j99 sailboat

Yachting World

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J/99 review: All thrills, no frills on board this double-handed racing machine

• May 3, 2019

The new J/99 is a versatile 32ft offshore speedster that targets the double-handed racing circuit

We tested the J/99 in the Solent in 17-25 knots of wind. Photos: Richard Langdon

We ghosted down the Hamble River under mainsail alone, the water slipping silently past our red hull in the grainy half-light of a winter morning. We’d hoisted the mainsail in our marina berth, then sailed out into the river, the engine left in tick-over for less than two minutes almost as a token gesture. I felt like a naughty kid, slipping out while the rest of the world was still waking up; going to make some trouble.

I had come to test the new J/99, sailing double-handed with the British J/Boats importer Paul Heys on a chilly, blustery January morning. Within ten minutes our demure departure was all but forgotten as we came bursting out of Southampton Water, our senses assaulted from all angles by the bitter north wind and our 100m 2 day-glo spinnaker. As the sun rose, everything about the day and this little powerhouse of a boat became bright, sharp and dynamic. I don’t know what the rest of the world was doing at 0800 on that January morning but we were having a blast.

The eagerly awaited J/99 directly targets a growing demographic of sailors who enjoy the fantastic short-handed racing scene available all across Europe. Of the 38 orders already confirmed, over half of the new owners intend to race short-handed and it was with this type of sailing in mind I arrived to make the test.

There’s plenty of room for the helmsman to pass across the aft section of the boat during a tack, leaving the whole cockpit free for the crew

The new design incorporates some interesting changes for J/Boats, which bring the J/99 into line with its closest rivals in this area of the market. Gone is the retractable bowsprit and furling jib, which have been the stalwarts of J/Boat design for close to 20 years, making way for a beamier shape, a fixed bowsprit and a hank-on jib. It’s different, but despite the new features, this still remains resolutely ‘J’ in its appearance and feel.

From the first moment I stepped into the cockpit, this boat struck me with its no-nonsense approach. Sail handling is simple, the cockpit clean and well laid-out, the helm dynamic and responsive. Just cruising down the river, the boat felt light and seemed to directly translate every puff of wind into increased speed. Compared to the Class 40s I have spent much of the last two years racing, the J/99 felt like a go-cart – a promising combination of agility and power.

Razor sharp

Upwind, we cut through the flat water like a knife though silk, achieving 6.7 knots of boat speed at a true wind angle of 38°, in 17 knots of wind. We were sailing with a full main and non-overlapping J2 jib, which felt slightly overpowered in the gusts over 20 knots, but proved easy to handle.

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The boat is stiff – it feels like a couple of bodies sitting on the rail would benefit the upwind performance, but that is often the case with short-handed boats and, once heeled, the angle remains steady and comfortable.

Helming upwind required very little input from our single rudder, the boat was incredibly well balanced and gust control could be easily managed by a gentle feathering on the helm and an ease on the mainsheet fine-tune system. We let the autopilot take over for an upwind leg and a couple of tacks, but I quickly took back the helm – this was way too much fun to allow a machine to take command.

The cockpit is large; it takes up a third of the overall deck length, with benches that are half the length of the cockpit. The area aft of the mainsheet is wide, flat and empty. There are two coachroof winches for halyards and two primaries next to the helming position.

Crew can sit either down on the cockpit seats, legs braced opposite, or up over the coaming – both are equally comfortable. There is room to sit two crewmembers side-by-side on these bench seats, though once activity starts it might become crowded.

The cockpit layout particularly suits performance shorthanded sailing

The jib is controlled using an interesting combination of a longitudinal track, together with floating down- and in haulers. By leading the sheet to a turning block positioned on the toe rail aft, a marginal outboard lead can be achieved when both in and down haulers are eased.

Tacking, even when cross-sheeted was quick and easy despite our lack of practice. The non-overlapping jib can be pulled most of the way in by hand, with the final grind from the high side as the J/99 starts to accelerate. The cockpit is so well ergonomically set up, a solo tack would be equally as easy.

I found the best helming position is to sit with one leg astride the mainsheet traveller, bracing against the two moulded foot rests. Traveller, mainsheet and backstay are all led to this position and with the jib or spinnaker sheets cross-winched, these can also easily be trimmed by the helmsman.

A tightly sheeted jib to leeward of mast displays that are clearly readable from the cockpit

The double-ended kicker is thoughtfully positioned and long enough to lead back to the helm from where it can be quickly released. The helming position is comfortable with a fantastic view of the water ahead, though I imagine it will feel somewhat exposed in rougher conditions – perhaps this is when the autopilot earns it’s keep.

When steering through a tack the helmsman can easily pass behind the mainsheet unhindered, leaving the cockpit free for flailing elbows. The J/99 uses tiller steering – the optional twin-rudder version still leads to a single tiller. There is room and an option to mount wheel steering in this area but I cannot imagine a good reason to do this. It would add extra weight further aft in the boat, fill up the cockpit and confine the helmsman.

The tiller is curved upwards to allow the mounting of a liferaft underneath – a common raft position for offshore boats and an eminently sensible one that keeps weight off the transom yet still provides a ready-to-launch raft on deck.

Initial jib car position fore and aft can be set using the track, which is pinned in place, then remaining controls dictate angle of attack and twist, with the down- hauler passing through the pinned jib car

Significant sail area

Off the breeze, the J/99 is punchy, versatile and a lot of fun. The 100m 2 A2 spinnaker is certainly a generous size and, in the test conditions, provided us with exciting reaching at angles up to 135° true, together with a competitive, powerful downwind VMG speed (sailing at 8.4 knots at 146° true). It also gives the adaptability to sail at deep angles with the tack line right off and the kite fully rotated around the bow. In this configuration we were still able to sail quickly at wind angles of up to 170° true.

