yachting 99

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

J/99 review: All thrills, no frills on board this double-handed racing machine

• May 3, 2019

The new J/99 is a versatile 32ft offshore speedster that targets the double-handed racing circuit

We tested the J/99 in the Solent in 17-25 knots of wind. Photos: Richard Langdon

We ghosted down the Hamble River under mainsail alone, the water slipping silently past our red hull in the grainy half-light of a winter morning. We’d hoisted the mainsail in our marina berth, then sailed out into the river, the engine left in tick-over for less than two minutes almost as a token gesture. I felt like a naughty kid, slipping out while the rest of the world was still waking up; going to make some trouble.

I had come to test the new J/99, sailing double-handed with the British J/Boats importer Paul Heys on a chilly, blustery January morning. Within ten minutes our demure departure was all but forgotten as we came bursting out of Southampton Water, our senses assaulted from all angles by the bitter north wind and our 100m 2 day-glo spinnaker. As the sun rose, everything about the day and this little powerhouse of a boat became bright, sharp and dynamic. I don’t know what the rest of the world was doing at 0800 on that January morning but we were having a blast.

The eagerly awaited J/99 directly targets a growing demographic of sailors who enjoy the fantastic short-handed racing scene available all across Europe. Of the 38 orders already confirmed, over half of the new owners intend to race short-handed and it was with this type of sailing in mind I arrived to make the test.

There’s plenty of room for the helmsman to pass across the aft section of the boat during a tack, leaving the whole cockpit free for the crew

The new design incorporates some interesting changes for J/Boats, which bring the J/99 into line with its closest rivals in this area of the market. Gone is the retractable bowsprit and furling jib, which have been the stalwarts of J/Boat design for close to 20 years, making way for a beamier shape, a fixed bowsprit and a hank-on jib. It’s different, but despite the new features, this still remains resolutely ‘J’ in its appearance and feel.

From the first moment I stepped into the cockpit, this boat struck me with its no-nonsense approach. Sail handling is simple, the cockpit clean and well laid-out, the helm dynamic and responsive. Just cruising down the river, the boat felt light and seemed to directly translate every puff of wind into increased speed. Compared to the Class 40s I have spent much of the last two years racing, the J/99 felt like a go-cart – a promising combination of agility and power.

Razor sharp

Upwind, we cut through the flat water like a knife though silk, achieving 6.7 knots of boat speed at a true wind angle of 38°, in 17 knots of wind. We were sailing with a full main and non-overlapping J2 jib, which felt slightly overpowered in the gusts over 20 knots, but proved easy to handle.

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The boat is stiff – it feels like a couple of bodies sitting on the rail would benefit the upwind performance, but that is often the case with short-handed boats and, once heeled, the angle remains steady and comfortable.

Helming upwind required very little input from our single rudder, the boat was incredibly well balanced and gust control could be easily managed by a gentle feathering on the helm and an ease on the mainsheet fine-tune system. We let the autopilot take over for an upwind leg and a couple of tacks, but I quickly took back the helm – this was way too much fun to allow a machine to take command.

The cockpit is large; it takes up a third of the overall deck length, with benches that are half the length of the cockpit. The area aft of the mainsheet is wide, flat and empty. There are two coachroof winches for halyards and two primaries next to the helming position.

Crew can sit either down on the cockpit seats, legs braced opposite, or up over the coaming – both are equally comfortable. There is room to sit two crewmembers side-by-side on these bench seats, though once activity starts it might become crowded.

The cockpit layout particularly suits performance shorthanded sailing

The jib is controlled using an interesting combination of a longitudinal track, together with floating down- and in haulers. By leading the sheet to a turning block positioned on the toe rail aft, a marginal outboard lead can be achieved when both in and down haulers are eased.

Tacking, even when cross-sheeted was quick and easy despite our lack of practice. The non-overlapping jib can be pulled most of the way in by hand, with the final grind from the high side as the J/99 starts to accelerate. The cockpit is so well ergonomically set up, a solo tack would be equally as easy.

