The J Class yachts VELSHEDA, RANGER and SHAMROCK V will be participating in the J CLASS NEWPORT REGATTA, the first of a series of global J Class events, cultimating in the Hundred Guinea Cup race, Cowes 2012.

David Pitman, Secretary of the J Class Association announced that the first event in the J Class Global Calendar of events will be staged in Newport, RI. Racing in the famous waters of the America’s Cup, the J Class will use this regatta to kick off a four regatta programme culminating in a race around the Isle of Wight in July of 2012 on the original 1851 America’s Cup course, for the HUNDRED GUINEA CUP.

In 1930, Newport was the venue for the start of the remarkable J Class era. Between 1930 and 1937 there were just 10 of these stunning yachts constructed for the purpose of winning the America’s Cup. Two of the originals (Shamrock V and Velsheda) will participate in Newport, together with Ranger, a true replica of the original. Negotiations continue with other new J yachts for them join the regatta.

Lars Loftus, Captain of Velsheda, said, “Our team looks forward to racing in Newport, Brad Read of Sail Newport has given us an exciting course inside the bay which will be very testing for our thirty race crew.”

In response, Dan Jackson, Captain of Ranger, said, “We look forward to competing against Velsheda on Ranger’s historic home waters.”

Sail Newport and the J Class Association are responsible for the on water race management of the regatta. The yachts and their teams will be based at the Newport Shipyard with crews staying at the Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina.

The regatta series of 5 races will be run from June 15th to 19th, 2011 with starts and finishes off of Fort Adams. Viewing stands will be set up on the Northwestern corner of Fort Adams and other excellent viewing options will be at Castle Hill Inn and various spots in Jamestown.

Working with the US Coast Guard, Sail Newport will establish safe water viewing areas along the entire course.

Mr. Pitman closed the announcement by saying, “This will be the first competitive J Class regatta in the USA since the America’s Cup event of 1937 between the Defender Ranger, and the Challenger Endeavour II.”

“We hope to provide five days of spectacular racing and with the continued support of the State and the city of Newport we look forward to planning arrangements for a major regatta in Newport during 2014, featuring up to 10 yachts.”

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The Royal Southampton Yacht Club and the J Class Association are pleased to announce details of the Regatta Programme planned for July 2012.

With the possibility of six, or even eight J Class yachts racing, this is expected to be an outstanding regatta, both for the competitors and spectators.

David Pitman, Secretary of the J Class Association, explained: “The Royal Southampton Yacht Club (RSYC) was selected because of the Club’s deep experience of organising and running major racing regattas, it’s great onshore facilities and close historic ties to the J Class fleet. We are delighted RSYC is hosting the 2012 Solent Regatta and are looking forward to spectacular, close racing.”

A three-day competitive round the cans race Series is planned in and around the Solent on 18-20 July 2012, which can be viewed from the many vantage points along the shore and on the water. This Series will culminate with a prizegiving at the RSYC Clubhouse in Ocean Village, Southampton on Friday 20 July.

On Saturday 21 July, the fleet will assemble in the central Solent, again under the flag of the RSYC for the start of the Hundred Guinea Cup – a race around the Isle of Wight over the original course of the America’s Cup in 1851. Clockwise and without a time limit, this time it will include the Nab Tower!

Peter Armitage, Commodore, Royal Southampton Yacht Club, said: “With strong tides and complex navigational decisions, the 2012 Solent Regatta will be a great challenge to the Captains and crews. RSYC is looking forward to running the racing for the largest J Class fleet ever seen on their ‘home waters’ of the Solent and planning is already well under way. We also look forward to welcoming everyone at our Ocean Village Clubhouse – which will boast a fully-staffed media centre – and at our Gins Clubhouse on the Beaulieu River.”

Finding suitable deep-water berthing and appropriate shoreside facilities for such a large fleet is often a challenge. Solent Refit, the new superyacht base on Southampton Water, has been selected as it is ideal and importantly, can berth all the fleet together. For spectators, the yachts can be viewed from the seaward side, together with their many beautiful support vessels.

Allan Foot, Solent Refit, commented: “We are proud to be hosting the J Class fleet during their 2012 Solent Regatta. With more than 280m of deep water berthing just south of Hythe Pier, we are ideally located close to the Solent race areas. A regular shuttle for competitors between our base and RSYC in Ocean Village is also planned.”