We saw upper wind strengths of 25 knots and during these gusts the helm started to feel heavy as the big spinnaker loaded-up – I was caught out by one such gust, rounding up before I had time to respond. This isn’t to say the single rudder option is unresponsive – a timely, short, hard pump of the rudder always put us back on our feet – but merely that the big sail plan and gusty conditions do require concentration. For the ‘nip and tuck’ of close quarters manoeuvring, the single rudder gives a very direct grip to the water, which will allow the helmsman to fling the J/99 in and out of tight spaces.

For prolonged periods of powerful reaching under spinnaker, I believe the twin rudder option would be a sensible choice to avoid aching arms or lapses in concentration; so far 12 of the 38 orders have specified the twin rudder set up. If sailing under autopilot with single rudder, in gusty conditions it may be wise to use a higher level of response to enable the pilot to make more forceful corrections.

Fixed bowsprit marks a departure from the retractable bowsprits used on J/Boats of old

For reaching, we flew a 66m 2 cable-less Code 0 from the 2:1 tack line on the bowsprit, a sail that is a must for any offshore wardrobe. We whipped the zero up in a matter of seconds then blasted across the Solent reaching up to angles of 110° to the true wind and speeds up to nine knots, though the kicker was constantly in hand for gust control.

Sail handling downwind was as easy as upwind, even when managed by our unpractised crew of two. The bowsprit has double tack line fittings as standard – a 2:1 for the Code 0 and a single line for the spinnaker, giving a working option for peeling between off-wind sails.

The Code 0 tack line is managed with a jammer on the bow, while the single tack line is led to the cockpit. This makes perfect sense for double-handed takedowns when the zero is usually dropped inside the jib, on to the foredeck, while the spinnaker is taken into the cockpit under the boom. The Code 0 furler is not under significant load and can be furled by one person, by hand from the foredeck. Moulded toerails forward of the beam give extra security to any foredeck excursions.

The J/99 is an Alan Johnstone design

Versatility of design

Though these boats can be sailed fully crewed – which would optimally be with six people – it is impossible to ignore the focussed design aspects that make the J/99 stand out. Cast a critical eye over the cockpit and you’ll see an area designed for performance double-handed sailing.

It’s simple, perhaps even sparse, but everything is where it should be and I, for one, felt instantly at home. But don’t be fooled into thinking this boat is a one-trick pony; there is a clever adaptability to the design that will suit a wide range of sailors.

Yes, there are some fundamental aspects that have changed to be more geared-up for double-handed offshore racing, but J/Boats have maintained a foot in the inshore camp making a boat with a shape and features that promise great all-round performance.

The new fixed bowsprit design retains enough length to use a powerful asymmetric spinnaker but also allows owners to switch between symmetrical and asymmetrical set ups without penalty – a factor that is proving increasingly popular in the displacement offshore classes. The roller furler has been replaced in favour of hank-on style jibs.

The theory behind this is that when inshore racing, you can always ‘hold on’ until the downwind leg to make a headsail change, while offshore, a slab-reefed jib provides a more satisfactory shape to the sail and is still less hassle than a full-on sail change.

The alloy mast is a custom extrusion from AG+ designed to take both a mainsail with a bolt rope or captive slides with no adaptation required – meaning an owner could switch between an inshore bolt rope main and a short-handed one on sliders.

The J/99 has a full beam of 3.4m, which is carried most of the way aft with slight narrowing to the transom. This gives it an increased hull form stability to previous J/Boat designs, though unlike its closest rivals in the market, the JPK 1010, and the Sunfast 3200, the J/99 does not have chines. Instead, the more traditional lines give the hull shape more all-round performance and should offer greater versatility for inshore racing, particularly in lighter breeze.

The saloon is functional rather than luxurious

What’s below

The J/99 is clearly not aimed at those who are looking for a luxurious interior, but below decks there is a functional enough layout for weekend cruising, including twin aft cabins – something not often seen on racer/cruisers of this size.

The saloon is flanked by sofa berths, with a central table built around the keel-stepped mast. There is an option for pipecots outboard of the sofas, increasing the berths from six to eight – though eight people and their kit would certainly be a squeeze.

There’s a basic galley with a two-burner gas cooker, sink and galley storage facilities. The forepeak is a spacious open sail storage area with a heads plumbed-in behind the port bulkhead but no other ‘bathroom’ facilities – extra grab handles for rougher conditions would undoubtedly be a good idea.

AGM batteries are part of the standard boat package – one 70Ah for engine start and one 100Ah for house. The standard engine alternator is used for charging.

The starboard aft cabin mirrors the one to port

Our verdict

The J/99 is an exciting new addition to a competitive area of the market. It’s up against some tough competition, but make no mistake, this new design comes out of the corner fighting. Don’t look for frills because there aren’t any – this boat is all about great sailing performance.

It’s a fun, serious but manageable boat that is thoughtfully set up for double-handed sailing and would not require a huge number of crew to be competitive around the cans. It will suit sailors who enjoy both inshore and offshore racing and are looking for a no-nonsense boat to help them shine.

Specification

In memory of Paul Heys

Since this article was written, we received the news that Paul Heys passed away on February 25 .

In a statement, his family said: “We are desperately shocked and sad to announce that Paul Heys, co-founder and Managing Director of Key Yachting, has passed away.

“He was enjoying a much-deserved holiday in the Caribbean with his wife Marie-Claude and came into difficulties while swimming on Monday morning.

