The 2.4mR

A ONE-PERSON KEELBOAT FOR ALL

Whether you are new to the class or weighing up your next boat, this page covers what the 2.4mR is, where it came from, and how to get on the water.

The 2.4mR is a one-person keelboat raced around the world, from local club regattas to the World Championship. Backed by 17 National Class Associations, the class is tactical, technical, and genuinely open to all: on the water, only your sailing decides the result.

A 2.4mR sailboat racing on a body of water with another boat visible in the background, the boat has a high-tech sail with numbers, and a person wearing sunglasses is sitting inside.

AT FIRST GLANCE, THE 2.4MR LOOKS LIKE A CLASSIC OCEAN RACER IN MINIATURE, AND THAT IS NO ACCIDENT.

The shape of the 2.4mR resembles that of larger boats that adhere to the metre rule, such as the 12-metre boat that competed in the America’s Cup and the Olympics. The 2.4mR was first developed in Sweden at the beginning of the 1980s, and several designs were initially developed, including one by Peter Norlin. Norlin then created the MkII and MkIII. The Norlin MkIII proved versatile in all weather conditions and rapidly became the most commercially available 2.4mR.

All controls are displayed in front of the helmsperson, with each trim control within easy reach. The sailor can steer using either hands or feet. The sailor’s weight is close to the centre of gravity; therefore, the size and fitness level of the sailor have a negligible impact on speed. In other words, the 2.4mR can be considered the most inclusive sailing boat available today, making all competitors virtually equal on the water regardless of their age, physical strength, or gender. The great demands on the individual are entirely due to pure sailing skills, with an emphasis on strategy, sail trim, and speed.

Thanks to its singular qualities, the 2.4mR quickly became one of the fastest-growing keelboat classes ever. It attained international status in 1992 when the annual World Championships began attracting large fleets of 2.4mR yearly. When sailing became a full-medal sport at the Paralympics in 2000, the Norlin MkIII was selected as the single-handed class. The 2015 Open World Championship in Rauma, Finland, attracted 102 competitors from 15 nations.

A video presentation by current ICA President Heiko Kröger (GER) - discover the 2.4mR boat.

THE 2.4MR: A SHORT HISTORY

To understand how the class reached this point, it helps to go back to where it began - byHasse Malmsten.

The Mini 12 concept surfaced in several places and forms at the beginning of the eighties; most were attempts to create a single design for small keelboats. The Illusion, the Shadow and the Arrow 12 were in the UK. In the US, they had the Defender on the west coast and the Millimeter on the east coast, but it was in Stockholm, Sweden, that what we now know as the International 2.4mR Class evolved.

Odd Lindqvist (the Odd 1:5), Håkan Södergren (the Södergren Mk I) and Peter Norlin (the Norlin Mk I with bulb keel) each designed a small sailing yacht based on the classic Metre Rule. They were called Minitwelves to mark the close relationship with the famous Twelves used in the America’s Cup. Originally intended as a one-design, they soon realised there would not be demand for three new OD boats based on the same concept, so they decided to form a new metre class: the Open 2.4mR Class.

The boat soon became popular for its completely new approach to sailing; many well-known sailors joined the Class. The fact that the boats were also well-suited to sailors with physical impairments gave the class an extra dimension and media coverage; never before had a boat appealed to such a wide range of sailors. By the end of the eighties, the class was established, and in 1988, the first set of class rules was accepted by the Scandinavian Sailing Federation. In 1993, the class was acknowledged by World Sailing and granted International Class status.

Technical drawing of the hull of the 2.4mR boat

CHARACTERISTICS

Crew 1

Draft 1 m (39 in) (Norlin Mark III)

Weight 254 kg (560 lb)

LOA 4.16 m (13 ft 8 in) (Norlin Mark III)

Beam 0.805 m (2 ft 7 3⁄4 in) (Norlin Mark III)

Mast length 5.0 m (16.4 ft)

Upwind sail area 7.5 m2 (81 sq ft)

RYA PN 1244

A sailboat racing on a lake with its sail catching the wind, and another boat visible in the background.

Sailboat racing through choppy water with a crew member wearing an orange helmet

A sailboat racing on the water with a sailor wearing a helmet and sunglasses, creating a splash as it moves.

Sailboats capsized in the water during a sailing race, with their sails partially submerged and tilted to the side.

A sailboat racing on the water with a sailor wearing white sunglasses and a cap, with the boat's name visible on the hull.

A person sailing a small racing sailboat on a shimmering body of water with multiple sailboats in the background.

A line of sailboats racing on a lake with a green tree-lined shoreline and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Sailboat on water with a sailor leaning out, holding onto the sail, in bright sunlight

Several sailboats with white sails participating in a regatta on a lake or river, with a tree-lined shoreline in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.

Sailboat racing on the water with crew members adjusting sails and wearing life jackets, with waves splashing around.

Multiple sailboats racing on water with sails in shades of gray and white, some marked with numbers and country codes, near a shoreline with trees under a cloudy sky.

A woman sailing a small racing sailboat on choppy water, with sunlight reflecting off the surface.

A woman tying or adjusting ropes on a small sailboat docked on the water with other boats and rocks in the background.

Two men working on a small sailboat mounted on a trailer in a park with green trees, with one man standing and the other crouching down.

Group of people launching a drone boat into the water at a lakeside, with some holding the boat and others preparing equipment.

Two people are preparing a sailboat on a trailer in a park-like setting with trees, one person on each side. The sailboat is white with sails and a mast, and has the words "MEDICLIN" on the side. A red and blue surfboard is secured underneath the boa

A man wearing reflective sunglasses, a white head covering, and a blue life jacket sits in a small sailboat on the water, surrounded by sailing equipment and a spinnaker sail.

A man sailing a small sailboat on the water, wearing sunglasses, a red cap, and a jacket, with the boat's sail partially visible and water splashing around.

Young man smiling while cleaning his boat.

JOIN AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

The 2.4mR is perfect for sailors of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to Olympic competitors. It is easy to transport, fits into a container for cost-effective travel domestically and abroad, and can be stored dry with a small footprint. It can also be launched using a slipway or crane. If you think the 2.4mR suits you, contactthe International Class Association (ICA) to get involved.

JOIN AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

The 2.4mR suits sailors of all ages and abilities, from first-timers to Olympic competitors. It is easy to transport, fits inside a container for cost-effective travel at home and abroad, and stores dry in a small footprint. Launching is straightforward, by slipway or crane. If the class sounds right for you, contact the International Class Association (ICA) to get started.