Rod Davis
Hanging on… coming up to the start onboard Ranger in St Tropez. The rise and rise of the J-Class continues in 2014 with four new boats already in build and at least another two in the pipeline. There have recently been arguments, however, over the minimum level of fit-out required of new launches given that this is now very much a day racing class. J-Class yachts make for very wet cruising boats…
State of the Union
Every year the President of the United States of America gives a State of the Union speech. The President reviews where the US is at and gives a peek at where it needs to go. Kind of like a fitness report on the country. So I thought it was time to look at international yacht racing, and give a ‘State of the Union’ column.
Not that I am anything close to a politician. Ha, we all know sportsmen and coaches suck at politics and for the most part are proud of that. But I have been at sea level in the yacht racing game for a while and can see that the wind has changed. The current status of yacht racing worldwide is improving. No, better than that, there is a positive energy you can sense around the docks – we are coming out of the doldrums. After some dreadfully tough years participation in racing at the international level has turned the corner. Two years ago the message would be bleak and dark. Today the State of the Union is upbeat and heading to the light.
There is new energy about and, by and large, it’s across the whole spectrum of racing. Everything from superyachts, TP52s, the J Class, one-design classes, Moths and foiling catamarans – times are good again. Or will be soon. It’s always a delayed effect with these things, but the ball is rolling the right way. Definitely, the world economy has a big influence, but in a way that many people don’t understand. The fact is that the money was always there for new boats… and to go racing in the places that the rich and famous most enjoy. But the economics would not let it happen. Look, when the boss of the billion dollar com- pany is laying off 1,000 workers because they need to save money, it is a bad look to fly to St Tropez to go sailing on his 100ft mega yacht. Or, for that matter, to even be seen close to a 100ft mega yacht. Today the economy has stabilised and is growing slowly. No big layoffs, profits are back, hence happier employees and happy shareholders; better times mean it’s now acceptable to be seen to be thriving and prosperous. Long may it last.
24 SEAHORSE
From the ‘go figure’ file, there are more new J-Class boats in the world than 12 Metres. Crazy, because the New York Yacht Club replaced the 130ft J-Class for the America’s Cup with the smaller 65ft 12 Metre, citing that the Js were just too expensive to survive. Back in the late 1930s they were deemed unsustain- able. Flash forward 80 years, five Js in St Barts each with carbon masts, the latest sail wardrobes and 25-30 crew – not inexpen- sive yachting! But growing… hmmm!
Two years ago I would have said the TP52 class was in deep shit. No new boats, six to seven boats on the startline, only four doing the whole series. Two years later nine new boats are under construction, from all corners of the world – and all nine are racing next season. Now add the boats from this year, and they expect up to 15 boats on the startline. Critical mass achieved. In the one-design world the J/70 surely has to be some kind of phenomenon. In just a very few short years the pocket rocket has grown to more than 650 boats in 15 countries with 80-plus boats at Key West last January. A reasonably priced boat, modern, one-design class, that struck a chord – 650 times, and on the way to well over 800 by the end of next year. Who would have thought?
Offshore racing on both sides of the Atlantic and things are going right. The 2014 Newport to Bermuda Race had more entries than ever before. So did the RORC’s Fastnet race, with a record- breaking 337 boats.
This is good news for sailmakers, riggers, boatbuilders and the industry in general. Better yet, it’s great news for the new breed of talented sailors, male and female, wanting to get their break. Their introduction, and chance to break into the ‘big’ time.
For the past seven years sailboat racing has been living in a shrinking market. The competition for places on boats became rough. It was a buyer’s market, more want-to-bes and not nearly enough opportunities. And it has been a double whammy for the young talent. The America’s Cup ‘B’ team, the traditional farm
MAX RANCHI
CARLO BORLENGHI/KOS
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