“Paul was a much-loved husband, dad, brother and granddad, and was greatly admired in the sailing community; sailing was his life and passion. Paul will be missed terribly by everyone who knew him.”

He was well-known and highly respected in the marine business and was legendary among J Boats owners for his knowledge and sailing skills. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

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Boat of the Year 2020 Best Crossover: J/99

• By Dave Reed
• Updated: December 10, 2019

At A Glance

Price As Sailed: $220,000

Design Purpose: Handicap, coastal, shorthanded and club racing

Crew List: Two to six

The J/99 was a favorite and a serious Boat of the Year contender. The judges sailed it on the snottiest day on the week, and as the breeze ratcheted ever higher, the boat, they said, comes alive. They’ve come to expect nothing less of a J Boat, because designer Alan Johnstone is on a roll. For J devotees and owners, of which there are many, the J/99 will feel like home.

“We’ve been missing a sweet spot in the 33- to 35-foot range with a performance boat that combines headroom and accommodations for family sailing, but is also purpose-built for owners aspiring to do double­handed sailing,” J Boats’ Jeff Johnstone tells the judges.

While tempting to cater to an emerging shorthanded market with a highly specialized boat, he adds, they didn’t want a one-trick pony with the J/99. “That’s not how we, or our owners use our boats,” Johnstone says. “We like a boat that can day sail well, have room for a full crew and set up right for shorthanded sailing.”

To that end, he points out, everything in the halyard and sail-control department is within reach of the tiller; at the same time, the cockpit can accommodate a busy five- or six-person crew for hustling around the cans.

Johnstone’s preferred model for comparison is the company’s big seller of earlier days. “Think of it as a modern J/105, with more headroom,” he says. “In terms of interior volume, it feels like twice the boat of a 105. But it’s quicker. It’s 2 feet smaller, and it’s more stable. It’s also slippery in light air.”

“It’s a boat that’s as powerful as it is versatile. It’s stiff upwind, and with the controls all led right, it’s a boat you can get a lot out of.” —Greg Stewart

The Johnstones campaigned their stock French-built J/99 in New England with mixed results during the summer of 2019, with a provisional base PHRF rating of 78. Once they learned how to better tune the aluminum rig, Johnstone says they began to realize its true colors: “Our top speed, in 30 knots, [in Cowes, England] with six on board, was 18.5 knots,” he says. “We jibed it four or five times with outside jibes without any problems while boats were ­wiping out all around us.”

During their test session in Annapolis, the judges got their own taste of what the boat can do in a strong breeze.

“The boat is wicked stiff,” Allen says. “It’s comfortable to drive, and there’s enough space for the main trimmer to sit right next to you.”

When Stewart finally ­wrestled the helm away from Allen, he expected to be over­powered, being a few bodies shy of ideal weight on the rail. “With only three on the rail, it settled nicely,” he says. “We got to 7.5 knots upwind with ease, and when we put the kite up, everything all worked fine. It’s all really simple. We got it ripping downwind at 10 to 11 knots easily.”

The interior speaks to the boat’s dual-purpose calling: There are aft cabins and an option for flip-up pilot berths amidships, but the forepeak, with a head only, is left open for sail storage and spinnaker douses. Construction is a mix of balsa and CoreCell in the hull, all of it scrimped and infused.

The tapered mast is aluminum with an extruded mainsail track, which adds considerable stiffness to the rig, Stewart says, while keeping the overall tube‑weight low.

Like the J/111 and J/88 that preceded it, the J/99, he notes, continues a good trend for Corinthian-level owners and teams; it’s a boat that’s as powerful as it is versatile. “It’s not meant to be a strictly reaching kind of boat. It’s stiff upwind, and with the controls all led right, it’s a boat you can get a lot out of.”

At $220,000 all-up, Allen adds, this boat is also an ­absolute bang for your buck.

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The J/99 is the newest addition to the J Sport range, combining headroom and comfortable interior accommodation with the tiller-driven responsiveness of a sport boat. The sail and deck plan are optimized for easy handling with fewer crew, and incorporate the latest developments from the award-winning J/121 and the new Offshore Sailing World champion J/112E.

Now more than ever, sailors are attracted to adventure-filled, signature events (Fastnet, Middle Sea, Chicago-Mac, etc.) where straight-line speed, sail handling, strategy and weather routing are all equally put to the test. The J/99 is designed to excel in these events (both fully crewed and short-handed) while delivering the exhilarating, family-friendly experience the J Sport range is known for.

“The J/99 opens up a wide range of sailing possibilities,” commented designer Alan Johnstone. “The versatile sail plan, balanced hull form and efficient cockpit will work as well for short-handed offshore sailing as for weekend sailing with friends. The J/99 packs a lot of performance and versatility into a manageable size and budget.”

Unlike most short-handed racers, the J/99 has a versatile cockpit for both day-cruising and day-racing that can accommodate as many as 6 comfortably. The deck plan reveals several J/121 inspired additions including the floating jib lead system, 8:1 inhauler system, cockpit-led controls (including outhaul, cunningham, and vang), an optional inner forestay provision, and an optional water ballast system. The standard backstay is a 48:1 double-ended, cascading system with an option for an integral hydraulic pump. The two self-tailing primary winches are located near the aft end of the coaming to allow easier trimming by the driver when in short-handed mode.

The J/99 is tiller steered with a choice of a single centerline, balanced rudder, or an optional twin rudder configuration (which is popular for offshore short-handed sailing when using auto-pilot). A wheel package is also available as an option.

