Eight Bells: His Majesty King Harald V of Norway

Last Friday, at the crack of dawn, King Harald caught the light northerly breeze and headed out to sea.

Get yours now!

Peter is gone but he left us the memories of the sailor, the friend and the amazing boatbuilder he was.

For the International Eight Metre Class, the 2026 symposium was particularly noteworthy, showcasing both the strength of its heritage and the energy of a new generation shaping its future.

Set against a spectacular backdrop where the Alps meet the water, Bregenz offers a unique combination of challenging racing conditions and stunning natural beauty.

The 8mR World Cup, held in Turku in August, achieved outstanding recognition at the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation’s annual gala, winning Event of the Year and Marketing Achievement of the Year.

Short summary of the race and feelings on the last day.

Short summary of the races on day three

Exciting days as we enter the last days of the World Cup

Summary of second day of racing at World Cup 2025

Summary of first racing day at World Cup 2025

Press release: 8mR World Cup 2025, Sailing ladies

Press release: 8mR World Cup, Turku 2025

The Eight Metre World Cup 2024 was held on August 17-24th in Helensburgh, Scotland under the auspices of the historic Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club and Mudhook YC. Thirteen yachts from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK and even a team from Canada had a windy and wild week of racing and perhaps an even wilder week of social events.

A brief overview of the winners of the various cups of the World Cup in Scotland.

The fleet headed out for our final days racing. Once again some stormy showers came through but the fleet were greeted in the morning by many rainbows all pointing to our piper piping away.

Will the wind ever stop? Apparently it only gets stronger! One race today, quickly squeezed in before the true storm began.

Come to Scotland we said....it's always sunny and a nice steady breeze! Except in August it seems! It appears we ordered a little bit too much on the wind front!

The worlds have begun! Here in Scotland we are set.

15 December 1942 – 2 August 2024

Are you planning on attending the 8mR World Cup on the Clyde in August and wondering how to watch these beautiful yachts in action.

Karl Johan Hertell 25 June 1939 – 9 February 2024

In 1938, the Norwegian 8 Metre vessel, Sira, set sail with a singular ambition: to seize victory in the prestigious Kattegat Cup.

The Management Committee of the 2024 World Cup in Scotland have obtained excellent pricing to transport your boat from Europe to Scotland.

Great news everyone, the official website for the 2024 International 8 Metre Class World Championship is now live.

Bona has a nice full spread picture in this months edition of Yachting World.

On the occasion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the commemoration of the Centenary of the Regattas of the 1924 Olympic Games will take place in Lorient and Port-Louis, in Morbihan (France) from June 3rd to 9th 2024.

We just posted the update to the Neptune trophy

There have been some nice updates on the website.

Vote now on classic boat for the CB awards 2023 in the category Restored sailing vessel over 40ft

These twin sister eights are both built according to Tore Holm’s drawings from 1945. The design was not turned into a boat that time. Instead, Birgit sailed first 2002 and flies the flag of Sweden for Lars Widén and Lars Blomgren of Stockholm.

I can’t remember where I found it but I felt it was worth a wee story!

This “must have” book is way overdue but also comes just in time for father’s day, mother’s day, birthday, any day really!!

Since 1937 this amazing beautiful first rule Int. 8-Metre has been youth boat of the Lindau Segler Club on Lake Constance.

In May 2022, Fulmar started undergoing restoration at Rosneath on the Clyde, not far from where she was built back in 1930.

“To give birth to an octogenarian”, is the title for yacht designer Juliane Hempel and owner Dr. Rüdiger Stihl at the Classic Yacht Symposium 2023 – 10th Edition.

The December issue of Classic Boat Magazine has a very nice piece about the Geneva 2022 Eight Metre World Cup

When it comes to 8-Metres then there is always something cooking at Yacht- und Bootswerft Josef Martin. For at least 50 years that yard has been the traditional home for the 8-Metres on the North shore of Lake Constance.

During the last weeks most 8mr have been taken out of the water. It’s been a great season.

IBIS NOR-29 just joined the Oslo fleet of active eight metre racing yachts.

BONA ITA16 has won several World Titles in the past and Vera and her excellent crew has continued to do exactly that again.

We are now approaching the end of the first proper sailing season for many of us since 2019. What a relief to be back out on the water racing our beautiful boats! We thought it is an appropriate time to update everyone on current and recent events.

Sven Schulz, the new Owner of Severn, the William Five design from 1932, which was built in 2004 by Absolut in Portugal is an enthusiastic classic fan.

I am not sure if you know Dora’s story, but of course there is one and it’s special too ! Back in 1983, Gaston Schmaltz (back then the owner of 8 Metre France) decided he wanted to build a new modern 8 Metre.

The year ended with a sad note after our fellow sailor Guy Jones passed away on the 29th December 2021 in Toronto surrounded by his family.

It has been 3 months since the new Executive Committee was elected in the General Assembly. Unfortunately, we had to do this at a virtual meeting and not at the occasion of the World Cup in Enkhuizen, Holland as planned.

As a warm-up regatta for the 2019 World Cup in Cowes, competitors could compete in the Panerai British Classic Week. And challenging it was!

All the older post are archived and we are working to make the archive and the whole IEMA and John’s private Library more accessible.

This is number 40 of the IEMA 8mR Class irregular newsletter from January 2007.

This is number 31 of the IEMA 8mR Class irregular newsletter from October 2004.

For some years after the war the International 8-metre Class was inclined to hand fire , but of late it has gone ahead in the most satisfactory manner. It is now one of the most popular classes scheduled under the International rule.