International 5.5 Metre Class: Class Association offers a hire boat to interested parties

The Class association of the 5.5s is introducing a new project for the 2021 season to attract young talent. In future, the GER 110 "Pittwater" will be available in Kiel on her authorised road trailer for participation in the German 5.5m KV regattas. Prerequisites are a genuine interest in the class and regatta experience.

Interested crews can train with the boat by arrangement and take part in one of the upcoming regattas. They only bear the costs incurred, for example for transport, harbour and crane fees or registration fees, and must of course also pay for any damage.

The 5.5 GER 110 "Pittwater" is a Ben Lexcen design and sails in the Evolution category of her class. There are three design categories for the 5.5mR: Classic (designs 1949-1969), Evolution (designs 1970-1993) and Modern (designs from 1994 onwards). There are currently 81 5.5s in Germany, five of which are Modern, 24 Evolution and 52 Classic. Up to 30 of these are active in regattas in Germany. The German fleet makes up a large proportion of the boats in internationally organised regattas.

The upcoming regattas:

• "Berliner Bär" on Wannsee & Havel, as part of the precious wood regatta of the VSaW (10 to 11 July 2021)
• "Salzkammergut Prize" on Lake Traunsee, at the UYCT (11 to 13 August 2021)
• "German Open" on Wannsee & Havel, at the VSaW (27 to 29 August 2021)
• "Regates Royales" before Cannes, at the YCC (22 to 25 September 2021)

If you are interested, please contact K. Stubenrauch.

The history of the 5.5 is closely linked to Olympic sailing.

When an international arena for sailing was to be created again after the Second World War, it was necessary to find a replacement for the 6 mR yachts. The comparatively high costs for new builds in this class were no longer in keeping with the times.

British designer and metre-class specialist Charles E. Nicholson quickly modified the International Rule for this project. The new boat was about half as light and therefore had half as much sail area.

The 5.5 made its Olympic debut at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, the year in which the six was also still an Olympic class. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Kiel, the 5.5 then suffered the same fate for similar reasons. It was replaced by the open keelboats Soling and Tempest.