The J/99 interior is roomy with clean lines and uncluttered spaces. The main cabin features two full length settee berths with optional flip-up pilot berths. The L-shaped galley has everything for the weekend cruise including a two burner stove, large ice-box and inboard sink with pressure water system. There’s a proper sit-down, forward-facing, navigation station to starboard. The drop-leaf main cabin table is a nice extra, usually seen only on cruising J’s. There are standard matching double cabins aft with privacy doors. This versatile accommodation plan sleeps 2-4 on the high side for good offshore weight distribution, and up to 8 for the occasional inshore regatta or weekend cruise. The forepeak is dedicated as a head and sail storage area, and otherwise kept as light as possible.

Additional Information

High Quality Composite Engineering & Construction: The J/99 exceeds ISO 12215 requirements for Category A offshore sailing. The hull and deck are built STRONG with the SCRIMP resin-infusion molding process – a molding process proven to yield higher strength laminates for long lasting integrity in an environmentally friendly manner.

Volvo D1-20 engine: The J/99 is equipped with the fuel efficient Volvo D1-20 auxiliary engine with sail drive, two blade bronze prop and keyless engine panel. The two-bank 12V battery system includes a dedicated engine start battery (70amp AGM) and a 100amp AGM house battery. A DC Distribution panel is mounted outboard in the navigation station.

AG+ Custom Mast Section: The J/99 mast is an all-new, custom engineered alloy section (anodized black) developed specifically for the J/99 by AG+ Spars of France. The unique integral mainsail track of this mast accommodates either luff cars or bolt rope. This innovation, first developed for the J/112E, eliminates over 12 meters (40’) of fasteners and glue and allows engineers to take advantage of the increased stiffness that the integral track geometry provides for final the spar section calculations. A tapered top section and quality hardware result in a rig that delivers the best performance & value. The mast is keel stepped with an adjustable base and includes a pre-formed mast wedge as well as a watertight internal dam including drain above deck.

Carbon Fiber Fixed & Watertight Bow Sprit: The J/99 is the first J with a fixed carbon bowsprit. The sprit is easily removed by way of two bolts just aft of the stem, and is supported by a Dyneema bobstay to the bow. The primary benefits of a fixed bowsprit for offshore sailing are reduced weight in the bow and better protection against water intrusion.

Engineered Low VCG Keel: The low VCG keel of the J/99 is a high-tech two-metal keel (draft of 1.9m/ 6.5’) comprised of an encapsulated cast iron fin with integral lead wedge bulb – a similar construction method as the J/112E and J/121. This keel provides the J/99 with exceptional stability.

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J 99 SPORT SAILBOAT

Unleash your offshore desires..

The new J/99 completes the Sport range and aims to satisfy multiple demands. A racer that is intended to be both accessible and high-performance, the J/99 will excite your senses and her very attractive price is bound to appeal! Book your J 99 test.

AN OFFSHORE SPEEDSTER ACCESSIBLE TO ALL!

The J/99 will be the perfect boat to fulfil your desires. A racer designed for a shorthanded, coastal or offshore race programme, you’ll find a refined sports finish making her interior equally convivial for weekends away with family.

AN UNRIVALLED EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE

The J/99 is the fruit of an in-depth study that relies on the J/’s great wealth of offshore experience. Boasting significant victories and podiums across the major offshore racing circuit (Middle Sea Race / Fastnet Race / Mackinac Race / Armen Race) her architect has relied on the recognised strengths of the existing hulls while introducing even greater versatility, notably with enhanced form stability combined with minimal wetted surface .

THE SPORTS YACHT WITH GOOD HEADROOM

The J/99 features a comfortable layout for offshore passage making with perfectly adapted headroom. Her spacious interior comprises two individual and symmetrical aft cabins , enabling you to rest whatever the tack. In addition, her forward heads compartment, L-shaped galley and forward-facing chart table make her highly functional and add to your comfort on the water.

ONE YACHT, SEVERAL PROGRAMS

The deck layout on the J/99 has been optimised to facilitate manoeuvres in shorthanded configuration . All the main controls are accessible from the helming station. Several configurations are available: single or twin rudders / bulbed or plain fin keel / symmetric or asymmetric version. Her light displacement combined with substantial stiffness and refined steering will enable you to sail with complete confidence.

HIGH-QUALITY FOR THE PERFECT COMPROMISE

Balance is key to developing a new model. The build quality comes into its own in the way everything has been thought out. The lightness of its infused composites linked to the incomparable structural stiffness allows for increased stability and hence performance whilst providing the level of comfort and finish clients have come to expect.

GEARED AROUND EFFICIENCY

Considerable thought has gone into the J/99 to offer you a high-performance yacht able to adapt to your needs . In this way, you’ll have the option of a vast array of equipment to enable you to optimise your boat accordingly . Furthermore, the rig reflects the latest technological advances, which notably include a dedicated aluminium profile integrating a mixed track contributing to the stiffness of the profile. The removable fixed bowsprit is geared up for increased performance and practicality.

Videos of sailing, behind-the-scenes of manufacturing, expert advice and tips, or sea trials – discover the J/99 from a different perspective.

J/99 in big breeze and seas

J Composites – Spinnaker drop

J Composites – Sandwich construction

Specificities, technical specifications, international reputation.

A precise selection of materials make up the composite structure to obtain the best strength/weight ratio on the market.

There is a choice of two options for the keel of the J/99: a bulbed keel with a cast iron fin and lead bulb, or a flat lead keel.

The J/99 is equipped with a custom aluminium mast, demonstrating an extraordinary level of quality for the market. The supreme stiffness of this mast means that the additional costs associated with a carbon rig can be avoided.

The J/99 features a light and highly refined finish with varnished fiddles, creating a more modern, bright and easy to maintain interior.

