International 5.5 Meter Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The International 5.5 Metre (5.5mIC) is a premier developmental racing keelboat that occupies a unique space in naval architecture history. Established in 1949 by Charles E. Nicholson, the class was designed to offer the tactical complexity and refinement of the 6 Metre class but in a more cost-effective, smaller package. Unlike "one-design" boats where every hull is identical, the 5.5 Metre is a "rule boat," governed by a formula that balances length, displacement, and sail area. This has turned the class into a laboratory for design, attracting legendary naval architects like Olin Stephens, Britton Chance Jr., and Arvid Laurin. Because it is a formula-based class, the actual length of the boat is typically between 9 and 10 meters, despite its name. The class gained global prestige as an Olympic discipline from 1952 to 1968, and it remains one of the few vintage racing classes that continues to see brand-new, cutting-edge hulls launched annually. Detailed technical specifications and the governing formula can be found through the International 5.5 Metre Class Association.