View source for 5.5 Metre

{{Short description|International racing sailing class}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox sailboat specifications
|name            = International 5.5 Metre
|image           = 5.5_Metre_(keelboat).svg
|imagesize       =
|alt             = 
|caption         = 
|class_symbol    = 
|class_image     = 5.5 Metre insigna blue.svg
|class_imagealt  = 
|class_imagesize = 
|crew            = 3
|type            = [[Monohull]]
|design          = Development class
|construction    = 
|rig             = 
|keel            = Fixed
|trapeze         = 
|loa             = About: {{convert|9.5|m|abbr=on}}
|loh             = 
|lwl             = 
|beam            = Minimum: {{convert|1.92|m|abbr=on}}
|draft           = Maximum: {{convert|1.35|m|abbr=on}}
|hull            = Minimum: {{convert|1700|kg|abbr=on}}<br>Maximum: {{convert|2000|kg|abbr=on}}
|mastheight      = 
|mainsailandjib  = Minimum: {{convert|26.5|m2|abbr=on}}<br>Maximum: {{convert|29.0|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea        = 
|mainsail        = 
|jib             = 
|spinnaker       = About:   {{convert|50.0|m2|abbr=on}}
|d-pn            = 
|rya-pn          = 
|phrf            = 
|year            = 1949 (rule design)
|designer        = [[Charles E. Nicholson]] (rule designer)
|location        = 
|role            = 
|updated         = 08-AUG-2011
|olympic         = vintage
}}

The '''International 5.5 Metre class''' was created to yield a racing [[Keelboat|keel boat]] giving a sailing experience similar to that of the [[6 Metre|International 6 Metre Class]], but at a lower cost.

The main class regulation is a restriction on a single quantity output from a formula involving the boat's rating length ''L'', weight (expressed as a displacement ''D'') and sail area ''S''; the regulation states that the output of this formula must not exceed 5.500 metres. There is considerable scope for variations in design while still meeting this restriction, and as a result each 5.5 metre boat is unique.

If the design parameters of a proposed new boat result in a formula output exceeding 5.5 metres, then one or more of the parameters must be suitably adjusted. Performance data gained from testing models towed in a long water tank (referred to in yacht design as [[Ship model basin]]) can suggest optimal combinations of parameters.
The 5.5. metre rule is a variant of the [[International Rule (sailing)]] that was established already in 1907. The 5.5. is therefore closely related to larger metre boats such as the [[6 Metre (keelboat)|6mR]], [[8 Metre Class|8mR]] and the [[12 metre|12mR]].

Since 2010 the 5.5 Metre is one of the Vintage Yachting Classes at the [[Vintage Yachting Games]].

== History ==
[[File:1952 5.5m race.PNG|thumb|5.5-metre class Olympic race in Helsinki 1952. Boats are German ''Tom Kyle'' (G I), Gold medalist ''Complex II'' (US I) and Danish ''Jill'' (D 2).]]
The 5.5-metre class was a redesign of the 6-metre class by [[Charles E. Nicholson]] in 1937. The first boats conforming to the 5.5-metre rule were built in 1949. There had been an earlier attempt to build a cheaper alternative to the Sixes. In 1929 the 5-metre class was established by the French "[[Union de Societes Nautique Francaise]]" and the class was accepted in London. It achieved a position as the smallest new international metre class and some hundreds boats were built. Nevertheless, the 5 metre never managed to achieve an Olympic status. The 5.5-metre class replaced it quickly and was raced in Olympics for first time in [[Sailing at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Summer Olympics]] in [[Helsinki]]. The [[Scandinavian Gold Cup]] has also been competed with 5.5m boats since 1953. 5.5 metre boats replaced the International 6-metre at the [[Sailing at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympic Games]] held in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]].  The 5.5 metre participation in the Olympic sailing events continued at the [[Sailing at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympic Games]] and [[Sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Olympic Games]]. During the 1960s it however began to draw similar criticism as preceding six-metre class - namely, increasing costs - and the boat lost Olympic status after [[Sailing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Olympic Games]], due to excessive design and building costs of one off boats, marking the end of development class keel boats in Olympic regattas.  However, the class remained active thereafter and 5.5-metre boats are still very actively raced.