The J/99 is designed to perform with a simplified suit of sails, 4 sails being enough to cover a wide range of conditions: mainsail, jib, staysail and spinnaker.

Those who love the thrill of sailing will appreciate the J/99’s planing capabilities downwind, making her a genuine racer designed in line with the Sport range concept.

Steering system

The J/99 comes with a choice of two steering systems, a single or twin rudder option, to satisfy your sailing programme.

Fixed bowsprit

The J/99 features a removable fixed bowsprit enabling increased space down below and enhanced safety, whilst retaining her fine performance downwind.

A leading brand

Wherever your voyage takes you, your yacht will be recognised and admired. J boats are renowned for their sailing prowess, their longevity and how enjoyable they are to sail.

It is the story of a family and a team of enthusiasts, whose aim has always been to design the best yacht of its category.

Innovations

Innovation has always been part of the brand’s DNA: infusion, use of a retractable carbon bowsprit, build technology…

International monitoring

The presence of a dense international network means that you have advice and services at your fingertips in the majority of countries you’ll navigate.

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BOAT TEST: J/YACHTS J/99 (WITH GALLERY)

99 problems (but the boat ain’t one).

The J/99 performance cruiser has already become J/Boats’ most successful model of its size for a long time. Rupert Holmes put it through its paces

There are many attractions to choosing a boat with good performance potential for cruising, especially on that’s configured for short-handed sailing. For a start, the slippery hull shape and generous sail area boosts light airs performance, which translates to more time having fun and less tedious time spent motoring.

Equally, you can expect the boat to be more responsive to sail controls and trimming, adding to the fun factor and making the boat more rewarding to sail. At the same time, decent deck gear, in a carefully thought out layout can make sail handling a breeze, even when working alone, which helps to tame the powerful rig.

However, one of the biggest advantages of a performance design is fast passage making. In effect this makes weather windows bigger – you can get further before the following bout of bad weather – and helps to extend cruising areas.

First impressions are of a quick, easily handled design with a well fitted and comfortable interior, albeit with less space than a pure cruiser. The relatively broad transom is by no means radical by today’s standards, the boats aft sections are optimised for a single rudder and there are no chines. The rudder is positioned reasonably well forward where it operates clear of the most turbulent water – whereas twin rudders tend to be placed right aft so that they can be reached to clear weed.

J/99 accommodation

Many high volume cruising yachts give the impression they were designed around a requirement to fit a certain amount of accommodation in a hull of a given length. However, the J/99 follows a much more traditional approach – draw a hull shape that’s optimised for efficient sailing and then craft the interior to fit that space.

The result is both pleasant in harbour and very workable at sea, even though there’s less space overall than a pure cruising boat of this size. There are two mirror image double aft cabins, forward of which is a galley to port and proper chart table with its own seat to starboard. The galley is of a reasonable size but in standard spec is relatively sparsely equipped.

There’s a good standard of finish, but without an abundance of timber. This is exactly in keeping with the ethos of this style of boat, while white moulded surfaces help to provide a bright appearance and are easy to maintain. There are also excellent hand holds and fiddles – factors that are all too often missing.

The saloon has a substantial table, plus two settees that also make good sea berths, while the heads is beyond the main bulkhead and sail storage area right forward.

Each of the aft cabins is a comfortable double and has well planned stowage, including deep fiddled shelves and bins in which items that need to be accessed easily can be kept. Both are well ventilated in port, with opening ports outboard and in the aft bulkhead to the cockpit.

J/99 o n deck

The T-shape of the cockpit is configured to work with either tiller or wheel steering, though it’s hard to see how the extra complication and weight of a wheel could be justified on a boat of this size. Loads on the tiller are low, unless the boat is pushed far harder on a spinnaker reach than any cruiser would sail.

Sail controls include a cockpit mounted mainsheet traveller, powerful backstay, vang and mainsheet purchases, plus spinnaker gear. Deck gear is from a variety of manufacturers, with each item optimised to its purpose, including Antal clutches and Harken winches, while the test boat’s electronics were by B&G.

The keel stepped twin spreader aluminium mast from AG+ has a custom section created specifically for the J/99. This incorporates a track to accommodate either standard luff car sliders or a mainsail with a bolt rope . An extended masthead crane allows for a semi square top sail, while avoiding the need for running backstays.

A wide range of options include twin rudders, water ballast, wheel steering and a symmetric spinnaker. For our test the boat was equipped with main and jib from Incidences, plus a large North Sails asymmetric spinnaker and a latest generation furling North Helix Code 0. The latter makes for easy handling, even in boisterous conditions, as well as giving better sail shape in light airs.

J/99 u nder sail

Our test took place on a bright and crisp day with a north to north-westerly breeze in the upper teens, with occasional puffs well beyond 20 knots. We sailed the first boat out of the mould, configured with a single rudder and tiller steering.

The helm position is excellent, with the mainsail controls, including mainsheet fine tune, traveller and backstay all falling easily to hand. There are also reassuringly chunky foot chocks. If cross winched to the windward side the jib sheet winch could also easily be reached from the helm. Combined with pilot controls on both sides, as well as by the companionway, this arrangement makes for easy, yet efficient, sailing even if there’s only one person on deck.

Sailing upwind with full main and a general purpose jib the boat settled easily into a groove with minimal weather helm. The boat proved to be stiff and needed only the traveller to be eased to stay on its feet, even in the stronger gusts.

Downwind with the 100m2 kite in flat water we were nudging an indicated nine knots of boat speed, at true wind angles of 160-165 degrees. The boat felt very docile, even though the wind was building at this stage. When we luffed up to a true wind angle of 140 degrees, as the wind touched 24 knots, the boat speed leapt into the lower teens and had there been more of a sea state it’s clear we would have enjoyed some exhilarating sustained surfs at higher speeds.

