The Square Metre Rule 1908 - 2008
The Skerry Cruiser is Sweden’s contribution to the world of sailing. It is a fast and elegant boat of which over 1200 have been built since the advent of the rule in 2008. Most of the yachts are still sailing today despite the fact that they have long ago passed retirement age.
Boats built to the Square Metre Rule are well suited to both racing and cruising, albeit chiefly in sheltered waters. The rule consists of measurement and building regulations intended to produce durable yachts with a roomy interior and good sailing qualities. It is one of the few construction rules where new designs have not proved to be appreciably faster than the classic boats. Thus the newer boats are able to race with the older ones on equal terms, provided that these have an equivalent level of equipment.
The Square Metre Rule, which was adopted in 1908 and revised in 1925, includes the following nine classes: 15, 22, 30, 40, 55, 75, 95, 120 and 150 m2. The figures represent the maximum measured sail area. The basic idea is that the sail area should be limited, but the design of the hull left free. There are regulations for the hull relating to five vital measurements which determine boatspeed, namely length, displacement, mean breadth, keel length and freeboard height. For a given sail area one may vary the hull size to optimize it for the sailing conditions that the boat should perform best in. It is possible to design a boat which will perform best either in light or in heavy air.
Length is measured a bit above the waterline and represents the boat’s hull speed. The other measurements are speed-inhibiting factors, and no shortfall is allowed in these values. Up to a certain length these limiting values are constant. As length increases beyond this limit the other values must also be increased proportionately. This ensures a balance between the design factors which encourage speed and those which inhibit it.The Square Metre Rule contains detailed regulations for wood and fibreglass construction. Other materials are also acceptable provided that they allow the same weight distribution and at least the same strength. All dimensions for hull, deck, mast and rig are most carefully set out in the rule. The rule has such a good reputation that its building regulations have been used as guidelines for a large part of the Swedish wooden boat fleet. If one is to build a wooden boat of a certain size one looks at the dimensions for a skerry cruiser of corresponding size and uses these as a starting point for one’s own design. There are also regulations governing equipment and fitting-out which ensure that the boat is fit for its purpose and safe as a cruising boat.
Skerry cruisers have spread over the whole world, but the majority have their home in Europe. The class with the greatest spread internationally is the 30 m2 which compete for the European Cup every second year. This regatta is staged alternately in Sweden and on the Bodensee. The last European Cup was won by the French boat Pinchgut, which was built in Australia at the beginning of the 1990s. Other places with active skerry cruiser fleets are Lake Balaton in Hungary and USA.
In Sweden there is frequent racing amongst the 22 m2 skerry cruisers, which ever since 1932 have competed annually for the Skerry Cruiser Trophy and the national championships. The latest winner was SWE 272 Tricksonita, built in 1946.
Many constructors have designed skerry cruisers over the years. The most celebrated designers must be Gustaf Estlander, Knud H. Reimers, Harry Becker, Arvid Laurin, Erik Salander and Knut Holm with his sons Tore and Yngve.
New skerry cruisers are still being built today, ranging from amateur builds to boats from the more prestigious yards. Historically the Neglinge boatyard of August Plym, Schelin’s yard at Kungsör and Estlander’s Pabst Werft in Berlin are the yards best known for their production of many outstanding skerry cruisers.