HISTORY

“The 1930s era saw the birth of the Js – one of the greatest sailing Classes ever created”

Just 10 yachts were constructed, six in the USA and four in England. There were other designs produced but not built. During this period there were never more than four J yachts racing together. Only three originals survived the Second World War – Shamrock V, Endeavour and Velsheda. They rested and rotted in mud berths, until their rebuild and rebirth as 21st Century racing superyachts.

With the formation of the J Class Association (JCA) in 2000, the possibility existed for replicas from history to be built and race again. New yachts have been launched and some are under construction. Most of these projects are expected to be completed by 2012, creating a fleet of the biggest, finest racing yachts the world has ever seen. Rainbow is expected to launch in 2011 and could line up against Endeavour, repeating the historic races for the America’s Cup of 1934.

Southampton, Shamrock Quay, the Hamble River, Gosport, Cowes and the Solent all feature prominently in the rich history of this Class.

ABOUT THE YACHTS

“No other class requires a crew 30 plus experienced sailors, handling more than 10,000 square feet of sail, driving a 200 ton hull at 16 knots around the course” In the 1930s they were the ultimate racing yachts. Now, with advanced rigging, hydraulics, carbon masts, composite ropes and electronic navigation systems, the new Js still represent the most demanding yachts in the world. Sailors just off TP52s, Volvo and America’s Cup yachts declare their awe at the power, loadings, size, skill and management required to race these monsters, which are around 40 metres (140 feet) long and have a draft of 5 metres (16 feet).

Changing a genoa on a downwind leg takes 10 minutes and commits almost all the crew to lift and reposition sails, making every tactical decision critical. Yet these yachts are incredibly manoeuverable, making them probably the ultimate racing yacht. And with no guard rails, spectacular to watch.

THE SOLENT “Probably the best known base for yachting in the world and the start of the America’s Cup”

The Solent was “home waters” of British J Class racing during the 1930s due to the varied weather and challenging tidal conditions. There will be several races but The Hundred Guinea Cup Race is the one race that probably best captures the true spirit of the J Class, testing the crew and navigational skills of each yacht.

The race is based on the 1851 course, clockwise around the Isle of Wight, over approximately 75 miles.

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The latest additions to the entry list for The Superyacht Cup Antigua are the two spectacular J Class yachts, Hanuman and Ranger. Hanuman, a replica of the yacht Endeavour II, was originally built to challenge for the America’s Cup against the defender, Ranger, in 1937.

Hanuman was designed by Dykstra and Partners and launched in March 2009 from Royal Huisman shipyard in the Netherlands. The new generation Ranger, launched by Danish Yachts in late 2003, was designed by Olin Stephens. Ranger has been campaigned over the past few years with a very experienced professional race crew and has clocked up an impressive list of trophies. These two famous yachts sailed against each other for the first time at the Newport Bucket in July this year and their highly competitive nature allied with their classic, timeless beauty means they always draw great attention from sailing enthusiasts wherever they go around the world.

Returning for their second year as sponsor of The Superyacht Cup Antigua are Atollvic Shipyard. Atollvic are based in the estuary of Vigo in northwest Spain. They are a full-service shipyard dedicated to building, refit and repair of luxury yachts up to 55m.

A new sponsor, Newport Shipyard has also confirmed their support for SYC Antigua. The oldest working yacht repair and refit facility in the region, located downtown in Newport Harbor, the facility is dedicated to exceptional support, refitting and servicing of superyachts up to 300+ feet. The company’s commitment to quality and crew facilities has made Newport a popular superyacht destination for crew and owners alike. “We are thrilled to be part of the Superyacht Cup Antigua,” said Dockmaster Eli Dana. “Several boats who are slated to race this year have called Newport Shipyard ‘home’ so we take pleasure in supporting such a great showcase for these beautiful yachts.”

The social programme should keep all the crew busy with ideas for fancy dress outfits for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ party, scheduled after the first race. A ‘Yacht Hop’ is planned for the Friday night, an informal and optional ‘open boat’ evening, giving owners and guests the chance to meet each other and visit some of the participating yachts. On the final night, a spectacular Prize Giving dinner will bring the event to a close.

The Superyacht Cup Antigua is now in its 4th year, it will be held at Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour from January 27th – 30th. The event is open to yachts of 24m and above and places are limited.

Kate Branagh
Superyacht Cup Antigua

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