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Metre yachts and big boats
Are we seeing a move back to the restoration of big sailing yachts? It’s too early to call it a trend, but looking back at 2023, we can see a great number of yachts over 40ft (12.2m) were rebuilt. It looks as though this will continue in 2024, not least with the anticipated launch of in Thailand, the 106ft composite gaff ketch built in 1896. She sailed around the world in 1952-4 and plans to do the same when she is re-launched. The metre classes will no doubt continue growing; in fact, the 8-M class is undergoing something of a renaissance. In 2023, we saw the rebuilt 8-M out racing after restoration, and she won the ‘highly commended’ in our 2023 awards in the Restored Sailing Vessel over 40ft category. A few months later, we heard of the Fife III 8-M racing at the worlds in Genoa, also the subject of a complete, recent restoration. There are a