For those preferring a very docile ride, reaching at this angle with just mainsail and jib would give speeds of 8 knots or more – perfect for fast yet easy passage making. For more power that’s easy to handle the North Helix furling Code 0 proved to be a very versatile sail.

J/99 u nder power

A combination of low freeboard, an efficient keel shape and big rudder make this a very predictable boat to handle in tight spaces. There’s minimal prop kick in reverse and manoeuvring astern holds no particular surprises or challenges.

J/99 v erdict

The J/99 enters an increasingly crowded market place and stands out among many for being optimised for a single rudder. In many respects it’s a Contessa 32 for the 21st century – a thoroughbred design that offers more space, a drier ride and more performance that reflects the ongoing advances in yacht design. Yet it still offers the ability to ride out a proper gale at sea.

This is not a bargain basement boat – there are many craft with larger interiors that can be bought for the same money, but they’re nothing like as much fun, or as rewarding to sail. It’s easy to see where the extra money goes to create a boat like this – it’s akin to making the difference between a carefully engineered sports saloon and a lumbering people carrier.

Specifications LOA 9.94m LWL 8.72m Beam 3.40m Draught 1.99m Displacement 3,800kg Upwind sail area 53m2 Asymmetric spinnaker 101m2 Symmetric spinnaker 90m2

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

• Graham Snook
• August 6, 2019

J-Boats has a strong racing pedigree 
but can the new J/99 cut the mustard for cruisers? 
Graham Snook put it through its paces to find out

Credit: Graham Snook

Product Overview

• Great performance for her size
• Excellent rope handling in the cockpit
• Light loads
• Basic interior
• Minimal heads
• Weight on helm

Manufacturer:

Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: if you’re looking for a 30ft 
yacht for sedate cruising, then the J/99 isn’t 
the best choice.

She can be cruised, which is 
why you’ll find her in these pages, but what 
she does better than other cruising yachts her size, is sail well and sail fast.

Cruising isn’t 
what she was primarily designed for, but if you 
want speed and control (and the potential to have great fun screaming 
along the coast and more fun short-handed passage racing), then 
she could be a great choice.

Usually, speed means running along a knife-edge – one minute you’re grinning like a fool, pushing the envelope of control, while the next you’re retrieving waterlogged pieces of a spinnaker and looking an expensive repair bill square in the eyes.

The rudder stock is forward of the tiller stock to take the tiller aft and increase cockpit space. Credit: Graham Snook

The J/99, however, has speed, stacks of it, but it’s effortless.

At 8 knots we might as well have been sailing at 4 knots for all the worry there was on board.

THE TEST VERDICT

Sailing the J/99 was a delight, and very easy.

Admittedly she did have brand new 3Di carbon sails, these add to her cost and performance, but even so she’ll be able to be sailed with the minimum of effort whatever sails you choose.

Neither boat nor crew were stressed while sailing at speeds few 32 foot cruisers reach.

With 12-16 knots TWS she was in her element. A bit more breeze and the smiles would have been even harder to remove from our faces.

Down below the space isn’t palatial, but it is practical.

The interior is simple with just enough comfort. The saloon has fabric bags with pockets that cover the hull sides. Credit: Graham Snook

It is basic and won’t suit everyone – after all, everyone has different thresholds of what they will put up with.

Likewise the finish down below wasn’t of the highest quality, but this was hull number one, and on deck the attention to detail was very good indeed.

She might not be a great cruising boat, but she will give her owners quick passage times and what you lose in comfort, you gain in easy, fast fun.

WOULD SHE SUIT YOU AND YOUR CREW?

When I go travelling I spend as little time in my hotel room as possible, so why pay more for 5 star luxury features I’m not going to take advantage of?

There is good access to the engine under the companionway steps. Credit: Graham Snook

As long as the bed is comfortable and has the most basic of amenities I’m happy.

The same can be said for the J/99, she has the comfort and space where it’s needed: the saloon and the twin double aft cabins, but the minimum where it’s not.

If you’re port hopping, sailing or racing during the day and eating out in the evening, there is no need to carry a fully-furnished interior, a large weighty galley and tonnes of spare water you won’t use.

We can so easily get hung up on needing more to cruise, the more stuff we have, the more power we need, the bigger batteries, the extra charging which all weighs and slows the boat down.

If we can cut down on what we don’t need then we can discover the joy of sailing fast with the minimum of effort.

If you go on the water to enjoy sailing, shouldn’t the sailing bit take priority over comfort?

The full test is available in the May 2019 issue of Yachting Monthly

Sailboat specifications

• Last update: 25th April 2020

J/99's main features

• 2020: SAIL magazine - Best Performance Boat 31ft and over
• 2020: Sailing World - Boat of the Year: Best Crossover

J/99's main dimensions

J/99's rig and sails, j/99's performances, j/99's auxiliary engine, j/99's accommodations and layout.

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• Sailboat Guide

J/99 is a 32 ′ 7 ″ / 9.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Alan Johnstone and built by J Boats and J Composites starting in 2019.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Twin rudder optional. Option for all lead deep fin keel.

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J/99 Boat Test

The J/99 has proved an instant hit, with 30 boats ordered, mostly off plan within a few weeks of the prototype’s first sailing trials.

Although clearly aimed at the burgeoning short-handed scene, the boat is also set up to be raced fully crewed. We tested the first boat out of the mould shortly after it hit the water.

Concept 8/10

First impressions are of a quick, easily handled design with a well fitted and comfortable interior. The relatively broad transom is by no means radical by today’s standards, the boat’s aft sections are optimised for a single rudder and there are no chines. The rudder is positioned reasonably well forward where it operates clear of the most turbulent water – whereas twin rudders tend to be placed right aft so that they can be reached to clear weed.

