The origin of the 5O5 By Pierre Toureau
Translated into English by Jean-Baptiste Dupont

Who is Pierre Toureau? Pierre in one of the first fiveoh owners and racers. He was a member of IYRU commission organizing the Olympic trial in 1954 in La Baule. Pierre is still racing his Vent d'Ouest keel boat (a sort of Flying Fifteen) these days at the age of 88 years old. He naturally won many regatta. Pierre is still the commodore of his home club in Montesson.

Pierre Toureau took part in the Olympic trial in La Baule in 1954 and he sheds some light in this article on the very first days of the 5O5.

At the end of World War II in the 39/45 years, many two persons dinghies classes were racing around. All of them were designed so an amateur could build the boat using the only hardware available at the time: WOOD.
Hulls were designed to be easy to assemble with large panels of wood. The "Vaurien" (Ndt: an Enterprise like boat) was one of the first of these types boat. Other classes emerged all over the place depending on local specifics and vendor competition. One of them was the "Brix" Caneton. (so name after the architect's name). This class develops quickly in Normandy and the Parisian area mainly because of very active racers. I remember taking part in races of over 20 boats in Muids, Saint-Germain, in Troyes, but also in Nantes on the river Erdre later on.

However the Caneton was an heavy boat mainly due to the material being used and to the class rules imposing on some useless reinforcements. Under the racers kind pressure, class officers decided to update class rules and they then created the "Restricted Caneton" set of rules. From then on a fantastic challenge for architects and amateur builders begins. The Brix Caneton is actually of well defined shape and sail plan. On the contrary the new rules allow to build boats of 5 meter long (15 feet) and with a sail plan of the same size as of the Brix Caneton. In addition the minimum overall weight was lowered tremendously.  The success was immediate because this decision was calling for innovation.

Very quickly boat builders and racers started to design and build Canetons. There was the Herbulot design, Cornu design, Mouvet design and many others. The French championship was created and for many years over 40 boats were racing regularly in many places throughout France. There were more than 10 boats in my home club in Montesson and very exciting regatta was taking place on a regular basis in these years. During winter 1954 I and Mr Duvergie built our own Caneton. My lounge at home remained unavailable for several months till construction was completed. This boat was performing well and we were happy with her performance. At the time I was already a member of the Policy Class group at IYRU (former name of ISA). This commission was in charge of controlling dinghy boat policies � including sport keel boats.

One of commission purpose was to grant International Class status to classes, which deserved this recognition. Another purpose was to pick what classes would be proposed to the CIO two years ahead of the Olympic Games. None of the current boats were satisfactory that year. There were of course many good dinghies for two persons and for single in each major countries but IYRU had to pick one boat for each regatta in the Games � single and double. For single the Finn was well spread out and was selected. For the two persons dinghy the decision was made to carry on a selection process in spring among major countries and to pick the boat for the Olympic Games. I proposed that the event would take place in La Baule and this was approved. 10 to 12 boats from England, Germany, Holland, Swiss, Italy and France took part in this selection process. I brought my Caneton and crewed for Fran�ois Laverue, one of the best helm at the time. Boats were sitting in Penchateau close to where the current La Baule sailing club is now sitting (Ndt: the "CNBPP" currently run by former 5O5 Worldchampion Nicolas Loday).

Most of the boats, which took part in the event, were of classic design with for some of them interesting innovations such as trapeze and hiking boards (Ndt: Such as on the IC10). Every team hoped its boat would be selected. Boat builder were supportive behind the scene and had pick very good teams (I remember of Stuart Morris). Two boats were definitely emerging of the rest of the fleet because of their rounded shape hull made of molded wood: The Flying Dutchman and the Coronet helmed by John Westell, the boat's Architect. They both were longer than others, 6 m (18 feet) for the FD and 5,5 m (16,5 feet) for the Coronet. Their sail plan were both much larger too. The FD features a very large Genoa overlapping the main sail. The Coronet was very noticeable too with her unique hull featuring gunwhale designed to increase hiking moment, her open transom and her hanging rudder.

Jean Cettier, crewed by Fran�ois Cahours de Virgile (CVP) sailing number 1.

Starting procedures were called from le "Rosely" owned by Dr Sourdille, he was at the time the CN La Baule club Commodore. 6 or 7 races were raced in medium conditions with short waves. In these conditions the two boats were far superior to all of the opponents. As for us, we did pretty well against the other boats including the Hornet, Pirat and the 14 feet dinghy. Many experts and journalists who covered the event were ecstatic about the two outstanding boats and noticed FD and Coronet superior performances. FD was faster during long beat upwind whereas the Coronet was superior in situation where tack often because the jib was much faster to tack and the boat would re accelerate much faster.

Even before IYRU pick the FD for the Games given the boat was already spread out in Holland and Germany, the president of the Caneton Class figured out that he should make the Coronet fit into the Caneton class rules. He then requested John Westell to shorten slightly the nose of the Coronet and to cut several tenth of cms to the rear of the boat. This is how the 5O5 was created benefiting from the 5 cm tolerance allowed by the Caneton Class rules. This is why the first fiveohs were all displaying the duckling in their main sails.

The first 5O5 was built in a workshop located Porte St Denis, Paris. While the prototype was under construction many visitors turned out for a visit given the large interest created after the trial. First launch took place in Meulan (Ndt : Easter 1954) � Cercle de la Voile de Paris (CVP) � the boat was successively helmed by Jacques Lebrun, Fran�ois Laverue, Jean Peytel and Jean-Jacques Herbulot. These first steps were such a success that every good racer decided to order one boat. Alain Cettier centralized orders and managed to make them built by Fairey Marine in England. This workshop gained expertise in cold molded wood while making aircraft fuel tanks for the RAF using this technique. Hulls were piled up and delivered to the Sampson workshop in Sartrouville. Sampson plugged centerboard cases, decks and seat-tanks. Everyone took his new hull to get it rigged up. Several deliveries took place using the same process.

F21 sailing on the River Seine in CV Paris.

Not so long after in april 55 my crew Nelidof and I had the opportunity to race in Rouen on the River Seine a regatta hosted by The St Georges Yacht Club. The course consisted of two legs up to Duclair and back. About 20 dinghies of several classes were competing in that cold and foggy morning. After three tacks only all other boats were so far behind Fiveoh Number 1 that we went over the Duclair buoy without even noticing! On the way back same story repeated. The fiveoh prove to be such a fantastic boat that all competitors and spectators could only acknowledge. The success of all these debuts is primarily due to the excellent boat features which were meeting constraints of inland waters as well as providing so much fun while riding waves in open sea as early as force 3 of wind. Another reason for such a success was that the 5O5 was just another "Caneton" and this large family of racers just wanted to renew their boat and go for a 5O5. Even though some of us were reusing their Caneton sails in order to spare some money. As a result, within 2 or 3 years, most Caneton owners became 5O5 owners (plywood molded boat).

With the rapidly growing interest for polyester, Lanaverre and Parker shops understood all the benefits they could get from offering polyester 5O5 keeping the nice looking wooden deck. From the rcing program point of view, the class quickly set up a good racing program with national and international championships. Worlds were held twice in La Baule, then in Weymouth and G�teborg. During these championships we were struck with skills of Pol Elvstrom, Jacques Lebrun, Marcel Buffet and many other british and Australians racers. Thanks to these high profile regattas, the application for International status was possible and it was easy for me to convince IYRU to adopt the 5O5. But later on I did not understand why the Class was not want to get Olympic status for the Games. After so many years the Class may prove be right? An Olympic class is seldom largely spread out.

Pierre Toureau.

Coronet during Olympic trial in La Baule.

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