First season in a J/111
by Paul Griffiths 7 Nov 2016 01:20 AEDT
6 November 2016
The J111 Jagerbomb © Key Yachting
We have just completed our first season in J/111 Jagerbomb and what a blast we have had, including learning how to keep the boat upright in 30 knots during the highly competitive World Championships in early August.
The boat is huge fun to sail, especially when the breeze is up and it starts planing. It's just a gas!!
But, it is still fun in all conditions. The boat is very light so powers up quickly even in only five knots. At 10 knots of wind you truck upwind at 7 knots and downwind approaching 10. What's not to like?
The boat is very easy to sail, the loads in the standing and running rigging are less than in my old J/109, putting the crew in more manageable control. It is so much nicer handling ropes with less load in them. Unlike some other boats you do not need professionals.
Now, although it is easy to sail it is a challenge to get the best performance and we are still miles away from achieving peak performance in all conditions. But that is great, if it was easy the fun would quickly dissipate.
The IRC rating is not as bad as at first thought. We and other J/111s have proven over the year that a well sailed J/111 can be competitive in IRC. But IRC racing is not what we all bought the boats for. It's one design racing that really gets the juices running!
It is not an arms race. The boat needs to be properly equipped but the best sailed boats will win.
It's been easy to get crew all year, everybody wants a go in a J/111.
The boat is clearly really versatile as the Army have proved, doing all their long distance offshore stuff. Who knows we may go to the Rock and back next year!