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- Marblehead (M Class):
The
M Class, or Marblehead, is a development class, which means that few
measurements are controlled, allowing a lot of freedom in design. Among
the main restrictions are the total length (maximum of 129 cm, or 50
inches) and the sail area (maximum of 5161 cm², or 800 sq feet). The
class was created in USA in 1931, in Marblehead city, from where it took
the name, and became one of the most popular classes in the world, being
officially recognized by the International Sailing Federation in 1937. The
few restrictions imposed by the rules allowed a high development of the M
Class boat over the years, in a search for new concepts,
in order to
produce
a high performance model that could be sailed in a wide range of conditions.
Current
hull designs are very narrow with stability coming largely from the deep
fins. The hull and rigs (usually
swinging rigs) tend to use advanced techniques and very light materials
(like carbon fiber).
The Marbleheads are light,
responsive and very fast sailboats. |
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Useful information:
Class pages: - France
Interesting links: - Building a Monarch M Class boat
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