In July 1924, almost 100 years ago, Paris was already hosting the Olympic Games. The sailing events gathered 19 nations, and took place at sea in Le Havre with the Société des Régates du Havre (SRH) and on the Seine with the Cercle de la Voile de Paris (CVP). The Olympic series were the 6MJI and 8MJI of the International gauge, as well as the National Monotype on the Seine.
The international gauge in Le Havre in 1924
In 1924, at the Société des Régates du Havre, SRH, the regattas at sea took place on sailboats of the international gauge: an 8MJI is actually more than 14 meters long for 8 to 9 tons of displacement. It is sailed by 5 crew members, while the 6MJI is about 11 meters long for about 4 to 5 tons, and is sailed by 3 crew members.
The National Monotype in Les Mureaux
At the Cercle de la Voile de Paris, CVP in 1924, the regattas took place on the Monotype National, designed by Gaston Grenier, and specifically conceived for solo events. This 5 m long and 2 m wide sailboat weighed 450 kg, with a sail area of 20 m2, consisting of a mainsail and a jib.
Sailboats always up to date
8MJI and 6MJI are yachts with an exceptional centennial history. These magnificent boats are still on the water, and regularly race around the world. France has an important fleet of 8MJI and 6MJ, built between 1922 and 1945, perfectly restored and optimized, which race every year. Within this fleet, there are even boats that participated in the 1924 Olympic Games, and then in the following ones until 1936 for the 8MJI and 1952 for the 6MJI
Replaying the games
100 years later, and 2 months before the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, from May 17 to 20, 2024 will take place an event in the Rade de Lorient, in Port-Louis and Lorient, bringing together the 8MJI and 6MJI of the European fleets that will "replay" the 1924 regattas. These two series will be accompanied in 2024 by other Olympic series such as the 5.5MJI.
From June 14 to 16, 2024, another meeting on the Seine in Les Mureaux will bring together the National Monotype and other series of Olympic dinghies.
Activities for the public
To relive this event in 2024, the activities for the public will include a series of meetings on the return of the regattas, with visits to the pontoons and boats, exhibitions and activities on land, screenings, meetings, presentation of boats and Olympic supports, high level channels ... All this around the theme: " 100 years of sailing history at the Olympic Games for a sporting, cultural and heritage future ".