I found the best helming position is to sit with one leg astride the mainsheet traveller, bracing against the two moulded foot rests. Traveller, mainsheet and backstay are all led to this position and with the jib or spinnaker sheets cross-winched, these can also easily be trimmed by the helmsman.

A tightly sheeted jib to leeward of mast displays that are clearly readable from the cockpit

The double-ended kicker is thoughtfully positioned and long enough to lead back to the helm from where it can be quickly released. The helming position is comfortable with a fantastic view of the water ahead, though I imagine it will feel somewhat exposed in rougher conditions – perhaps this is when the autopilot earns it’s keep.

When steering through a tack the helmsman can easily pass behind the mainsheet unhindered, leaving the cockpit free for flailing elbows. The J/99 uses tiller steering – the optional twin-rudder version still leads to a single tiller. There is room and an option to mount wheel steering in this area but I cannot imagine a good reason to do this. It would add extra weight further aft in the boat, fill up the cockpit and confine the helmsman.

The tiller is curved upwards to allow the mounting of a liferaft underneath – a common raft position for offshore boats and an eminently sensible one that keeps weight off the transom yet still provides a ready-to-launch raft on deck.

Initial jib car position fore and aft can be set using the track, which is pinned in place, then remaining controls dictate angle of attack and twist, with the down- hauler passing through the pinned jib car

Significant sail area

Off the breeze, the J/99 is punchy, versatile and a lot of fun. The 100m 2 A2 spinnaker is certainly a generous size and, in the test conditions, provided us with exciting reaching at angles up to 135° true, together with a competitive, powerful downwind VMG speed (sailing at 8.4 knots at 146° true). It also gives the adaptability to sail at deep angles with the tack line right off and the kite fully rotated around the bow. In this configuration we were still able to sail quickly at wind angles of up to 170° true.

We saw upper wind strengths of 25 knots and during these gusts the helm started to feel heavy as the big spinnaker loaded-up – I was caught out by one such gust, rounding up before I had time to respond. This isn’t to say the single rudder option is unresponsive – a timely, short, hard pump of the rudder always put us back on our feet – but merely that the big sail plan and gusty conditions do require concentration. For the ‘nip and tuck’ of close quarters manoeuvring, the single rudder gives a very direct grip to the water, which will allow the helmsman to fling the J/99 in and out of tight spaces.

For prolonged periods of powerful reaching under spinnaker, I believe the twin rudder option would be a sensible choice to avoid aching arms or lapses in concentration; so far 12 of the 38 orders have specified the twin rudder set up. If sailing under autopilot with single rudder, in gusty conditions it may be wise to use a higher level of response to enable the pilot to make more forceful corrections.

Fixed bowsprit marks a departure from the retractable bowsprits used on J/Boats of old

For reaching, we flew a 66m 2 cable-less Code 0 from the 2:1 tack line on the bowsprit, a sail that is a must for any offshore wardrobe. We whipped the zero up in a matter of seconds then blasted across the Solent reaching up to angles of 110° to the true wind and speeds up to nine knots, though the kicker was constantly in hand for gust control.

Sail handling downwind was as easy as upwind, even when managed by our unpractised crew of two. The bowsprit has double tack line fittings as standard – a 2:1 for the Code 0 and a single line for the spinnaker, giving a working option for peeling between off-wind sails.

The Code 0 tack line is managed with a jammer on the bow, while the single tack line is led to the cockpit. This makes perfect sense for double-handed takedowns when the zero is usually dropped inside the jib, on to the foredeck, while the spinnaker is taken into the cockpit under the boom. The Code 0 furler is not under significant load and can be furled by one person, by hand from the foredeck. Moulded toerails forward of the beam give extra security to any foredeck excursions.

The J/99 is an Alan Johnstone design

Versatility of design

Though these boats can be sailed fully crewed – which would optimally be with six people – it is impossible to ignore the focussed design aspects that make the J/99 stand out. Cast a critical eye over the cockpit and you’ll see an area designed for performance double-handed sailing.