Compared to the J/105, a design that almost two decades after its launch is still capable of notching up top results on IRC, this boat has more rocker and is eight per cent heavier. However, it’s also a far more comfortable boat, with greater freeboard that gives a drier ride, plus full headroom below decks.

Rig and deck layout 10/10

The T-shape of the cockpit is configured to work with either tiller or wheel steering, though it’s hard to see how the extra complication and weight of a wheel could be justified on a race boat of this size. Primary winches are set up for cross winching the headsail sheet. While this is commonly seen as being advantageous for short-handed sailing, it also works when fully crewed – once you’re accustomed to the arrangement it seems like madness to send a crewmember down to the lee rail every time you duck a starboard tack boat.

Systems are updated compared to earlier models from J-boats, including the floating jib sheet lead that can be adjusted from the cockpit. My preference for short-handed offshore work would be to move the vang cleats further aft on each side of the coachroof, to allow the driver to dump the vang if necessary.

The keel-stepped twin-spreader aluminium mast from AG+ has a custom section created specifically for the J/99. This incorporates a track to accommodate either standard luff car sliders or a mainsail with a bolt rope. An extended masthead crane allows for a semi square top sail, while avoiding the need for running backstays. Deck gear is from a variety of manufacturers, including Antal clutches and Harken winches, while the test boat’s electronics were by B&G.

A range of options include twin rudders, water ballast, wheel steering and a symmetric spinnaker. Our test boat was equipped with main and jib from Incidences, plus a North Sails A2 spinnaker and a latest generation furling North Helix Code 0. This makes for easy handling even in boisterous conditions, as well as giving better sail shape in light airs.

Under sail 9/10

Our test took place on a bright and crisp early January day, with a north to north-westerly breeze in the upper teens, with occasional puffs well beyond 20 knots. We sailed the first boat out of the mould, configured with a single rudder and tiller steering.

The helm position is excellent, with the mainsheet, including fine tune, traveller and backstay all falling easily to hand. There are also reassuringly chunky foot chocks. When cross winched, the jib sheet winch could also easily be reached from the helm. Combined with pilot controls on both sides, as well as by the companionway, this arrangement makes for easy solo sailing, whether you’re racing alone or your co-skipper is napping.

Sailing upwind with full main and a general purpose jib, the boat settled easily into a groove with minimal weather helm. The J/99 proved to be stiff and needed only the traveller to be eased to stay on its feet in the stronger gusts.

Downwind with the 100m2 kite in flat water we were nudging an indicated nine knots of boat speed, at true wind angles of 160-165 degrees. The boat felt very docile, even though the wind was building at this stage. When we hotted up to 140 degrees TWA as the wind touched 24 knots the boat speed leapt into the lower teens and had there been more of a sea state it’s clear we would have enjoyed some exhilarating sustained surfs at higher speeds.

I was interested to see how the boat would handle a broach, so we sheeted on and headed up further onto a reach. Weight in the helm builds steadily in advance of the rudder stalling, giving good warning. When it did let go the broach was a gentle affair, with the lee toe rail remaining dry and the rudder regaining grip almost as soon as the spinnaker sheet was dumped.

Whether the load on the helm when the boat powers up is to your taste may be a matter of preference. Those who have grown up on twin rudder designs may find it surprisingly heavy in fruity conditions, while those accustomed to the single rudders may appreciate the clear warning as weight in the helm builds when the boat gets close to the edge.

Interior 8/10

The accommodation layout follows a similar pattern to that of many other similar boats, with two mirror image double aft cabins, the heads beyond the main bulkhead and sail storage area right forward. The finish is of a good standard and there’s proper headlining in the saloon area, although this marginally reduces headroom. There are also excellent hand holds – a factor that’s often missing on offshore boats.

The saloon has a substantial IRC friendly table, plus two settees that also make good sea berths, with backrests that hinge up to form additional berths when fully crewed. There’s not an abundance of timber, which is exactly in keeping with the ethos of this style of boat, while white moulded surfaces help to provide a bright appearance.

Each of the aft cabins is a comfortable double and has well planned stowage, including deep fiddled shelves and bins in which items that need to be accessed easily can be kept. Both have opening ports outboard and in the aft bulkhead to the cockpit. The forward facing chart table is generally well executed, although I’d prefer the seat to be configured to allow an off-watch crew member to take a quick nap while sitting facing inboard.

Overall, it’s an arrangement that stands to work well both short-handed and fully crewed. For the latter there’s an option to turn the seat backs in the saloon into a pair of hinge-up pilot berths.

Verdict 9/10

The J/99 enters an increasingly crowded market place, with a number of strong new contenders. At the top end Beneteau is hoping to sell many more Figaro 3s to private owners than was the case for the previous model. At the same time Jeanneau is gearing up to sell hundreds of the radical Daniel Andrieu and VPLP designed 3300, which was announced at December’s Paris boat show. At the same time there’s also a new JPK of a similar size on the way that can be expected to pick up a lot of silverware.

Nevertheless at the time of our test, when the prototype had only been afloat for a matter of weeks, J-Boats already had 30 orders for the J/99. It’s therefore already clear there will be plenty of these to race boat-for-boat.

It may appear to be a brave move to stay with a single-rudder hull shape in a market dominated by twin rudder designs. However, that in itself may offer J-Boats a competitive advantage.

