Notice of Race2007 marks the 100th Anniversary of the International <strong>Metre</strong> Rule.International <strong>Metre</strong> Rule yachts including the 6, 8,12,19 and 23 <strong>Metre</strong> Classes from all overthe world are invited to celebrate this historic anniversary at an international regatta hostedby the Royal Yacht Squadron.Legendary <strong>Metre</strong> sailors will be invited, as well as legendary <strong>Metre</strong> yachts – the breathtaking 120 ft J-Class and other classic racersare expected to join the event, along with a number of Americas Cup skippers and crew.All <strong>Metre</strong> class yachts from 1906 onwards are invited to participate. <strong>The</strong> one-man 2.4 <strong>Metre</strong> class will be a unique feature of theevent, enabling the many disabled sailors and single-handers to hold their World Championship in adjacent waters to the largerclasses. <strong>The</strong> radio controlled 1 <strong>Metre</strong> Class World Championship will also be held as a separate event during the regatta.A <strong>Regatta</strong> Committee whose task will be to design, plan and execute all on the water and onshore activities has been formed.Racing will be managed by the Royal Yacht Squadron along similar lines to the highly successful 2001 America’s Cup Jubilee,and will include windward-leeward and round the buoys courses. A race around the Isle of Wight is planned. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Regatta</strong>Committee’s intention is to provide exciting, competitive and safe racing for every class and level of crew together with great viewingfor spectators.<strong>The</strong> July 2007 event at Cowes, the birthplace of yachting, celebrates a century of theInternational Rule. This formula marked the beginning of international yacht racing andled to the creation of some of the world’s most beautiful and exciting racing yachts.Sailing and racing together in the Solent from the historic Royal Yacht Squadron starting line will be the America’s Cup 12<strong>Metre</strong>s, the classic 8’s, 6’s and 5.5’s, making the event spectacular for both participants and spectators. It is intended thatthe International 6 <strong>Metre</strong> Association 2007 World Cup will take place, also under the auspices of the Royal YachtSquadron, during the week immediately before the 100th Anniversary <strong>Regatta</strong>. (This event will be subject to a separateNotice of Race). Onshore events will allow crews, owners and spectators to meet and enjoy together these beautifulyachts gathered in Cowes for this unique anniversary.As well as exclusive parties for competitors, the organisers intend to make the festival accessible to spectators with good raceviewing, dockside tours of the yachts and fun daytime and evening events. Local participation is a key aspect of the event. <strong>The</strong><strong>Regatta</strong> will be an association between <strong>The</strong> International <strong>Metre</strong> Association (IMETA), a non-profit organisation formed to facilitatejoint activities between the already well-established <strong>Metre</strong> class associations around the world, the title and partner sponsors, and<strong>The</strong> Royal Yacht Squadron, invited by IMETA to act as Organising Authority.IMETA is actively seeking title and partner sponsors, and interest in the event’s strong racing heritage is already high. Further <strong>Metre</strong>events are planned in the Solent and other parts of the world in partnership with appropriate organisations.<strong>The</strong> Organising Authority will publish the full Notice of <strong>Regatta</strong> and Entry Form, superseding this Preliminary Notice of <strong>Regatta</strong>,during 2006.23