=== The formula ===
The measurement formula is given in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150907174432/http://www.5.5class.org/technique/55_rating_rules_06.pdf 2006 International Five Point Five Metre Rating Rules]:

:<math> 
5.500 \mbox{ metres} \ge 0.9 \cdot \left( \frac{L \cdot \sqrt[2]{S}} {12 \cdot \sqrt[3]{D}} + \frac{L + \sqrt[2]{S}} {4} \right)
</math>

where
* <math>L</math> = length for rating
* <math>S</math> = measured sail area
* <math>D</math> = displacement in cubic metres

==Events==

=== Olympic Games ===
{{Olympic medallists in 5.5 Metre}}

=== World Championship ===
{{main|5.5 Metre World Championship}}

===Vintage Yachting Games ===
{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | flag_template  = 
 | event          = 
 | team           = 
 | gold_FIN = 1 | silver_FIN = 0 | bronze_FIN = 0
 | gold_GER = 0 | silver_GER = 1 | bronze_GER = 0
 | gold_FRA = 0 | silver_FRA = 0 | bronze_FRA = 1
}}

{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event}}
|-
| [[2012 Vintage Yachting Games|2012 Lake Como]]
|{{flagcountry|FIN}}<br>[[Anders Nordman]]<br>[[Robert Segercrantz]]<br>[[Johan Hjelt]]
|{{flagcountry|GER}}<br>[[Herbert Reich (sailor)|Hubert 'Biwi' Reich]]<br>[[Wolfgang Oehler]]<br>[[Christian Hemmerich]]
|{{flagcountry|FRA}})<br>[[William Borel]]<br>[[Yves Duclos-Grenet]]<br>[[Adrien Baumelle]]
|}
<ref>[http://www.vintageyachtinggames.org Vintage Yachting Games]</ref>

=== Pan American Games ===
{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | flag_template  = 
 | event          = 
 | team           = 
 | gold_USA = 1 | silver_USA = 0 | bronze_USA = 0
 | gold_CAN = 0 | silver_CAN = 1 | bronze_CAN = 0
 | gold_ECU = 0 | silver_ECU = 0 | bronze_ECU = 1
}}

{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event}}
|-
| 1959 Chicago
|{{flagcountry|USA}}
|{{flagcountry|CAN}}
|{{flagcountry|ECU}}
|}
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports123.com/sai/opa-5.5m.html |title=PanAm results |access-date=2011-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103091603/http://sports123.com/sai/opa-5.5m.html |archive-date=2011-11-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== European Championships ===
{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | flag_template  = 
 | event          = 
 | team           = 
 | gold_SUI = 7 | silver_SUI = 4 | bronze_SUI = 7
 | gold_NOR = 2 | silver_NOR = 2 | bronze_NOR = 0
 | gold_USA = 1 | silver_USA = 0 | bronze_USA = 1
 | gold_GBR = 0 | silver_GBR = 1 | bronze_GBR = 1
 | gold_FRA = 0 | silver_FRA = 1 | bronze_FRA = 0
 | gold_URS = 0 | silver_URS = 1 | bronze_URS = 0
}}

