J yacht championship at Newport, Rhode Island

thataway

I know that there are a few truly dedicated sailors, as I am, on the C Dory site.
Scuttlebutt had a video of the recent J yacht "world championship" at Newport Rhode Island.

These boats are probably the most magnificent of all the sailing yachts built. The resurrection of the class is due to the work of a woman, Elizabeth Meyer, who restored two of the 1930's era boats. (Only 3 of the original boats still exist) These boats are from 120' to 130' long, a beam of only 20' to 23', Draft of 15', displacement 170 to 200 tons, working sail area of about 7,800 sq feet, and Spinnakers of about 18,000 sq feet! These were used in the America's cup in the 1920's thru the 1930's--until the smaller 12 meters were used after WWII.

One of the restored boats (Endeavor 1934) is for sale for about $20 million dollars. The 6 new replicas cost a little less than this. But to maintain and campaign one of these boats costs from $1.5 to $3 million dollars a year!

little wing · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the link Bob. Most excellent footage.

potter water · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:40 pm Post subject:

I wish the America's cup would go back to the original class of sail boats. The cats are too much about raw technology. Or an americas cup for displacement hulls only. Now, that would be great. Nothing matches the beauty of the J and related class of boats turning the the markers.

thataway · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 1:01 pm Post subject:

little wing · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:05 pm Post subject:

I guess I'm a bit of an old fart. The AC turned me off in 88 when the Kiwi's challenged with a 90 footer and Conner came back with a cat.

The 12 meter rule created some odd boats, but also lead to some interesting designs that always made it interesting to see what new was going to be unveiled behind those drapes.

thataway · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:43 pm Post subject:

We were in Newport RI for the 1983 America's cup, Liberty vs Australia II. Even though we had friends crewing on Liberty, we were secretly rooting for Australia II. We wanted to see New York YC loose their grip on the cup, and make it more available for other competitors.

Probably one of the most enjoyable weeks of our lives. We had 4 friends visiting aboard, and had established a temporary 3 anchor mooring right on the edge of the channel, so we had a front seat view as the competitors were towed out--and then the parade of the super yachts of the day (mostly sailboats). We would head out just as the first race would start and position at the windward mark--and then power down the side line to the leeward mark, on the side of the reaching mark. Great view--as one could have. One of our friends on the crew got the entire Liberty syndicate crew to sign a poster for us.

Foiling monohulls will be much faster--not sure that there will be spinnakers, or even "Genakers or Code O's"--as fast as the foiling boats go. Still will be interesting.