It’s simple, perhaps even sparse, but everything is where it should be and I, for one, felt instantly at home. But don’t be fooled into thinking this boat is a one-trick pony; there is a clever adaptability to the design that will suit a wide range of sailors.

Yes, there are some fundamental aspects that have changed to be more geared-up for double-handed offshore racing, but J/Boats have maintained a foot in the inshore camp making a boat with a shape and features that promise great all-round performance.

The new fixed bowsprit design retains enough length to use a powerful asymmetric spinnaker but also allows owners to switch between symmetrical and asymmetrical set ups without penalty – a factor that is proving increasingly popular in the displacement offshore classes. The roller furler has been replaced in favour of hank-on style jibs.

The theory behind this is that when inshore racing, you can always ‘hold on’ until the downwind leg to make a headsail change, while offshore, a slab-reefed jib provides a more satisfactory shape to the sail and is still less hassle than a full-on sail change.

The alloy mast is a custom extrusion from AG+ designed to take both a mainsail with a bolt rope or captive slides with no adaptation required – meaning an owner could switch between an inshore bolt rope main and a short-handed one on sliders.

The J/99 has a full beam of 3.4m, which is carried most of the way aft with slight narrowing to the transom. This gives it an increased hull form stability to previous J/Boat designs, though unlike its closest rivals in the market, the JPK 1010, and the Sunfast 3200, the J/99 does not have chines. Instead, the more traditional lines give the hull shape more all-round performance and should offer greater versatility for inshore racing, particularly in lighter breeze.

The saloon is functional rather than luxurious

What’s below

The J/99 is clearly not aimed at those who are looking for a luxurious interior, but below decks there is a functional enough layout for weekend cruising, including twin aft cabins – something not often seen on racer/cruisers of this size.

The saloon is flanked by sofa berths, with a central table built around the keel-stepped mast. There is an option for pipecots outboard of the sofas, increasing the berths from six to eight – though eight people and their kit would certainly be a squeeze.

There’s a basic galley with a two-burner gas cooker, sink and galley storage facilities. The forepeak is a spacious open sail storage area with a heads plumbed-in behind the port bulkhead but no other ‘bathroom’ facilities – extra grab handles for rougher conditions would undoubtedly be a good idea.

AGM batteries are part of the standard boat package – one 70Ah for engine start and one 100Ah for house. The standard engine alternator is used for charging.

The starboard aft cabin mirrors the one to port

Our verdict

The J/99 is an exciting new addition to a competitive area of the market. It’s up against some tough competition, but make no mistake, this new design comes out of the corner fighting. Don’t look for frills because there aren’t any – this boat is all about great sailing performance.

It’s a fun, serious but manageable boat that is thoughtfully set up for double-handed sailing and would not require a huge number of crew to be competitive around the cans. It will suit sailors who enjoy both inshore and offshore racing and are looking for a no-nonsense boat to help them shine.

Specification

In memory of Paul Heys

Since this article was written, we received the news that Paul Heys passed away on February 25 .

In a statement, his family said: “We are desperately shocked and sad to announce that Paul Heys, co-founder and Managing Director of Key Yachting, has passed away.

“He was enjoying a much-deserved holiday in the Caribbean with his wife Marie-Claude and came into difficulties while swimming on Monday morning.

“Paul was a much-loved husband, dad, brother and granddad, and was greatly admired in the sailing community; sailing was his life and passion. Paul will be missed terribly by everyone who knew him.”

He was well-known and highly respected in the marine business and was legendary among J Boats owners for his knowledge and sailing skills. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

DE PROPRIÉTAIRE

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NOS PRESTATIONS

NOS REALISATIONS

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

• Graham Snook
• August 6, 2019

J-Boats has a strong racing pedigree 
but can the new J/99 cut the mustard for cruisers? 
Graham Snook put it through its paces to find out

Credit: Graham Snook

Product Overview

• Great performance for her size
• Excellent rope handling in the cockpit
• Light loads
• Basic interior
• Minimal heads
• Weight on helm

Manufacturer:

Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: if you’re looking for a 30ft 
yacht for sedate cruising, then the J/99 isn’t 
the best choice.

