IRENE VIII -1935
The International meter Rule
A yacht for E.Lunde
70 years of yachting
A yacht for E.Lunde
70 years of yachting
IRENE VIII : one of the few remaining 10 Meters...
The International Rule, or Meter Class, is born is the early 20th century. It inspired the greatest naval designers, led to major technological evolutions, and wrote some of the most beautiful lines in the yachting history, from the Olympic Games to the America's Cup. It continues to serve nowadays, as new 5.5, 6 and 8 Meters are designed and built in the 21st century.
This rule emerged in a context, at the end of the 19th century, of an urging need to race yachts against each other in a fair manner, while preserving their seaworthiness. Previous attempts, Thames Measurement, Linear Rating in United Kingdom, Sawanhaka Rule in the United States, Jauge Godinet in France, etc. were all unsatisfactory - some yachts sunk?
A new rule was expected; a rule that also needed to be accepted by all. The international 1905 conference gathered all major countries involved in yacht racing of that time; Johan Anker was the representative for Norway, and a key contributor to the agreement that led to the creation of the International Rule, which was applied from 1907 to 1920. Two revisions were made in 1920 and 1933. The 1933 formula is the following:
Where: L = length at waterline; d = difference between girth and chain; S=sailing area; F=free-board. The rating should be equal or below 10 for a 10 Meter Class.
The rule also imposed a design quality and seaworthiness through the "scantling rules" (minimum sizes for the key elements of the boat: minimum plank width, frames, etc.).
Scandinavians have always been the most enthusiasts of the International Rule, through their naval designers, yards and yachtsmen. Their neutrality in the First War also enabled them to continue building and racing yachts in the early years of the International Rule.
The International Rule, or Meter Class, is born is the early 20th century. It inspired the greatest naval designers, led to major technological evolutions, and wrote some of the most beautiful lines in the yachting history, from the Olympic Games to the America's Cup. It continues to serve nowadays, as new 5.5, 6 and 8 Meters are designed and built in the 21st century.
This rule emerged in a context, at the end of the 19th century, of an urging need to race yachts against each other in a fair manner, while preserving their seaworthiness. Previous attempts, Thames Measurement, Linear Rating in United Kingdom, Sawanhaka Rule in the United States, Jauge Godinet in France, etc. were all unsatisfactory - some yachts sunk?
A new rule was expected; a rule that also needed to be accepted by all. The international 1905 conference gathered all major countries involved in yacht racing of that time; Johan Anker was the representative for Norway, and a key contributor to the agreement that led to the creation of the International Rule, which was applied from 1907 to 1920. Two revisions were made in 1920 and 1933. The 1933 formula is the following:
Rating = (L + 2d + √S - F) / 2.37
Where: L = length at waterline; d = difference between girth and chain; S=sailing area; F=free-board. The rating should be equal or below 10 for a 10 Meter Class.
The rule also imposed a design quality and seaworthiness through the "scantling rules" (minimum sizes for the key elements of the boat: minimum plank width, frames, etc.).
Scandinavians have always been the most enthusiasts of the International Rule, through their naval designers, yards and yachtsmen. Their neutrality in the First War also enabled them to continue building and racing yachts in the early years of the International Rule.
J. Anker, designer of Irene VIII
Johan Anker was one of the most emblematic ones. After having been one at the origins of the International Rule, Johan Anker designed a large number of Metric yachts, for local racing as well as the Olympic Games. He was himself the gold medalist in the Stockholm 1912 Games, aboard a 12 Meter Class, Magda IX, designed and built by Johan Anker for the KNS (Royal Swedish Yacht-Club) Commodore, Alfred Larsen. Alfred Larsen actually stopped ordering his yachts to William Fife and remained faithful to Johan Anker afterwards - Johan Anker would later design one of his largest boats, Magda XIII, a 15 Meter recently restored magnificently. Prince Olaf became also one of Anker's friends and ordered his yachts, including Sira, an 8 Meter that the prince, later king of Norway, would sail until the 1980's; it has been reported that Prince Olaf was occasionally onboard Irene VIII, the yacht of his friend Eugen Lunde. Johan Anker achieved posterity with the design of the Dragon beautiful class in the late 1920's ? the class is still relentlessly raced nowadays.
Eugen Lunde (1887-1964) was beyond the Scandinavians heavily involved in yacht racing in the first half of the 20th century, and particularly in the International Class. He was the gold medalist in the Paris Olympic Games in 1924 in the 6 Meter class. 10 years later, he ordered to Johan Anker a rapid cruising yacht; as he wanted to continue racing, he decided to order a 10 Meter Class.