{{incomplete list|date=April 2015}}
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event}}
|-
| 1968 [[Neuenburger See]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.5.5class.org/archives/68/1968.html |title=International 5.5 Metre Class Association |access-date=2015-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906115450/http://www.5.5class.org/archives/68/1968.html |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{flagathlete|''Toucan IX''|SUI}}<br>[[Louis Noverraz]] 
|{{flagathlete|''Nadezhda VI''|URS}}<br>[[Konstantin Alexandrov]] 
|{{flagathlete|''Janael''|FRA}}<br>Breteche
|-
| 1980  [[Bénodet]] 
|{{SUI}} (F) <br> [[Sprecher]] 
|{{FRA}} (F) <br> [[Souben]] 
|{{SUI}} (Z) <br> [[Capecchi]]
|-
| 1993 [[Cannes]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.5.5class.org/archives/93/european1993.html |title=International 5.5 Metre Class Association |access-date=2015-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906110606/http://www.5.5class.org/archives/93/european1993.html |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{flagathlete|''The Sting''|SUI}}<br>[[Christian Wahl (sailor)|Christian Wahl]] 
|{{flagathlete|''Zenda Corn''|NOR}}<br>[[Kalle Nergaard]] 
|{{flagathlete|''My Shout''|USA}}<br>[[Glen Foster]]
|-
| 1995 [[Thun]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.5.5class.org/archives/95/european1995.html |title=International 5.5 Metre Class Association |access-date=2015-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906110934/http://www.5.5class.org/archives/95/european1995.html |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{flagcountry|SUI}}<br>[[Daniel Schenker]]<br>[[Christoph Schenker]]<br>[[Eric Waser]]
|{{flagcountry|SUI}}<br>[[Jürg Menzi]]<br>[[Jürg Christen]]<br>[[Dino Fumasoli]]
|{{flagcountry|SUI}}<br>[[Bruno Marazzi]]<br>[[Stefan Haftka]]<br>[[Flavio Marazzi]]
|-
| 1997 [[Le Crouesty]] 
|{{USA}} (FRA) <br> [[Glen Foster]] 
|{{SUI}} (SUI) <br> [[Jean-Claude Vuithier Jr.|Jean-Claude Vuithier]] 
|{{SUI}} (SUI) <br> [[Jürg Menzi]]
|-
| 1998 [[Cannes]] 
|{{SUI}} (FRA) <br> [[Christian Wahl (sailor)|Christian Wahl]] 
|{{NOR}} (NOR) <br> [[Kalle Nergaard]] 
|{{USA}} (USA) <br> [[Glen Foster]]
|-
| 2000 [[Genoa]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.5.5class.org/archives/00/european_genova.html |title=International 5.5 Metre Class Association |access-date=2015-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906175632/http://www.5.5class.org/archives/00/european_genova.html |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{flagathlete|''Joker 8''|SUI}}<br>[[Thomas Moser]]<br>[[Felix Meyer (sailor)|Felix Meyer]]<br>T. Sprecher
|{{flagathlete|''Salamander 5''|GBR}}<br>[[Jonathan Janson (sailor)|Jonathan Janson]]<br>[[Mark Downer]]<br>[[Rupert Richardson]]
|{{flagathlete|''Marie-Françoise 14''|SUI}}<br>[[Jürg Menzi]]<br>[[Juerg Christen]]<br>[[Daniel Stampfli]]
|-
| 2005 [[Attersee (town)|Attersee]] 
|{{flagathlete|''Marie-Françoise 17''|SUI}}<br>[[Jürg Menzi]]<br>[[Daniel Stampfli]]<br>Gaume
|{{flagcountry|SUI}}<br> [[Christoph Burger]] <br><br>
|{{flagcountry|SUI}} <br> [[Hans-Peter Schmid]]<br><br>
|-
| 2008 [[Mariehamn]] 
|{{NOR}} (FIN) <br> [[Kristian Nergaard]]<br>[[Petrus Eide]]<br>[[Johan Barne]] 
|{{NOR}} (NOR) <br> [[Christoph Burger]]<br>[[Christof Wilke]]<br>[[Mathias Dahlman]]<br>[[Dominik Neidhart]] 1st race only 
|{{SUI}} (SUI) <br> [[Jürg Menzi]]<br>[[Daniel Stampfli]]<br>[[Léonard Gaume]]
|-
| 2013 [[Benodet]] 
|{{NOR}} (FIN) <br> [[Kristian Nergaard]]<br>NN<br>NN 
|{{NOR}} (SUI) <br> [[Bernard Haissly]]<br>NN<br>NN 
|{{SUI}} (SUI) <br> [[Jürg Menzi]]<br>NN<br>NN 
|}
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports123.com/sai/oe-5.5m.html |title=European Championships |access-date=2011-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104043424/http://sports123.com/sai/oe-5.5m.html |archive-date=2011-11-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Scandinavian Gold Cup ===
{{further|Scandinavian Gold Cup}}

==Class association ==
[[File:5.5 Metre keelboat photo d ramey logan.JPG|thumb|International 5.5 Metre]]
The object of the International 5.5 Metre Class Association is to promote and develop 5.5 Metre racing throughout the World. The first President of the association was [[Owen Aisher|Mr. Owen Aisher]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.5.5class.org/rules/rules/constitution_5.5.pdf |title=Constitution |access-date=2011-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906111345/http://www.5.5class.org/rules/rules/constitution_5.5.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Since the development of the class spanned more than half a century the early boats are not competitive to race against the modern designs. Therefore, the association made, in 2007, divisions in the class based upon age of the boat:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.5.5class.org/rules/rules/wc_rules_v08.pdf |title=World Championship Rules |access-date=2011-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906110938/http://www.5.5class.org/rules/rules/wc_rules_v08.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Classic Fleet (Designs before 1970)
* Evolution Fleet
* Modern Fleet (Designs from 1994)
During major races there are separate trophies per fleet, however if a classic fleet boat beats the modern fleet, the classic fleet boat wins the modern fleet trophy.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.5.5class.org/ Official International 5.5 Metre Class]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130318004824/http://www.5point5worlds.org/ 5.5m IC  World Championships]
*[http://www.5point5.de/ German 5.5m-Klassenvereinigung]
*[http://www.5point5.ch/ Switzerland 5.5m-Klassenvereinigung]
*[http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp/boat/sailing-boat/kirribilli-historic-5-5-metre-yacht-starts-restoration  A 5.5m about to be restored in Australia]
*[http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp/uncategorized/storerboats-old/event/sailing/olympic-5-5-metre-yacht-kirribilli  A 5.5m about to be restored in Australia (cont.)]
*[http://5.5inventory.org/boats/all The 5.5m World Fleet Online Database]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425004900/http://www.sailing.org/classes/55M.php  ISAF 5.5m Microsite Website]
* [http://www.sailing.org/  ISAF Homepage]
{{commons category}}

{{Classes of the International Sailing Federation}}
{{Olympic class sailboats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:05.5}}
[[Category:5.5 Metre (keelboat)| ]]
[[Category:Development sailing classes]]
[[Category:Olympic sailing classes]]
[[Category:Keelboats]]