Seahorse Magazine Reviews the J/99
The new J/99, built by J Composites in France, is J Boats’ answer to extensive customer demand for a smaller ‘adventure racer.’ True to this globally successful brand’s fundamental philosophy, it has an allround performance hull, rather than a boxy, hard-chined body with squat, Open-style stern sections like so many boats on the racecourse today.
The 32.6′ J/99 is equipped with a powerful, easily controlled keelstepped rig, which optimises the boat’s reaching and downwind sail configurations. As a result, the J/99 is designed to plane in 17+ knots of breeze, but won’t drag extra wetted surface in light airs. It is designed to be IRC/ORC rating friendly, not too far from the successful J/97 but longer on the waterline with less overhang. The trial certificate for boat number one, which we sailed at the turn of the year on the Solent in seven to 10 knots of chilly breeze, comes in at 1.015, comparing favourably in between the JPK 1010 (about 1.006) and the Jeanneau SunFast 3600 (around 1.040).
The popularity of short-handed and solo racing is growing by the year. Witness the strength and size of the 53-strong…Read the entire review here