She can be cruised, which is 
why you’ll find her in these pages, but what 
she does better than other cruising yachts her size, is sail well and sail fast.

Cruising isn’t 
what she was primarily designed for, but if you 
want speed and control (and the potential to have great fun screaming 
along the coast and more fun short-handed passage racing), then 
she could be a great choice.

Usually, speed means running along a knife-edge – one minute you’re grinning like a fool, pushing the envelope of control, while the next you’re retrieving waterlogged pieces of a spinnaker and looking an expensive repair bill square in the eyes.

The rudder stock is forward of the tiller stock to take the tiller aft and increase cockpit space. Credit: Graham Snook

The J/99, however, has speed, stacks of it, but it’s effortless.

At 8 knots we might as well have been sailing at 4 knots for all the worry there was on board.

THE TEST VERDICT

Sailing the J/99 was a delight, and very easy.

Admittedly she did have brand new 3Di carbon sails, these add to her cost and performance, but even so she’ll be able to be sailed with the minimum of effort whatever sails you choose.

Neither boat nor crew were stressed while sailing at speeds few 32 foot cruisers reach.

With 12-16 knots TWS she was in her element. A bit more breeze and the smiles would have been even harder to remove from our faces.

Down below the space isn’t palatial, but it is practical.

The interior is simple with just enough comfort. The saloon has fabric bags with pockets that cover the hull sides. Credit: Graham Snook

It is basic and won’t suit everyone – after all, everyone has different thresholds of what they will put up with.

Likewise the finish down below wasn’t of the highest quality, but this was hull number one, and on deck the attention to detail was very good indeed.

She might not be a great cruising boat, but she will give her owners quick passage times and what you lose in comfort, you gain in easy, fast fun.

WOULD SHE SUIT YOU AND YOUR CREW?

When I go travelling I spend as little time in my hotel room as possible, so why pay more for 5 star luxury features I’m not going to take advantage of?

There is good access to the engine under the companionway steps. Credit: Graham Snook

As long as the bed is comfortable and has the most basic of amenities I’m happy.

The same can be said for the J/99, she has the comfort and space where it’s needed: the saloon and the twin double aft cabins, but the minimum where it’s not.

If you’re port hopping, sailing or racing during the day and eating out in the evening, there is no need to carry a fully-furnished interior, a large weighty galley and tonnes of spare water you won’t use.

We can so easily get hung up on needing more to cruise, the more stuff we have, the more power we need, the bigger batteries, the extra charging which all weighs and slows the boat down.

If we can cut down on what we don’t need then we can discover the joy of sailing fast with the minimum of effort.

If you go on the water to enjoy sailing, shouldn’t the sailing bit take priority over comfort?

The full test is available in the May 2019 issue of Yachting Monthly

Key Yachting Ltd.

Key Yachting Ltd. Firefly Road, Hamble Point Marina, Hamble, Hampshire, UK. SO31 4NB

+44 (0)23 8045 5669

J/Boats J/99

The J/99 is an exciting new addition to a competitive area of the market. It’s up against some tough competition, but make no mistake, this new design comes out of the corner fighting. Don’t look for frills because there aren’t any – this boat is all about great sailing performance. Arriving at a time when JPK and Jeanneau seem to be increasing their dominance in the double-handed circuit, I believe the J/99, with its slightly larger sail area and more versatile hull shape, will create more than a few waves in the coming years. It’s a fun, serious but manageable boat that is thoughtfully set up for double-handed sailing and would not require a huge number of crew to be competitive around the cans. It will suit sailors who enjoy both inshore and offshore racing and are looking for a no-nonsense boat to help them shine.

If you want to come try and test the J99 and become part of a quickly growing fleet and new class get in touch now.

Specifications

Basic boat info.

