ISMA News - Association Suisse 6mJI

ISMA News International 6mJI Association Bulletin 1/2007
Editorial
It’s now time for us to finish off the renovation work on our yachts, rigging and rudders have been checked, the
new sails now bear the sail certificate and the hull has been finely polished.
In addition to the national and local events, this year we will be competing in the 2007 World Cup in Cowes. The
fact that the metre formula that provides the basis for the design of our 6mJIs and was created 100 years ago will
be taking part in regattas for the first time, will be a historic event. We are constantly amazed at the level of skill
and sensitivity displayed by the decision-makers and designers of that time.
We venture to claim that the meter formula is quite exhausted with the current, modern 6mJI yachts. It is not easy
even for well-known designers using state-of-the-art software packages to rustle up a sketch that promises to provide
advantages over current boats. And that favours our class. It has survived for decades.
Whether a 6mJI was built in 1982 or 2002 is irrelevant on the regatta course. If they are sailed well then they both
have a chance. The same applies accordingly for the classic yachts. That is why we take a critical view of the trends
towards watering down the metre formula. There are sufficient numbers of new classes which perhaps do respond
in a more racing manner particularly before the wind but virtually none will be celebrating a 100th anniversary.
With few exceptions, such as the star boat for example.
The 6mJIs are still relevant today. They are extremely elegant and sailing them close to the wind captures the imagination
of even dyed-in-the-wool racing sailors.
It’s in the nature of things that in the Spring we have less to report on regattas and more on the other activities
involving the 6mJIs. And in this respect two friends of our Class are prominent in the work they do.
On the one side we have Tim Street, ISMA President, has gone to endless trouble in producing a blue book for the
6mJIs. We are enclosing the latest status of the book with this ISMA edition. Printing them separately makes them
more manageable.
In addition, Basil Carmody has taken over the drafting of the Classic News Letter from Tim Street. The first edition
from his own pen is now available. It covers 47 pages and it is impossible for us to include these in the ISMA
News. We are providing you with the index of contents and reference sources. Tim and Basil look forward to receiving
your comments, the aim of which, in the final analysis, is to help improve and perfect their work.
We from the Editorial Team would like to wish our readers a wonderful sailing season and hope to meet a large
number of owners and teams in Cowes. The 100th anniversary of our Class is reason enough for the organizers,
the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and the BISMA British International Six Metre Association as co-organiser,
to pay their respects.