Sanctioned in 1998. The International One Metre is the fastest growing class in the world. The rules in this class are identical to those used throughout the globe. The class has a one-design rig and weight minimums, but the hull design is very much developmental. One meter long, with a sail area as large as a Marblehead. 39.37" long (One meter)

The versatile International One Metre (IOM) is one of the most popular class in the radio sailing world, and many USA sailors enjoy regular travel for competition. Others prefer local sailing, and local fleets are the class backbone. USA's annual Nationals began in 1998. The class formed in the late 1980s, specifying three (3) one-design rigs with the hull/foils controlled by box rule. This format encourages evolution and created our highly refined fleet of today, where creative skippers continue to test new ideas. We race in the lightest breeze up to very strong winds and waves, where we need our smallest rig up to 35-40 knots. The hull weight limit allows amateur designers/builders to carefully create competitive IOMs and test their mettle against the best commercially available. Besides our plethora of purchase options, we have a recent global boom in home-built woody hulls now too. While the most skilled skippers usually win the regatta, no single design dominates our World Championships on even years.

The J class yachts are 1/16 scale versions of the original 1930's J-boats only, making it the largest of all the RC yachts. These classic yachts recreate the style of yachting's Golden Era, on a grand but affordable scale. Approx. 85-95" long. The largest class in the AMYA, the "J" boat

The J Class models are 1/16th scale hulls of the J Class yachts that sailed for the America's Cup from 1930 through 1937 as well as the yachts that were converted to the J Class and competed with the America's Cup yachts in club regattas. The models are the largest recognized class in the AMYA with hull lengths ranging from about 7 feet in length to 81/2 feet in length and weighing between 65 and 90 pounds. The models carry from about 3,000 to 4,000 square inches of sail on masts that are 8 to 91/2 feet above the deck. The difference in sizes of the models is driven by the different sizes of the full size yachts. The Js were designed to a rule with a specific formula that allowed the designers to change dimensions of the hulls and sail area to arrive at the same answer. The full size yachts varied in size from about 120 to 135 feet in length and had waterline lengths from about 76 to 87 feet and carried a crew of about 35 professional sailors.

There were ten yachts built to the J specifications between 1930 and 1937, six in America and four in Britain to compete for the America's Cup. Another eight existing large yachts sailing at the time were converted to J specifications for use as trial horses and as competitors in local yacht club regattas. Drawings for all of the original J yachts and those converted to the J class are available from several museums such as the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Smithsonian and the Herreshoff Maritime Museum. There are also several companies producing fiberglass hulls for some of the yachts. The hulls that are currently available in fiberglass are Ranger, Endeavour, Shamrock V and Whirlwind. The scratch building of hulls from drawings in either fiberglass or wood is encouraged in the class. Masts and spars in extruded aluminum are also available for skippers who wish to build their J model. Keep in mind that there will be some scratch building required when you build your J model regardless of whether you begin with a fiberglass hull or want to build a plank on frame model.

The J Class is truly one of the most beautiful class of models in the AMYA reflecting the sailing power and grace of the original classic yachts of the 1930s.

The Marblehead (or simply "M") is a 50 inch long yacht providing exciting performance and the ability to handle most sailing conditions if rigged properly. This development class is restricted in overall length and sail area. It has spawned two sub-classes, the "American Marblehead" and the "Classic Marblehead". The Marblehead is considered the leader in the use of advanced construction materials and techniques. 50" long, 800 sq. inches sail area.

The M or Marblehead Class, sometimes called the "50/800", is a high-performance development class designed by Roy L. Clough of Marblehead, MA in the 1930's as the largest model that would conveniently fit in a standard American car of the time.

It has grown into an International Class, with competitive fleets worldwide.

M's are considered the largest "high tech" R/C model class with active designers/builders and steadily growing numbers of participants. Think of them as the "Formula One" of radio- controlled race boats.

It is a development class (unless specifically prohibited, "anything goes") with the main restrictions being a hull length of 50 inches and a sail area of 800 square inches. The class has matured over the years to produce a high-performance model that can be sailed in a wide range of conditions by changing rigs.

The hull and rigs tend to use advanced materials and techniques. Boats are available from several suppliers who can provide them from basic kit form to fully assembled. There is also an active used boat market at the local level. Many older designs can be made locally competitive with simple updates. The M Class has a large ownership base, with over 3000 registered hulls in the US with that many or more worldwide. It is sailed in most areas of the country. Competition is available from local club to international level.

To get started, first register your boat with the Class Secretary.

Once you have registered your boat, a "measurement certificate" will be required if you want to compete in organized regattas. To obtain this certificate, an official Class Measurer will perform a detailed examination and measurement of the hull, appendages, sails, and rigs and if all are found to comply with class rules, a certificate will be issued.

Registering an M Class

1. Become an AMYA member and obtain your AMYA membership number. No registration number will be issued without an AMYA membership number.

2. Complete the AMYA Yacht Registration form contained in Model Yachting. Include your e- mail address on the form. Make out a check for $10 to Bruce Andersen and mail it with the Yacht Registration form to him. Do not make out the check to AMYA - registration funds are used for Marblehead Class expenses and are not part of the AMYA.

3. If you are transferring ownership include the existing registration number and previous owner's name.

4. You will be issued a new sail number if this is a new registration, or a card with the old sail number in your name if this is a transfer of ownership of a previously registered boat. A new number may be issued if the provenance of the hull is unknown.

The Santa Barbara is an original design expressly for model yacht racing with the classic lines of a full-size yacht. This large-sized yacht's hull and keel must be initially purchased from the manufacturer. Decks and sails are strictly controlled, but may be purchased or made from scratch. Almost all other equipment is up to the owner. 70" long.

One Design Class sanctioned in April 2003. The Seawind is built by One Manufacturer, and sold through many outlets. The Kyosho Seawind, Seawind SE, and Carbon Seawind model yachts are meter- long replicas of a late 1990's early 2000's America's Cup yacht. 39.37 inches (One Meter) long

The U.S. One Meter is a small-sized development class yacht, with an appearance similar to the International One Metre yachts. This development class is restricted in overall length, sail area and several other minor measurements. The U.S. One Meter is surprisingly fast and seaworthy for its size. 39.37" long, 600 sq. inches of measured sail area with about 50 sq inches of "free area".

The One Meter yacht is lightweight, very fast and responsive to the controls making it a fun boat to sail, either as a pond boat or in competition.

An inexpensive two channel radio is all that is required for control of sails and rudder. The boat is easily disassembled and fits in a small size automobile for transporting to the pond or lake. The U.S. One Meter class is one of the least expensive classes for the new skipper just starting in the hobby of R.C. sailing due to its "build it yourself" nature, .

The U.S. One Meter Class is a developmental class, which means there are very few design restrictions. They include, overall hull length, keel depth and sail area (see class specification for the few remaining restrictions). The generally unrestrictive nature of the specifications, encourages one of a kind Home Built yachts. The hull can be self designed or built from available free plans. It is easily planked from wood, or can be made from wood forms covered with fiberglass, carbon fiber or Kevlar. The structure of the class specifications allows the designer/builder to experiment with a design, and then try it out on the water. It is a true "designers class".