• Make: J Boats
• Model: J/99
• Category: Sail
• Construction: Fibreglass
• Keel Type: Centreboard
• Hull length 9.94m
• Maximum beam 3.40m
• Draft 2.00m
• Displacement 3.800kg

Engines / Speed

• Make: Volvo
• Model: D1-20
• Engine Power: 20hp
• Type: Inboard
• Boat Class: Racers
• More Info :  Manufacturer Website

The J/99 interior  is roomy with clean lines and uncluttered spaces. The main cabin features two full length settee berths with optional flip-up pilot berths. The L-shaped galley has everything for the weekend cruise including a stove, an ice-box and an inboard sink with a pressure water system. There’s a proper sit-down, forward-facing, nav station to starboard. The drop-leaf main cabin table is a nice extra, usually seen only on cruising J’s. There are matching double aft cabins with privacy doors. This versatile layout allows 2-4 crew to sleep on the windward side for good offshore weight distribution, and up to 8 for the occasional inshore regatta or weekend cruise. The forepeak is dedicated for the head and sail storage, and otherwise kept as light as possible.

J/99 Recognition and Awards The J/99’s performance and capabilities have been widely recognized by the world’s yachting press as a truly fun, fast, evolutionary boat from the J/Design and J/Composites build teams. Recent awards include the SAIL’s Best Boats- Performance Award, SAILING WORLD’s Boat of the Year – Best Crossover Boat, and the British Yachting Awards – Performance Yacht award.

“The J/99 opens up a wide range of sailing possibilities,” commented designer Alan Johnstone. “The versatile sail plan, balanced hull form and efficient cockpit are ideal for short-handed offshore sailing as well as weekend sailing with friends. The J/99 packs a lot of performance and versatility into a manageable size and budget.”

Other Models

Unquestionable Performance

Length: 22'9 ft / 6.93 m Waterline Length: 20'6 ft / 6.25 m Beam: 7'5 ft / 2.26 m

Expand your sailing horizons

Length: 26'4 ft / 8.02 m Waterline Length: 22'0 ft / 6.71 m Beam: 8'4 ft / 2.54 m

One Design Family Speedster

Length: 29'2 ft / 8.9 m Waterline Length: 26'10 ft / 8.18 m Beam: 9'6 ft / 2.9 m

36 footer for ultimate day sailing

Length: 36'6 ft / 11.13 m Waterline Length: 32'8 ft / 9.96 m Beam: 10'10 ft / 3.3 m

40ft Offshore Speedster

Length: 40 ft / 12.19 m Length Overall: 40 ft / 12.19 m Waterline Length: 36'2 ft / 11.02 m

Offshore Speed, Comfort and Ease

Length: 40.9 ft / 12.47 m Waterline Length: 37 ft / 11.26 m Beam: 12'7 ft / 3.86 m

Find an expert

Download a brochure

J 99 SPORT SAILBOAT

Unleash your offshore desires..

The new J/99 completes the Sport range and aims to satisfy multiple demands. A racer that is intended to be both accessible and high-performance, the J/99 will excite your senses and her very attractive price is bound to appeal! Book your J 99 test.

AN OFFSHORE SPEEDSTER ACCESSIBLE TO ALL!

The J/99 will be the perfect boat to fulfil your desires. A racer designed for a shorthanded, coastal or offshore race programme, you’ll find a refined sports finish making her interior equally convivial for weekends away with family.

AN UNRIVALLED EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE

The J/99 is the fruit of an in-depth study that relies on the J/’s great wealth of offshore experience. Boasting significant victories and podiums across the major offshore racing circuit (Middle Sea Race / Fastnet Race / Mackinac Race / Armen Race) her architect has relied on the recognised strengths of the existing hulls while introducing even greater versatility, notably with enhanced form stability combined with minimal wetted surface .

THE SPORTS YACHT WITH GOOD HEADROOM

The J/99 features a comfortable layout for offshore passage making with perfectly adapted headroom. Her spacious interior comprises two individual and symmetrical aft cabins , enabling you to rest whatever the tack. In addition, her forward heads compartment, L-shaped galley and forward-facing chart table make her highly functional and add to your comfort on the water.

