J CLASS REGATTA ANNOUNCED FOR NEWPORT, JUNE 2011

click here to view the Newport Regatta page...

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, culminating in the Hundred Guinea Cup race, Cowes 2012.

JANUARY 27, 2011, Newport, RI – 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.

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, “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.”

SPONSOR ANNOUNCED FOR THE J CLASS 2012 REGATTA SERIES

As you will be aware, the J Class Association has comprehensive plans for a series of regattas in the UK during 2012. The J Class Association is now delighted to announce that four of the leading Dutch shipyards will form the main sponsor for these events. This is just a start of the initiative sponsoring the J-Class and their events. It is anticipated that the sponsoring group may be enlarged and broadened in scope in the months ahead.

The Sponsor Partners are, in no particular order:

Royal Huisman
Holland Jachtbouw
Claasen / Jongkind
Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw


All of these shipyards have been involved in the construction and launching of either new builds or restorations.

They recognise the importance of the J Class fleet, and its resurgence at the leading edge of modern yacht racing around the world. The J Class yachts command respect from yachtsmen worldwide and are a marker for quality, advanced technology and performance. Our sponsors are therefore proud to be associated with the Class and its future expansion and the JCA is delighted to have their support.

BLOEMSMA ALUMINIUMBOUW has now built the aluminium hulls for three yachts: ATLANTIS, LIONHEART and RAINBOW.

CLAASEN / JONGKIND has recently completed fitting out the Yacht LIONHEART and is involved in further projects.

HOLLAND JACHTBOUW is now finishing RAINBOW, which was moved to their shipyard several months ago. Rainbow will be launching in January 2012 and will be ready for the 2012 regatta series.

ROYAL HUISMAN was responsible for the restoration of ENDEAVOUR in 1986, and more recently completed the replica build of ENDEAVOUR II, now named HANUMAN.

All these yards are all heavily involved in the Class, its unique history and its very promising future, hence their desire to support this major regatta programme in the Olympic Year.


“This is a great opportunity for us,”said Jan Hart, spokesman on behalf of the sponsor group “We believe that this J Class yacht racing programme epitomises the achievements that our Dutch yards have made in the competitive field of superyacht construction. We want to build on this success and look forward to working with the Class throughout the 2012 regatta and beyond”.


David Pitman, J Class Association Secretary said “This is a big step forward for our 2012 event. It enables us to plan a great sailing programme for the competitors plus a wonderful spectacle of sailing, both in Falmouth and the Solent. We can now look forward to the real possibility of attracting at least six and possibly more yachts. It will be a breathtaking sight.”.


ABOUT THE 2012 REGATTA
In June 2012 the first regatta will be sailed in the wonderful waters of Falmouth Bay, in Cornwall. One month later the second regatta will be held in the Solent. The final regatta will be a single race, sailed over the original 1851 America’s Cup course, 65 miles around the Isle of Wight, with no time limit.


YACHTS - EXISTING AND PLANNED
Six originals or replicas now exist: SHAMROCK V, ENDEAVOUR, VELSHEDA, RANGER, HANUMAN and LIONHEART.
Two more are in build: RAINBOW and ATLANTIS.
Two more have plans approved to build : ENTERPRISE and SVEA
One more project is about to be commissioned. The grand total is ELEVEN, a long way from where we were in the year 2000 when the class association was formed.


YANKEE PROJECT
We are extremely pleased to make a further announcement. Holland Jachtbouw will shortly start the construction of the yacht YANKEE for a Dutch syndicate. Originally built in 1930 as a defender of the America’s Cup, this new yacht will also be ready for the 2012 Regatta. The contract for this exciting project will be signed on the Holland Jachtbouw stand Thursday 23rd September at 16.00 hrs.

Rainbow JH2: Transported to Holland Jachtbouw

On Monday July 19th Rainbow JH2 was transported on a barge to Holland Jachtbouw in Zaandam.

Zwartsluis based HEBO took care of the transport, across the IJsselmeer and through Amsterdam.

The 40 meter yacht is now on a cradle inside Holland Jachtbouw where she will be finished.

Early 2012 Rainbow will be launched and rigged. Immediately afterwards test sailing and crew training will commence off Ijmuiden.

At the J class event at Fallmouth and Cowes in June 2012 Rainbow JH2 will be able to compete against her sister ships for the first time.

During the Olympic Games in England, Rainbow is available for (day)charters.

Building progress and latest developments can be checked at  www.rainbow-jh2.com

Further information is available from Martine Vos. info@rainbow-jh2.com

LIONHEART NOW ON THE WATER

The sensational new J Class yacht LIONHEART has now been launched in Holland.

LIONHEART is based on a RANGER design (77F Model) which was tank tested in 1936 but never built. Design work from the original hull lines was completed by Andre Hoek Naval Architects, with construction of the aluminium hull by the now famous Bloemsma Shipyard. She was then moved by barge to Claasen Jachtbouw BV for fitting out and completion with technical installations by Cornelis Jongkind Yacht Installations.

She is finished below decks to a very high standard, befitting a yacht of this calibre. Above decks she features the very latest technology in sailing systems - Harken winches, Hall Spars carbon mast, spars and rigging and North sails. Following sailing trials she will leave for the Mediterranean.

This is now the sixth J Class yacht on the water.

Already afloat are:

SHAMROCK V (1930)
VELSHEDA (1933)
ENDEAVOUR (1934)
RANGER (replica 2002)
HANUMAN (replica 2009)

Two more yachts are currently under construction at Bloemsma, ATLANTIS and RAINBOW, both due to complete in time for the J Class Regatta programme in England (Falmouth June 2012, the Solent July 2012).

VELSHEDA WINS CLASS IN RTI RACE 2010

Velsheda had a great race in technically difficult conditions finishing first in Class '0', which comprises the fastest of the IRC yacht racing fleet. JK7 was able to hold on to a good wind band right down to the Needles, rounding second, behind ICAP Leopard, and ahead of around 1700 yachts in the monohull fleet.

At the finish of the 55 mile course, JK7 held on to her second place over the line, completing the course in 5 hrs 45 mins 2 seconds to the surprise of many onlookers.

Early quotes:

"In the light conditions, ICAP Leopard was first to the Needles with Velsheda behind her making good progress thanks to her massive acreage of sail. At this stage the mighty J was only just being caught by the first of the Extreme 40s"


"Velsheda had a great race finishing at 10.45.02 and ended up winning Class 0 ahead of Ben Ainslie on JPM Princes Trust, followed by John Caulcutt’s Swan 65 Desperado and then the ‘international incidence’ – the Farr 52 BOB, formerly Bear of Britain, who’s crew included Tony Hayward, the BP CEO, heavily lambasted recently for his company’s responsibility in the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster and who was trying to get some quiet down time with his son."


"The exquisite J Class yacht Velsheda finished at 10:45. Built in 1933 in Camper and Nicholsons in Gosport, Velsheda is the most famous of the few remaining J Class yachts left in the world today."