in different years. The later 5.5 Metre was also used in the Olympics. The 12 Metre Class was used for the America's Cup events from 1958 through 1987. In 1936, Cornelius Shields, used the International Rule as the basis for a new one-design class. Designed by Norwegian Bjarne Aas, and modeled after his classic 6 metre Saga, the International One Design sloop, or IOD, is today raced in fleets based in Norway, Sweden, the UK, Canada, Bermuda and the United States of America. The IOD is a very tightly regulated variation of a 6 metre. A recent development has been the 2.4 Metre Class—a Metre class boat designed for a solo sailor. As a keelboat, and unlike a dinghy, it does not require the crew to balance his weight to keep the boat from capsizing. Therefore, it has become a very popular class for the physically disabled, and is currently used in the Paralympics. A group of Metre Class yacht owners, friends and enthusiasts celebrated the centenary of the International rule, in July, 2007, in Cowes UK, by organising a regatta for all Metre Class yachts. Metre boats built and afloat About 6000 of the larger metre rule boats have been built since 1907. About half of them still exist, which is a remarkable number considering that most of them were built before World War II. Partly this is a result of the fact that the R-metre boats had to adhere to Lloyd's strict scantling rules, that has given them longevity that very few other traditional classes have been blessed with. Numbers without references are estimates. In addition, over four thousand 2.4mR have built since the classes introduction in the 1980s. Metre boats in the Olympics From 2000 to 2016, the 2.4mR was used for the Sailing at Paralympic Games. See also Square metre rule (sailing) Ton class Universal rule References External links 5.5 Metre Class UK 6 metre Swiss 6 metre Finnish 6 metre 8 metre class Finnish 8 metre INTMA – International Nine and Ten Metre Association International Metre Yacht Management North American Eight Metre Association The International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) Good site for details of all 12 metre yachts built worldwide Handicap (sailing)