34 for Europeans

6m expert Basil Carmody previews the line-up for the forthcoming regatta in La Trinite

Basil Carmody, a retired 71 year old Franco-American, is a 6 metre enthusiast. He is currently devoting the majority of his time to creating a complete register of all the 6 metres which have existed since 1907. Treasurer to the French 6MJI Union, a member of the international classics committee and writer of the 6MJI classic newsletter, Basil is without doubt one of the greatest connoisseurs of this class in the world.

With the European Championship at the Société Nautique in La Trinité-sur-Mer taking place imminently from 19-24 June, Carmody answered some questions about the 6m class:

How do you sail a 6MJI?

BC: There are five crew aboard the 6 MJI. The helmsman’s principal role is the boat's course. The tactician positions the boat in relation to the competition and the wind. He also controls the mainsail, the runners and the backstay. Two trimmers are in charge of the headsails which comprise the spinnaker and the genoa, and finally the bowman is concerned with manœuvres up forward when sailing downwind in particular. Also of note is the fact that the sheet trimmers can regulate the tension of the rig or even the position of the mast thanks to in-built adjustment.

Is there a strict class measurement among the 6 MJIs?

BC: It isn't really strict given the disparity of the yachts. During the designing of the 6 MJI, the architect is allowed to express his ideas for the hull shape within the class rule. It's up to him to play with the degrees of freedom of these parameters to design a fast 6 MJI. The length waterline, wetted surface area, and sail plan all come into play. However it is possible to see yachts with say a very short waterline, which is the case of my own 6 MJI.

Can you talk to us about the different 6 MJIs?

To start with you have to distinguish between the classic and modern 6 MJIs. The latter appeared after 1965 and are built of plastic or moulded wood, whilst the classics are naturally built plank on frames.

Amongst the classics there are three class measurements: the first dates from 1907 to 1920, the second from 1920 to 1933 and the third up to 1965. For this third class measurement, we’ve seen some real race boats emerge with aluminium masts. With these different class measurements come the corresponding rankings and cups, which will be awarded at the end of the European Championship.

The Woodrow Wilson Cup rewards the first classic boat in the general results. The Giovanelli Cup will be awarded to the best of the modern fleet. The August Ringvold Cup will go to class measurement 1 and 2 of the classic fleet, while the Baum and König Cup, familiar to the North Americans, will be awarded to the 6 MJI most respecting tradition in terms of the wooden hull and Dacron sails of traditional panel cut. It should be mentioned that in our class’ lingo, we often talk of ‘Hot Rods’ which naturally refers to the modern 6 MJI.

Who are the architects of the 6 MJI?

We saw a real boom in the production of the Modern craft in 1980 with Swedish architects like Peter Nordline and Telle Petterson as well as British architect Ian Howlett, who will be present in La Trinité-sur-Mer. The latter makes no bones about the fact that we’ve hit the limit of the class measurement. There aren’t any more tricks for improving the shape of the Modern craft.

Today we are witnessing more activity over the reproduction of Classics. There are over 200 architects who have poured over the design of the Classics. American Olin Stephens swept the board with his 6 MJI, in my opinion, and he is certainly the greatest architect of the 20th century. You mustn’t forget Johan Anker (creator of the Dragon) and Bjorn Aas either; both Norwegian architects who have each designed over 50 craft. Swede Tore Holm has also been highly prolific.

Which are the forces to be reckoned with in the European Championship?

The European Champion titleholder in the 6 MJI Classics will be in La Trinité-sur-Mer over 19-24 June. Erik Larsen and his Sunray, a reproduction of a 1939 6 MJI, won the European Championship in Germany in 2006. He is coming to put his title at stake with a yacht famed for being both rigid and stiff as it was reproduced in 2005. You mustn’t discount Flapper either, a 1939 Jensen design and Tittia, a 1952 design by British architect David Boyd. Among the Modern craft, Dietter Grûmau’s crew on Courage 9 will be keen to defend their title. Fléau, rechristened Junior was the 6 MJI world champion at Cowes last year and will be helmed by French talent, Yann Marilley. Finally Bravade 6 may be a serious contender to victory with the skilled François Brénac at the helm.

