J/95, J/97, Summit 35 All Win "Boat of the Year" Awards

Just a quick post to highlight some "Boat of the Year" awards that have just been announced in the sailing press. We're happy to have our lines at the top of the list!

J/95:
SAIL Magazine 2010 Boat of the Year, Performance category
Sailing World 2010 Overall Boat of the Year
Cruising World 2010 Domestic Boat of the Year
Cruising World 2010 Boat of the Year, "Weekender" category








J/97:
Sailing World 2010 Boat of the Year, Club Racer category



Summit 35:
Sailing World "Best IRC Racer" 2010

J/95 Fixed Keel Renderings

J/95 #9 molds next week, and the engineering to replace the keel/centerboard with a fixed keel is in place. Comparing the K/CB version side-by-side to the fixed keel version (drawing 5'6") really helps you see the difference in chord length, and I can't wait to see how she sails in comparison to the standard K/CB configuration which performs great!

This stage is really my favorite part of the job - only with a new boat does every option get chosen purely based on how well it serves the client's needs. Finalizing decisions from sails & electronics to more cosmetic items like Awlgrip & upholstery is a detail-rich process, and watching the boat come together is fun too!

J/95 First Sail

Last week I finally had the opportunity to sail the J/95 here on Long Island Sound, on a beautiful evening with 7-11 kts of breeze.

The sea trial was for the benefit of a J/80 owner who is considering moving up, and we had the whole family onboard - mom, dad and two grown sons. The client currently uses their J/80 as a daysailor, with a very minimal amount of racing. However, they do enjoy using the asymmetric spinnaker and love the excitement it brings.

In short, the J/95 is a perfect fit for the way this family sails. For the first time, the client's wife was able to relax and not feel "in the way" as the rest of the group tacked, hoisted the kite, jibed etc. This is where the ergonomics of the cockpit design really paid off: with the traveller on the cockpit sole and the primary winches well aft, there was plenty of room for "non-sailors" to sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a very functional and comfortable lay-out.

We experimented with the board up and down while going upwind, and in the light breeze we could barely tell a difference. Leeway might have been a bit more board up but in both cases you could trim the sails and simply let go of the wheel. A great feeling!

The only thing about the boat that isn't a fit for this particular client is the keel/centerboard arrangement. His sailing venue has plenty of depth, so a fixed keel drawing 5'6" wouldn't be a problem. J/Boats is considering making this an option, and personally I think it would be a great move.

J/95 Update

Rod Johnstone's J/95 is arriving at our docks this Sunday, and we've been busy lining up sea trials for the week. I'm eager to sail the boat myself and will of course make a full report here. She recently took first place in the Off-Soundings Spring Series with a PHRF rating of 109, so we're excited to take her out for some Thursday night beercan racing.

Pricing on the J/95 varies with some of the bigger options like a carbon rig, the asym package and interior amenities. The ultimate "sailaway" price is very marketable, based on the versatility and performance the J/95 offers.




Principal Dimensions:

LOA 31.20
LWL 28.40
Beam 10.00
Draft (board up/down) 3.0'/5.5'
Displacement 6,000 lb
Ballast (Fixed Lead Keel) 2,250 lb
Cast Bronze Centerboard 200 lb
100% Sail Area 450
STL 15.34
Dspl/L 117
SA/Dspl 22
Bridge Clearance 44.8
Aux Diesel Engine 14 hp

But I've Been Busy!

OK, so maybe it's no coincidence that my blogging came to a screeching halt at about the same time that my boat went in the water, but that doesn't mean there's been nothing to report. While some of my fellow bloggers are resorting to lists, I will provide a brief summary of events in my world.

Brokerage sales continue to be strong, with plenty of inventory but few motivated & realistic sellers. Boats that are priced right continue to sell though, and I'm happy to have some great values among my listings.

New boat sales are still extremely sluggish but we're anticipating one significant deal to close next week. As with other downturns, innovation will turn this around. For example:

• Hull #7 of the MJM 40z in now in production, proving there is a market for a fast, efficient 40 footer that can easily entertain 12+ on a single level pilothouse - and dock with a crew of one














• The J/95 is bringing J performance to thin-water sailors everywhere; hull #5 is available so call for a test sail today















• We have delivered 5 highly customized new Alerion Express this spring, and our dealer territory has just been expanded to include New Jersey to Maine
















• The IRC Owners Group here in Western Long Island Sound - an idea that originated at McMichael - is creating closer racing between more boats, and laying the foundation for new boats like the Summit 35

Most importantly, it's summer, the sun is out and the wind is blowing. I think I'll wrap this up and go sailing!

J/95 Update

Hull #1 of the new J/95 is now in Florida for demo sails, but the folks from SAIL magazine got in a quick test sail a few weeks ago while the boat was still in Rhode Island. Click on the link for some good video and a short review.

I'm looking forward to sailing hull #2 in Stonington with Rod J in a few weeks - I hope the boat will live up to all the great things I've been hearing!

Factory Visits

I spent most of Thursday in Rhode Island, at Pearson Composites (Alerion Express), CCFC (new J/95 builder for J/Boats), and US Watercraft/Waterline Systems (J/22, J/24, J/105). It is always very rewarding to go to the factory and get some hands-on time with boats that are in production. It is the best way to get first-hand product knowledge, and very enlightening for clients as well.

Most of the time was spent at CCFC where Rod, Al and Jeff Johnstone discussed the new J/95, a keel/centerboard boat will draw only 3' with the board up (5'5" board down). It is another big innovation from J/Boats at a time when innovation is the only thing selling boats, and I think it will be a winner. Now sailors in thin-water venues like Barnegat Bay can enjoy J/Boat performance.

Most of the J/Boat dealers from the eastern US were in attendance, which means I was in a roomful of yacht brokers. As usual, I was about 20 years younger than the average broker.


J/95 cockpit and deck, just out of the mold




J/95 bow - notice the new engineering that will conceal the retractable sprit when not in use




Joe DaPonte from CCFC, new builder for the J/95 (he's holding a rudder)



Centerboard trunk for the J/95



CCFC - a very clean custom-built facility



Jeff Johnstone and the J/95 hull mold



An Alerion Express 33 with furniture being installed.



Alerion Express 28, ready for engine installation

The first person to correctly identify this mold wins a pony!