GER 125 "Ali Baba" - at VSaW» to the gallery.
2025-07-22
Added photography «5.5 GER 39 "Unicorn" - detail» to the gallery.
2025-07-22
Added photography «5.5 GER 39 "Unicorn" - after training» to the gallery.
2025-07-22
Added photography «5.5 GER 39 "Unicorn" - in Berlin» to the gallery.
2025-07-17
Added document «MC 1992». Original 1992 Certificate
2025-07-06
Added photography «5.5 USA 116 - testing the new main» to the gallery.
2025-07-04
Added photography «5.5 GER 115 "Salamander IV" - training session» to the gallery
2025-07-04
Added photography «5.5 USA 116 - in Sopot» to the gallery.
2025-07-04
Added photography «5.5 USA 116 - in the Sopot harbour» to the gallery.
How to contribute ?
Participation is free and open to all, but is subject to prior registration. Anybody can contribute by adding information, gossip, tips, pictures, drawings, rating certificates, racing results, whatever is useful for this history… and also by participating to the maintenance budget via the crowd funding [to come, work in progress]. The language used on this website is English and the interventions are signed (no anonymous contribution).
[sources of the intro:
the World Class association website and the Wikipedia dedicated page ]
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