34 European participants:

Name Sail Type Club Skipper Tcf Category

1 MIDINETTE SUI24 6mJI SNG A. Keller 1.0000 6mJI Classic
2 MENA 6G30 6mJI BYC T. Kuhmann 1.0000 6mJI Classic
3 MAY BE VI FIN51 6mJI NAK E. Kilpi 1.0000 6mJI Classic
4 COURAGE IX GER118 6mJI W Y C A. Batzill 1.0000 6mJI Modern
5 BERTA S121 6mJI KSSS L. Engelbert 1.0000 6mJI Modern
6 TEMPEST UNIVERSAL GBR105 6mJI R S Y C Avia Willment 1.0000 6mJI Modern
7 TEMPTATION 3 SUI104 6mJI AVP B. Hurrer 1.0000 6mJI Modern
8 JUNIOR FRA177 6mJI Y. Marilley 1.0000 6mJI Modern
9 TSIGANE FRA107 6mJI S. O'reilly Hyland 1.0000 6mJI Modern
10 VINGT ANS APRES FRA86 6m JI P. Le Floch 1.0000 6mJI Classic
11 FLAPPER N71 6mJI RCYC B. Rieff 1.0000 6mJI Classic
12 VALHALLA 6mJI P. Smith 1.0000 6mJI Modern
13 ROYAL THAMES F108 6mJI M. Lemarignier 1.0000 6mJI Classic
14 MELITA GBR 42 6m JI Royal Cornwall D.Roberts 1.0000 6mJI Classic
15 TITIA GBR 22 6m JI RORC A.Postle 1.0000 6mJI Classic
16 BATTLECRY GBR 89 6m JI RTYC B.Clothier 1.0000 6mJI Modern
17 JANE ANN USA 105 6m JI N.Y.Y.C J.Makila 1.0000 6mJI Modern
18 RƒVEN SWE 37 6m JI Y.C.F. V.Autret 1.0000 6mJI Classic
19 TARA 20 6m JI CVBC J.Brunet Moret 1.0000 6mJI Classic
20 LISBETH V SWE 136 6m JI RYC STOCKOLM J.H.Larson 1.0000 6mJI Classic
21 BRAVADE VI F116 6m JI F.Brenac 1.0000 6mJI Modern
22 FIONA NED 46 6m JI N.R.Z J.W.YPMA 1.0000 6mJI Classic
23 ST KITTS III GBR 66 6m JI ROYAL FOWEY A.Thomas 1.0000 6mJI Classic
24 VERT GALANT F 99 6m JI CVBC L.Thieery-Mieg 1.0000 6mJI Classic
25 SUNRAY D 64 6m JI K.D.Y H.One 1.0000 6mJI Classic
26 ERICA GBR 57 6m JI R.Y.S P.Andreke 1.0000 6mJI Classic
27 LADY DAY D 58 6m JI KDY E.T.Larsen 1.0000 6mJI Classic
28 JUNGFRUN SWE 133 6m JI KSSS P.Norlin 1.0000 6mJI Modern
29 DIX-AO€T FRA 111 6m JI C.V.V.T. B.Divorne 1.0000 6mJI Classic
30 MANDRAGORE F 88 6m JI C.Draeger 1.0000 6mJI Classic
31 NANCY US 60 6m JI ROYAL LYMINGTON Y.C. P.Green 1.0000 6mJI Classic
32 SCOUNDRELGBR 96 6m JI R.Y.Squadron R.Gray 1.0000 6mJI Modern
33 GUBBR÷RA SWE 135 6m JI KSSS C.Ahlin 1.0000 6mJI Modern
34 CONCH FRITTERS BAH 1 6m JI Nassau Y.C. R.Leigh Wood 1.0000 6mJI Modern