A Sweet Chariot

by Peter Brady on 31 Dec 2005 The Australia yachting scene is one of the healthiest around the world, with more supermaxis, more one designs, and a greater diversity of yacht designs than anywhere else. Australia can probably claim to be the major manufacturer of racing 60-100 footers, and the One Design fleets are very strong with Sydney 32’s and Sydney 38’s representing a large percentage of the regatta fleets.

The value being delivered in production boats is expanding the market, with brands like Beneteau, DK and Bavaria strong on the Australia scene and now more international production designs are appearing.

One very significant American brand JBoats has been under represented here for many years. Yet since 1977 J Boats have made an undeniable mark on the sailing world.

In addition to the 5,300 J24s sailing around the cans, there have been over 5,000 more JBoats built.

These performance and cruising yachts range from the J22 an International One Design, a 22 footer, to the J160 a 53 footer which won the 2003 Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii.

In Australia the J24 has been popular for a long time and the J24 Worlds' will be held in Melbourne in January 2007 but only a few of the other JBoats have appeared.

Lee Killingworth from JBoats Australia believes that will change, as the current range gains more exposure in the Asia Pacific region. With JBoats Australia now responsible for distribution in South East Asia and New Zealand, the popular J109’s have already arrived in both these markets.

So the Australia debut of the J109, three hundred are already on the water, during the Palm Beach Regatta was followed with some interest.

A 35 footer with bowsprit, swept back spreader rig and rod rigging the J109’s are sailing up a storm; popular because they are easy to sail and fast with their big asymmetric spinnakers.

In Europe the J109’s are being IRC rated. '25 already,' says Killingworth, but with her IRC certificate a few weeks away, Ray and Sandra Entwhistle’s Sweet Chariot has been sailing PHS B division the last few days.

At the end of the first day of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Pittwater and Coffs Harbour series the Beneteau 40.7 Panacea, skipper by Chris Hollis lead PHS Division B from Phil Harvey’s MBD 42 Pucker Up, with Sweet Chariot third - with a fifth and a win. She was easy to pick on the racecourse with a four metre J109 logo on the spinnaker.

Post racing Killingworth commented; ‘We were a little untidy in the first race, but the potential was obvious in our second race.’

On day two, the breeze started at 12 knots and built. The MBD 42 Pucker Up won race three from Sweet Chariot, who was second across the line ahead of the 40 footers, with Panacea in third place on handicap.

In the final race the breeze started at 15-16 knots, dropping to 12’s on the second run. Dave Holland’s Turkey Shoot won on handicap from James Dobie’s Acrux with Sweet Chariot third. With that result, the J109 won the series.

Killingworth commented; ‘yesterday we learnt a lot, we were far more organised today. The boat was fully pressured up at ten knots and the 120 square metre asymmetric was a lot of fun.

‘The left hand side of the Palm Beach Circle track paid all day, we went there as often as we could.

‘While this is a new design for Australia, the North Sails US One Design Division is very familiar with the boat, so the sails are clearly fast.

‘While the J109 is racing in the states as a One Design Class with non overlapping headsails, we are sailing here with 140% jib for more horsepower.

‘All in all, two good day’s racing. I have to say what a difference a J makes.'

Ray Entwhistle was a happy owner after the four race series. ‘She is indeed a Sweet Chariot, a lot of fun; we are looking forward to the Australia Day regatta.’

www.jboats.com.au