The J/121 is the new 2018 model from the American shipyard J Boats and marketed in France by the J Composites shipyard (which adapts and builds American sailboats for the French and European market). This 40-footer was developed and built in the United States, but has enough assets to seduce the French market as Frédéric Bouvier explains.
"J/121 is a response to a new market trend. Today, yachtsmen are participating in fewer and fewer regattas on the one hand due to the lack of corresponding units and on the other hand due to the difficulty in finding crew members. However, offshore regattas are developing like the Fastnet Race, etc. and are won by professional to semi-professional crews, and amateurs are finding it difficult to find their place. This new 40-footer is a sports boat dedicated to regattas and with it, we want to get people back to sailing."
The J/121 can accommodate 4 to 5 people, and is therefore suitable for short-handed sailing. She meets an offshore program of coastal cruising, but above all she wants to be "fun", especially with a 150 m2 spinnaker. "J/121 is a 40-footer, but should be seen as Mr Everyman's Class 40. The tuning and the spirit of the boat are less extreme and more accessible, while still providing the same great feeling." explains Frédéric Bouvier.
On deck, there is a carbon mast (the boom can also be made of carbon as an option). The staysail is fitted on a drop stay with a hook at the head, as is the case in racing on IMOCA boats in particular. The jib clew is adjustable in 3 dimensions (still a heritage from racing), a high performance system that requires a good learning curve. The cockpit is inspired by that of the J/111 and is equipped with two steering wheels allowing the helmsmen to hold their course while carrying out manoeuvres.
To navigate with a reduced crew, the 40-footer is equipped with two 400 L ballast tanks (one on each side), equivalent to 5 crewmembers on recall. "We have studied a system of foils on our keelboat instead of ballast tanks, but the performance gain is limited in terms of ratios. But we need performance over time. The ballast proved to be more efficient." details Frédéric Bouvier.
In terms of layout, the J/121 is a seaworthy boat, where comfort is not the priority (to gain in lightness) even if there is a nice cabin on port aft and a toilet on starboard aft. The saloon is equipped with sea berths, an L-shaped galley, and no table. The forward tip houses a very large sail locker. For those who want a more comfortable model, the J/122 (elegance range) is a good compromise between racing and cruising, when the J/121 belongs to the Sport range. These two models are totally different, with hulls and fittings each corresponding to their range.
A model, which if it finds its target, will in the future be built in France and offered at the standard rate of 311,395 euros excluding VAT.
