Resurgence of the J-Class yachts

“The ultimate yacht to own and race,” according to an expert, has a new generation of owners that appreciate its heritage, as a fleet of new and restored J-Class sailing yachts is taking over the Mediterranean. Chrissie McClatchie of the Robb Report explains…

When the J-Class yachts unfurl their sails, up to 7,500 square feet of them—the already striking vessels become impossible to ignore. Those towering spinnakers, genoas, and mainsails billow above sleek, curved hulls, introduced nearly a century ago, as each craft’s 25-person crew moves in the choreographed precision required during a race. “To see four, five, or seven yachts racing is simply so beautiful it takes your breath away,” says Louise Morton, class secretary of the J-Class Association.

That sight was more common in the 1930s, when these fast, vast yachts, ranging from 119 to 140 feet, competed in the America’s Cup and other regattas and were owned by some of the world’s wealthiest sailing enthusiasts of the time. – Full story