for accurate construction of the hull, deck and grid plugs. Hull and deck construction is resin-infused E-glass and vinylester with both Core-cell and end-grain balsa used where appropriate to accommodate slamming loads. The keel grid and bulkheads are fully tabbed and bonded with uni-directional material carefully aligned with the major load paths. Thermal image scanning is also
used by the boat’s builder (CCF Composites) to verify correct resin penetrations and check for dry fibre/voids; finally all component parts are carefully check-weighed before assembly. There is a surprisingly short list
local racing is no longer easy, nor inexpensive, and racing preferences are evolving away from the intensity of an hour-long battle around buoys in favour of something a little longer but more leisurely in pace – something less specialised and athletic and more fun for a broader group of sailors. But those who do want the
intensity of buoy racing are also well catered for: small keelboats like the J/70 and J/80 offer an easy package that has struck a chord all around the world. This immense popularity is resonating in the marketplace – within just 18 months of launch, the J/70 joined the J/22, J/24, J/80 and J/111 in receiving international class status from World Sailing. Now imagine taking that same
J/70 crew of four or five and being able to do coastal day races or offshore races in any weather, and be fast, safe and comfortable all at the same time, and without resorting to specialised systems of sail or appendage control. Or loading the boat with 8-10 people for a day race, if desired. This versatility lies behind the J/121. ‘We wanted to reach sailors who
might have burnt out on windward- leeward course racing, and who would otherwise be keen on competing in more adventurous, bucket-list offshore races with a group of friends on an easier-to- manage platform,’ said Johnstone. ‘We looked at numerous
signature offshore events and their prevailing sailing conditions and designed a boat with those in mind. As a result, the J/121 is a straight- line speedster, more optimised for reaching than the J/122, with flatter aft sections to promote planing like the J/111. The beam on deck is carried aft, much like the J/125, but the wetted surface is kept relatively low compared with many other offshore 40-footers.
The mid-sized J/Boats have long been a popular choice for shorthanded racing throughout the world, collecting plenty of silverware from 200nm offshore sprints as well as in longer events including the Fastnet and Middle Sea Race – at the same time as racking up the inshore victories. With plenty of stability built in for racing with smaller crews the new J/121 is again ideally positioned to become another weapon of choice for shorthanded teams of all levels of experience competing on every type of racecourse. J/Boats’ long established approach to creating good performing, reliable but not extreme yachts that sail and steer relatively easily will be an added bonus for the purpose – easy on the autopilot wins a lot of races
‘We didn’t want to go extreme
like, say, a Class40 and give up height upwind and light-air performance.’ At 2.36m draft, the cast-iron fin
keel with lead bulb on the J/121 is deeper than the J/122, and to replace four or five people on the rail there are two 400-litre water ballast tanks (one per side) positioned at maximum beam. This water ballast assist is a first for J/Boats, and employs a simple system that has been thoroughly tested for efficiency, reliability and ease of use. On a recent trial in 10-12kt of wind we could fill the weather tank in five minutes, transfer water to the leeward side in less than a minute before tacking, and empty the tank completely in about two minutes through the centreline gravity/venturi drain. In these conditions even this modest amount of extra ballast ramps up the speed, especially on a close reach, giving the boat a livelier feel even in flat water. Sail power can be carried further up range, and the addition of a detachable staysail/inner jib on the foredeck helps to further balance the sailplan as you load the yacht up. Sail-handling systems are set up
for ease of handling, using top of the range UBI Maior low-profile ratchet furlers for the headsail and staysail. As with all modern J/Boats, the asymmetric kites fly off a retractable carbon sprit, which in this case is further reinforced with a Dyneema sprit stay for code zero flying. The deck layout is simple and uncluttered with only six winches and clutches to handle all combinations of sheets, halyards and control lines. The carbon mast from Southern Spars is deck-stepped, with the option of a carbon boom. Tooling for the J/121 was
developed at Symmetrix Composite Tooling of Bristol, RI, using their five-axis CNC machining capability
of optional equipment available on the J/121 and – rather refreshingly – the class rules run to just six pages. This reflects the relative simplicity of the boat as well as its target audience of sailors who are simply interested in fast fun without unnecessary complication. Already interest in this new
design is strong. As of 1 December the order backlog was at 10 months with one boat coming off the line every three weeks. The first owners are spread among six countries, with the US east coast contingent, where initial J/Boat interest is traditionally strong, planning a circuit of coastal and offshore races featuring ‘Open Course’ racing, a format of multi-leg adventure day races J/Boats is developing that rewards navigation, weather routeing and strategy as much as boathandling, tactics and sail trim. Today’s boatshows are now
packed out with acres of high- freeboard designs boasting of onboard amenities… rather than sailing qualities. The J/121 sits quietly alongside the docks in an attractive contrast. ‘The strong emotional response
we have had from so many experienced sailors has been especially gratifying,’ said Johnstone. ‘People are ordering J/121s to sail in their dream races. One of our newest clients plans to tune up against sisterships in Newport, RI in 2018, then ship his boat to Malta for the Middle Sea Race and then back to California for the 2019 Transpac. Other owners plan to sail the 2019 Caribbean circuit with the highlight being the RORC Caribbean 600. ‘With the 121 it’s been great to
help enable both longtime J/Boat owners and new “family members” to achieve their wider sailing dreams… some for the first time, and others all over again – but maybe now sailing a little faster!’
www.jboats.com
q SEAHORSE 65
BILLY BLACK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
