The ‘15’s’ are back. Back in the public eye as the last remaining 15-Metre joins the fleet, a Class Association is formed and 3 regattas are sailed under fierce competition.
In 1907 the first 15-Metre yachts were built to the ‘International Rule’, a construction class where the yachts are designed to meet specific measurements in a formula.
The approximate length Overall (spars included) was just short of 30 Metres (98 ft) and they sailed with the beautiful gaff cutter rig. Substantially bigger than the 12-Metre, smaller and easier to handle than a 19-Metre, the class attracted some of the best designers in Europe including William Fife III, Alfred Mylne, Charles Nicholson, Johan Anker and Max Oertz. Twenty 15’s were built between 1907 and 1917 and they still remain one of the most important yacht racing classes ever to exist.
In 2012 the long awaited and final surviving 15-Metre, Hispania, had completed her restoration under the Spanish led Ebusitana fund. Originally commissioned by King Alfonso XIII of Spain she was launched in 1909, the same year as sistership ‘Tuiga’, commissioned by another Royal the 17th Duke of Medinaceli, and the two friends raced against each other in the following years. Seeing these two 15’s back together again accompanied by Mariska(1908) and The Lady Anne(1912) was a rare sight not witnessed since the early 1920’s.
With this new revival in mind the ‘Fifteen Metre Class Association’ was formed, designed to give active parameters to the Class including agreement on the exact measurements permitted (recently agreed as 15.3) and the number of new sails each boat can introduce annually. The Mission: “to show that these yachts are literally in a class of their own . . . . . sailed completely manually . . . . . . raced on an equal rating, boat for boat, no handicap and the first boat home wins”. The race results are determined by the “skill of crew-work and seamanship” alone. The Association also organizes the number and location of annual regattas for all of the class to meet, while taking into account the particular time-constraints and preferences of each owner. In 2012 three regattas were undertaken at 3 different locations, one each in Spain, Italy and France, which had incredibly close on-the-water action, a yachting photographers paradise! Results are listed below.
2012 15-Metre Class Results
I Copa De Espana De Vela Clasica – Trofeo Memorial Pedro Bores – Club De Mar De Puerto Sherry (25-29 July, 2012)
Vele D’Epoca Di Imperia (5-9 September, 2012)
Voiles De Saint Tropez (2-6 October, 2012)
For 2013 the programme has recently been agreed upon with 4 regattas scheduled. The Cope Del Rey in Mahon, Monaco Classic Week, an event in Portofino and the ‘Grand Finale’ at the Regates Royales in Cannes.
There is of course hope that a keen eye with a deep pocket will be mesmerized by the 15’s racing and will head off to one of the optimistic design offices for a rebuild. GL Watson are promoting the radical Nicholson design ‘Istria’ from 1912, while Fairlie Yachts have the 1913 Fife design ‘Maudrey’ on their books, available for a cool £2.7 Million complete.
Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge
Vele D’Epoca di Imperia 2012
Hispania, Mariska, Tuiga and The Lady Anne
Photo: Guido Cantini / Sea&See/Panerai
With the incredible recent interest and subsequent expansion of the ‘J’ Class surely it is only a matter of time before the same will happen to the 15-Metres Class. Hopefully they will all restrict themselves to the Mediterranean so that, unlike the J Class, they will all be seen regularly racing together sustaining the magnificent spectacle and the infective spirit evident from last season.
Click on the links below for footage of the 15-Metre racing in 2012.