Johan Anker was one of the most emblematic ones. After having been one at the origins of the International Rule, Johan Anker designed a large number of Metric yachts, for local racing as well as the Olympic Games. He was himself the gold medalist in the Stockholm 1912 Games, aboard a 12 Meter Class, Magda IX, designed and built by Johan Anker for the KNS (Royal Swedish Yacht-Club) Commodore, Alfred Larsen. Alfred Larsen actually stopped ordering his yachts to William Fife and remained faithful to Johan Anker afterwards - Johan Anker would later design one of his largest boats, Magda XIII, a 15 Meter recently restored magnificently. Prince Olaf became also one of Anker's friends and ordered his yachts, including Sira, an 8 Meter that the prince, later king of Norway, would sail until the 1980's; it has been reported that Prince Olaf was occasionally onboard Irene VIII, the yacht of his friend Eugen Lunde. Johan Anker achieved posterity with the design of the Dragon beautiful class in the late 1920's ? the class is still relentlessly raced nowadays.
Eugen Lunde (1887-1964) was beyond the Scandinavians heavily involved in yacht racing in the first half of the 20th century, and particularly in the International Class. He was the gold medalist in the Paris Olympic Games in 1924 in the 6 Meter class. 10 years later, he ordered to Johan Anker a rapid cruising yacht; as he wanted to continue racing, he decided to order a 10 Meter Class.
Three owners in 70 years
Irene VIII was born. Built in 1935 in Pitch Pin, a fantastic oleaginous wood, therefore very resistant to rot, she is one the few boats of this size and of that time that never stopped sailing. She must have fulfilled her owners' dreams as she had only 3 owners in 70 years. Certainly because she is not only well-built: she reunions a rapid yacht, built to race, and a great cruising boat, easy to handle and comfortable.
After Eugen Lund, Irene VIII was acquired in 1966 by an English yachtsman Georges Millar,. Passionate with sailing, Millar was an exceptional character. Journalist, working as the Paris correspondent for the Daily Express in Paris, he joined the Rifle Brigade at the start of the Second War. He was captured in North Africa, escaped from a German prisoner-of-war camp and safely made his way hack to England via occupied France and the Pyrenees - an escape he later wrote about in Horned Pigeon (1946). He then returned to France as an agent to serve alongside the French Resistance, an experience he described in Maquis (1945), and for which he was awarded both the Legion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. After the war, Millar also wrote books recounting his cruises: Isabel and the Sea, A White Boat from England, Oyster River.
The third owner, G. van Laar, from Netherlands, took on the first restoration of Irene VIII in 1990. Roel van der Werff, in the De Hoop yard, changed the engine, covered the hull with copper, apparently in order to avoid water leaking into the boat. The copper and steel combination actually accelerated corrosion.
Irene VIII passes to French flag in 2005. After a rich year of sailing, decision was taken to offer her a new large restoration, to give her a structure that enables her to continue racing and cruising serenely. Most of the steel structure, including frames, floors and fastenings has to be replaced. The copper is removed - it will eliminate corrosion, lower displacement and improve aerodynamism. A new mast in spruce and a new rigging, faithful to the 10 Meter Class, are currently under study. This restoration is performed by the fantastic team of Classic Works.
Irene VIII will then return to her sailing number from ever, F 18 - F being the symbol of the 10 Meter Class (International Rule yachts are named after their class : D for 15 Meters, such as Tuiga, D3, Magda XIII, D11; E for 12 Meters, such as Eileen, E21, etc.).
Irene VIII was born. Built in 1935 in Pitch Pin, a fantastic oleaginous wood, therefore very resistant to rot, she is one the few boats of this size and of that time that never stopped sailing. She must have fulfilled her owners' dreams as she had only 3 owners in 70 years. Certainly because she is not only well-built: she reunions a rapid yacht, built to race, and a great cruising boat, easy to handle and comfortable.
After Eugen Lund, Irene VIII was acquired in 1966 by an English yachtsman Georges Millar,. Passionate with sailing, Millar was an exceptional character. Journalist, working as the Paris correspondent for the Daily Express in Paris, he joined the Rifle Brigade at the start of the Second War. He was captured in North Africa, escaped from a German prisoner-of-war camp and safely made his way hack to England via occupied France and the Pyrenees - an escape he later wrote about in Horned Pigeon (1946). He then returned to France as an agent to serve alongside the French Resistance, an experience he described in Maquis (1945), and for which he was awarded both the Legion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. After the war, Millar also wrote books recounting his cruises: Isabel and the Sea, A White Boat from England, Oyster River.
The third owner, G. van Laar, from Netherlands, took on the first restoration of Irene VIII in 1990. Roel van der Werff, in the De Hoop yard, changed the engine, covered the hull with copper, apparently in order to avoid water leaking into the boat. The copper and steel combination actually accelerated corrosion.
Irene VIII passes to French flag in 2005. After a rich year of sailing, decision was taken to offer her a new large restoration, to give her a structure that enables her to continue racing and cruising serenely. Most of the steel structure, including frames, floors and fastenings has to be replaced. The copper is removed - it will eliminate corrosion, lower displacement and improve aerodynamism. A new mast in spruce and a new rigging, faithful to the 10 Meter Class, are currently under study. This restoration is performed by the fantastic team of Classic Works.
Irene VIII will then return to her sailing number from ever, F 18 - F being the symbol of the 10 Meter Class (International Rule yachts are named after their class : D for 15 Meters, such as Tuiga, D3, Magda XIII, D11; E for 12 Meters, such as Eileen, E21, etc.).