Certainly the reduction in wetted surface area won’t harm speed in light airs – a factor that might have had considerable appeal in the summer of 2018. On the other hand, when powered-up reaching in big winds, even the twin-rudder option may not save its time on the fastest and most successful JPK1010s that are fitted with larger JPK1080 rudders. Nevertheless series results, even in offshore racing, often depend on light airs performance. This is particularly true for boats based in regions that have predominately lighter winds, including New England and the Mediterranean.

As things stand, the prototype J/99’s IRC rating is 1016 (or 1017 with the optional 90 square metre symmetric spinnaker), only 10 points higher than many JPK1010s and the majority of older J-Boat designs such as 105s and 109s. It also puts the boat in exactly the same ball park as the JPK1030, Sun Fast 3300 and water ballasted Ofcet 32s.

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J/BOATS AUSTRALIA

J/Boats Australia are the importers and distrubutors of the quality performance range of J/BOATS for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

J/99 SPORT SAILBOAT

The NEW J/99 is the latest edition to the range and completes the Sport series. A racer that is both accessible and high-performance, the sail and deck plan are optimised for easy handling with fewer crew. J/99 incorporates the latest design and construction developments from the award-winning J/121 and the new Offshore Sailing World Champion J/112E. Perfect for both short-handed and fully crewed teams, and a comfortable weekender for the family.

WINNER – 2021 ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE – TWO HANDED DIVISION ON IRC, ORCi and PHS – J/99 ‘DISKO TROOPER_CONTENDER SAILCLOTH’ .. read more

BRITISH YACHTING – BEST RACING YACHT , SAIL – BEST PERFORMANCE BOAT 31FT+ , SAILING WORLD – BOAT OF THE YEAR BEST CROSSOVER

AN OFFSHORE PERFORMER, DESIGNED FOR ALL

The J/99 is the perfect boat to fulfil your sailing desires. A racer designed for both shorthanded and fully crewed, coastal or offshore race program, you’ll find a refined sports finish making her interior equally convivial for weekends away with family.

AN UNRIVALLED EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE

The J/99 is the fruit of an in-depth study that incorporates J/’s great wealth of offshore experience. J/99 design criteria recognises the strengths of the existing models whilst introducing even greater versatility, notably with enhanced form stability combined with minimal wetted surface.

THE SPORTS YACHT WITH COMFORT

The J/99 features a comfortable layout for offshore passage making with perfectly adapted headroom. Her spacious interior comprises two individual and symmetrical aft cabins, enabling you to rest whatever the tack. In addition, her forward heads compartment, L-shaped galley and forward-facing chart table make her highly functional and add to your comfort on the water.

ONE YACHT, SEVERAL PROGRAMS

The deck layout on the J/99 has been optimised to facilitate manoeuvres in shorthanded configuration. All the main controls are accessible from the helm. Several configurations are available: single or twin rudders / bulbed or plain fin keel / symmetric or asymmetric version. Her light displacement combined with substantial stiffness and refined steering will enable you to sail with complete confidence.

HIGH QUALITY, INCOMPARABLE STIFFNESS

Balance is key to developing a new model. The build quality comes into its own in the way everything has been thought out. The lightness of its infused composites linked to the incomparable structural stiffness allows for increased stability and hence performance , whilst providing the level of comfort and finish clients have come to expect.

GEARED AROUND EFFICIENCY

Considerable thought has gone into the J/99 to offer you a high-performance yacht adaptable to your needs, whether for short handed or fully crewed racing. Furthermore, the rig reflects the latest technological advances, notably a dedicated aluminium profile integrating a mixed track which contributes to the stiffness of the profile.

The J/99 is designed to perform with a simplified suit of sails, 4 sails being enough to cover a wide range of conditions: mainsail, jib, staysail and spinnaker.

Those who love the thrill of sailing will appreciate the J/99’s planing capabilities downwind, making her a genuine racer designed in line with the Sport range concept.

Steering Systems

The J/99 comes with a choice of two steering systems, a single or twin rudder option, to satisfy your sailing programme.

Fixed Bowsprit

The J/99 features a removable fixed bowsprit enabling increased space down below and enhanced safety, whilst retaining her fine performance downwind.

A precise selection of materials make up the composite structure to obtain the best strength/weight ratio on the market.

There is a choice of two options for the keel of the J/99: a bulbed keel with a cast iron fin and lead bulb, or a flat lead keel.

The J/99 is equipped with a custom aluminium mast, demonstrating an extraordinary level of quality for the market. The supreme stiffness means that the additional costs associated with a carbon rig are not required.

The J/99 features a light and highly refined finish , creating a modern, bright, functional and easy to maintain interior.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

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Interesting Sailboats

Tuesday, january 22, 2019, j/99 versus jpk10.30.

3 comments:

Does the JPK have water ballast?

No. On the J/99 they say that the boat can have water ballast as an option but the boat I saw did not have it. I doubt that would be very useful and it would increase the rating big way, making the boat less competitive in IRC, not to mention the price increase.

Spec sheet says water ballast is optional, with 2 tanks of 300 liters each.

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J Composites Launches the New J/99 Elegance Line Sailboat: A Perfect Fusion of Speed and Comfort

Key points:

• J Composites launches the new J/99 Elegance Line sailboat
• Combines speed and comfort for fast cruising enthusiasts
• Exclusive presentation at the Grand Pavois in La Rochelle

J Composites has announced the launch of the new J/99 Elegance Line, combining the speed of the J/99 with the comfort of a cruising boat. This high-performance sailboat offers a seamless blend of sport and elegance, meeting the highest design and manufacturing standards. The J/99 Elegance Line will be unveiled exclusively at the Grand Pavois in La Rochelle from 20th to 25th September.

The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI

sail-world.com • J Composites

New J/99 Elegance Line launch

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