ONE YACHT, SEVERAL PROGRAMS

The deck layout on the J/99 has been optimised to facilitate manoeuvres in shorthanded configuration . All the main controls are accessible from the helming station. Several configurations are available: single or twin rudders / bulbed or plain fin keel / symmetric or asymmetric version. Her light displacement combined with substantial stiffness and refined steering will enable you to sail with complete confidence.

HIGH-QUALITY FOR THE PERFECT COMPROMISE

Balance is key to developing a new model. The build quality comes into its own in the way everything has been thought out. The lightness of its infused composites linked to the incomparable structural stiffness allows for increased stability and hence performance whilst providing the level of comfort and finish clients have come to expect.

GEARED AROUND EFFICIENCY

Considerable thought has gone into the J/99 to offer you a high-performance yacht able to adapt to your needs . In this way, you’ll have the option of a vast array of equipment to enable you to optimise your boat accordingly . Furthermore, the rig reflects the latest technological advances, which notably include a dedicated aluminium profile integrating a mixed track contributing to the stiffness of the profile. The removable fixed bowsprit is geared up for increased performance and practicality.

Videos of sailing, behind-the-scenes of manufacturing, expert advice and tips, or sea trials – discover the J/99 from a different perspective.

J/99 in big breeze and seas

J Composites – Spinnaker drop

J Composites – Sandwich construction

Specificities, technical specifications, international reputation.

A precise selection of materials make up the composite structure to obtain the best strength/weight ratio on the market.

There is a choice of two options for the keel of the J/99: a bulbed keel with a cast iron fin and lead bulb, or a flat lead keel.

The J/99 is equipped with a custom aluminium mast, demonstrating an extraordinary level of quality for the market. The supreme stiffness of this mast means that the additional costs associated with a carbon rig can be avoided.

The J/99 features a light and highly refined finish with varnished fiddles, creating a more modern, bright and easy to maintain interior.

The J/99 is designed to perform with a simplified suit of sails, 4 sails being enough to cover a wide range of conditions: mainsail, jib, staysail and spinnaker.

Those who love the thrill of sailing will appreciate the J/99’s planing capabilities downwind, making her a genuine racer designed in line with the Sport range concept.

Steering system

The J/99 comes with a choice of two steering systems, a single or twin rudder option, to satisfy your sailing programme.

Fixed bowsprit

The J/99 features a removable fixed bowsprit enabling increased space down below and enhanced safety, whilst retaining her fine performance downwind.

A leading brand

Wherever your voyage takes you, your yacht will be recognised and admired. J boats are renowned for their sailing prowess, their longevity and how enjoyable they are to sail.

It is the story of a family and a team of enthusiasts, whose aim has always been to design the best yacht of its category.

Innovations

Innovation has always been part of the brand’s DNA: infusion, use of a retractable carbon bowsprit, build technology…

International monitoring

The presence of a dense international network means that you have advice and services at your fingertips in the majority of countries you’ll navigate.

Sailboat specifications

• Last update: 25th April 2020

J/99's main features

• 2020: SAIL magazine - Best Performance Boat 31ft and over
• 2020: Sailing World - Boat of the Year: Best Crossover

J/99's main dimensions

J/99's rig and sails, j/99's performances, j/99's auxiliary engine, j/99's accommodations and layout.

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J/99 Boat Test

The J/99 has proved an instant hit, with 30 boats ordered, mostly off plan within a few weeks of the prototype’s first sailing trials.

Although clearly aimed at the burgeoning short-handed scene, the boat is also set up to be raced fully crewed. We tested the first boat out of the mould shortly after it hit the water.

Concept 8/10

First impressions are of a quick, easily handled design with a well fitted and comfortable interior. The relatively broad transom is by no means radical by today’s standards, the boat’s aft sections are optimised for a single rudder and there are no chines. The rudder is positioned reasonably well forward where it operates clear of the most turbulent water – whereas twin rudders tend to be placed right aft so that they can be reached to clear weed.

