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 The Equipment – In the wake of the 1980 America’s Cup, a new class of boat was introduced bearing such a strong resemblance to the legendary 12 Meter yachts that they were dubbed “mini 12s.” The 2.4 Metre evolved from the “mini 12” when Sweden’s renowned naval architect Peter Norlin collaborated with several other designers to create a more sophisticated version to meet the criteria of the International Meter Rule. The 2.4 Metre, introduced in 1982, has all the classic lines of the America’s Cup yachts, at one-fifth the size. As a fixed-keel boat with a very high ballast ratio, it is virtually impossible to capsize and will not sink if swamped by virtue of its built-in foam flotation. In the 2.4 Metre all sail trim controls are led to a console forward of the skipper’s seat, below the main deck, with steering controlled by either foot pedals or hand controls, making it easily adapted by physically challenged sailors to meet their specific needs. The unique features of the 2.4 Metre give no benefit to a specific body type or weight. And, since sailing a 2.4 Metre requires little exertion on the part of the skipper, it allows disabled and able-bodied sailors to compete evenly, with the emphasis on sailing ability over physical attributes. The 2.4 Metre weighs approximately 145 pounds with its lead ballast removed. It is cartoppable, or can be transported as an entire unit on a small utility trailer. In 2000, U.S. sailor Tom Brown packed his 2.4 Metre into a container and shipped it by Fedex to Sydney, Australia. The Entrants - There will be a total of 16 entries for the Open Singlehanded Keelboat event (2.4 Metre). Qualified to date are the following countries: AUS, CAN, DEN, FIN, FRA, ESP, GBR, GER, GRE, IRL, ITA, JPN, NED, NOR, SIN, USA.. The Competition - Notable foreign competition will include 2000 Paralympic Gold Medallist Heiko Kroger (GER). The Schedule -
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