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| Event type

6 metres, Open

Date27 – 29 July 1908
StatusOlympic
LocationRyde Pier, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Participants15 from 4 countries
FormatPlacement by number of wins, followed by points awarded as 3-2-1 for first three places in each race. Three races, each over two circuits of a course in the Solent. Total distance, 13 miles

An international field competed in the 6 m class, as five boats from four countries gave each other exciting races. The first race went to the British “Dormy” taking almost two minutes from the “Sibindi”, also a British yacht. “Sibindi” had the best start, followed by “Freja” from Sweden and “Dormy”. The Swedish boat could not hold the place and “Dormy” took a comfortable lead in a light breeze. With more wind on the second round, the Belgian boat “Zut” made the best time to move into overall third.

On the second day, again “Sibindi” had the best start and was leading over the major part of the first round. But at the end of the first circuit, it was a dead-heat for the French boat and “Dormy.” “Sibindi” took the lead again but was finally outsailed by “Dormy” and “Guyoni.” “Dormy” succeeded again, this time just 32 seconds ahead of the French “Guyoni”.

On the third day, “Sibindi” took an early lead again. Then “Zut” took the lead, holding on to it until the finish line, winning the third race with “Guyoni” again coming in second. The eventual overall winner “Dormy” trailed for most of the race but later passed “Sibindi” and managed to take third place.

Gilbert Laws and Léon Huybrechts received Olympic gold and silver medals as helmsmen of their boats. The owner of the “Dormy,” Thomas McMeekin, who also belonged to the crew, received the commemorative gold medal and the trophy, a Sèvres vase, donated by the French President. Since Laws had built the “Dormy”, McMeekin, as the owner, commissioned him to steer the boat in the competition. The silver commemorative medal was awarded to R. Osterrieth, the owner of the “Zut”.

PosCompetitor(s)NOCWinsPoints
1DormyGBR27Gold
Gilbert LawsThomas McMeekinCharles Crichton
2ZutBEL14Silver
Léon HuybrechtsLouis HuybrechtsHenri Weewauters
3GuyoniFRA04Bronze
Henri ArthusLouis PotheauPierre Rabot
4SibindiGBR03
John LeucharsWilfrid LeucharsFrank Smith
5FrejaSWE00
Karl-Einar SjögrenBirger GustafssonJonas Jonsson