Compared to the J/105, a design that almost two decades after its launch is still capable of notching up top results on IRC, this boat has more rocker and is eight per cent heavier. However, it’s also a far more comfortable boat, with greater freeboard that gives a drier ride, plus full headroom below decks.

Rig and deck layout 10/10

The T-shape of the cockpit is configured to work with either tiller or wheel steering, though it’s hard to see how the extra complication and weight of a wheel could be justified on a race boat of this size. Primary winches are set up for cross winching the headsail sheet. While this is commonly seen as being advantageous for short-handed sailing, it also works when fully crewed – once you’re accustomed to the arrangement it seems like madness to send a crewmember down to the lee rail every time you duck a starboard tack boat.

Systems are updated compared to earlier models from J-boats, including the floating jib sheet lead that can be adjusted from the cockpit. My preference for short-handed offshore work would be to move the vang cleats further aft on each side of the coachroof, to allow the driver to dump the vang if necessary.

The keel-stepped twin-spreader aluminium mast from AG+ has a custom section created specifically for the J/99. This incorporates a track to accommodate either standard luff car sliders or a mainsail with a bolt rope. An extended masthead crane allows for a semi square top sail, while avoiding the need for running backstays. Deck gear is from a variety of manufacturers, including Antal clutches and Harken winches, while the test boat’s electronics were by B&G.

A range of options include twin rudders, water ballast, wheel steering and a symmetric spinnaker. Our test boat was equipped with main and jib from Incidences, plus a North Sails A2 spinnaker and a latest generation furling North Helix Code 0. This makes for easy handling even in boisterous conditions, as well as giving better sail shape in light airs.

Under sail 9/10

Our test took place on a bright and crisp early January day, with a north to north-westerly breeze in the upper teens, with occasional puffs well beyond 20 knots. We sailed the first boat out of the mould, configured with a single rudder and tiller steering.

The helm position is excellent, with the mainsheet, including fine tune, traveller and backstay all falling easily to hand. There are also reassuringly chunky foot chocks. When cross winched, the jib sheet winch could also easily be reached from the helm. Combined with pilot controls on both sides, as well as by the companionway, this arrangement makes for easy solo sailing, whether you’re racing alone or your co-skipper is napping.

Sailing upwind with full main and a general purpose jib, the boat settled easily into a groove with minimal weather helm. The J/99 proved to be stiff and needed only the traveller to be eased to stay on its feet in the stronger gusts.

Downwind with the 100m2 kite in flat water we were nudging an indicated nine knots of boat speed, at true wind angles of 160-165 degrees. The boat felt very docile, even though the wind was building at this stage. When we hotted up to 140 degrees TWA as the wind touched 24 knots the boat speed leapt into the lower teens and had there been more of a sea state it’s clear we would have enjoyed some exhilarating sustained surfs at higher speeds.

I was interested to see how the boat would handle a broach, so we sheeted on and headed up further onto a reach. Weight in the helm builds steadily in advance of the rudder stalling, giving good warning. When it did let go the broach was a gentle affair, with the lee toe rail remaining dry and the rudder regaining grip almost as soon as the spinnaker sheet was dumped.

Whether the load on the helm when the boat powers up is to your taste may be a matter of preference. Those who have grown up on twin rudder designs may find it surprisingly heavy in fruity conditions, while those accustomed to the single rudders may appreciate the clear warning as weight in the helm builds when the boat gets close to the edge.

Interior 8/10

The accommodation layout follows a similar pattern to that of many other similar boats, with two mirror image double aft cabins, the heads beyond the main bulkhead and sail storage area right forward. The finish is of a good standard and there’s proper headlining in the saloon area, although this marginally reduces headroom. There are also excellent hand holds – a factor that’s often missing on offshore boats.

The saloon has a substantial IRC friendly table, plus two settees that also make good sea berths, with backrests that hinge up to form additional berths when fully crewed. There’s not an abundance of timber, which is exactly in keeping with the ethos of this style of boat, while white moulded surfaces help to provide a bright appearance.

