Losing sight of the magic formula

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
The growth of the J/70 has been impressive. From 38 teams for its coming out party at 2013 Key West Race Week, this one design class is now present in most every corner of the sailing world.

The trailerable 23-footer was a typical J/Boat – a modern design geared for the average sailor. But with the growth of J/70 Class came professional sailors who have figured out how to make a J/70 go fast, and this is where the Class lost sight of the magic formula.

The more technical a boat becomes, the less people that can sail it well. Alan Johnstone created an easy-to-sail boat, but the pros have leveraged the loopholes to make it hard, and that separates the haves and have nots. Among my concerns is the legality to in-haul the jib.

This is done with the weather jib sheet pulling the clew inboard which improves sail shape for different conditions… when done right. Jib trim, using both sheets, takes on a third dimension. In Sailing World, 2024 World Champion Jeremy Wilmot reveals the importance of this advanced exercise:

“I believe that the jib really sets the mode and what you’re trying to achieve, and especially on a J/70, where you can manipulate the clew position so much. With the inhauler and the sheet tension and the car position, you can change it so much. With just the smallest ease in the inhauler or the sheet, your power and your grip from the leech and the power down in the foot of the jib can change so dramatically. So, we start with the jib and work back from there to the mainsail.”

Winning in the J/70 Class requires elite pro crew, particularly with trimming. The J/70 would not be noticeably slower if in-hauling was banned, and would make the boat easier to sail across the fleet. I say that’s a good thing. Disagree? Send your comments to editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com

More jib trim details in these tuning guides:
• Doyle Sails: https://www.doylesails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/J70-Tuning-Guide-1.pdf
• North Sails: https://www.northsails.com/en-us/blogs/north-sails-blog/j70-tuning-guide
• Quantum Sails: https://www.quantumsails.com/QuantumSails/media/ODClassDocuments/J70_TuningGuide_2021.pdf