Each of the aft cabins is a comfortable double and has well planned stowage, including deep fiddled shelves and bins in which items that need to be accessed easily can be kept. Both have opening ports outboard and in the aft bulkhead to the cockpit. The forward facing chart table is generally well executed, although I’d prefer the seat to be configured to allow an off-watch crew member to take a quick nap while sitting facing inboard.

Overall, it’s an arrangement that stands to work well both short-handed and fully crewed. For the latter there’s an option to turn the seat backs in the saloon into a pair of hinge-up pilot berths.

Verdict 9/10

The J/99 enters an increasingly crowded market place, with a number of strong new contenders. At the top end Beneteau is hoping to sell many more Figaro 3s to private owners than was the case for the previous model. At the same time Jeanneau is gearing up to sell hundreds of the radical Daniel Andrieu and VPLP designed 3300, which was announced at December’s Paris boat show. At the same time there’s also a new JPK of a similar size on the way that can be expected to pick up a lot of silverware.

Nevertheless at the time of our test, when the prototype had only been afloat for a matter of weeks, J-Boats already had 30 orders for the J/99. It’s therefore already clear there will be plenty of these to race boat-for-boat.

It may appear to be a brave move to stay with a single-rudder hull shape in a market dominated by twin rudder designs. However, that in itself may offer J-Boats a competitive advantage.

Certainly the reduction in wetted surface area won’t harm speed in light airs – a factor that might have had considerable appeal in the summer of 2018. On the other hand, when powered-up reaching in big winds, even the twin-rudder option may not save its time on the fastest and most successful JPK1010s that are fitted with larger JPK1080 rudders. Nevertheless series results, even in offshore racing, often depend on light airs performance. This is particularly true for boats based in regions that have predominately lighter winds, including New England and the Mediterranean.

As things stand, the prototype J/99’s IRC rating is 1016 (or 1017 with the optional 90 square metre symmetric spinnaker), only 10 points higher than many JPK1010s and the majority of older J-Boat designs such as 105s and 109s. It also puts the boat in exactly the same ball park as the JPK1030, Sun Fast 3300 and water ballasted Ofcet 32s.

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BOAT TEST: J/YACHTS J/99 (WITH GALLERY)

99 problems (but the boat ain’t one).

The J/99 performance cruiser has already become J/Boats’ most successful model of its size for a long time. Rupert Holmes put it through its paces

There are many attractions to choosing a boat with good performance potential for cruising, especially on that’s configured for short-handed sailing. For a start, the slippery hull shape and generous sail area boosts light airs performance, which translates to more time having fun and less tedious time spent motoring.

Equally, you can expect the boat to be more responsive to sail controls and trimming, adding to the fun factor and making the boat more rewarding to sail. At the same time, decent deck gear, in a carefully thought out layout can make sail handling a breeze, even when working alone, which helps to tame the powerful rig.

However, one of the biggest advantages of a performance design is fast passage making. In effect this makes weather windows bigger – you can get further before the following bout of bad weather – and helps to extend cruising areas.

First impressions are of a quick, easily handled design with a well fitted and comfortable interior, albeit with less space than a pure cruiser. The relatively broad transom is by no means radical by today’s standards, the boats aft sections are optimised for a single rudder and there are no chines. The rudder is positioned reasonably well forward where it operates clear of the most turbulent water – whereas twin rudders tend to be placed right aft so that they can be reached to clear weed.

J/99 accommodation

Many high volume cruising yachts give the impression they were designed around a requirement to fit a certain amount of accommodation in a hull of a given length. However, the J/99 follows a much more traditional approach – draw a hull shape that’s optimised for efficient sailing and then craft the interior to fit that space.

The result is both pleasant in harbour and very workable at sea, even though there’s less space overall than a pure cruising boat of this size. There are two mirror image double aft cabins, forward of which is a galley to port and proper chart table with its own seat to starboard. The galley is of a reasonable size but in standard spec is relatively sparsely equipped.

There’s a good standard of finish, but without an abundance of timber. This is exactly in keeping with the ethos of this style of boat, while white moulded surfaces help to provide a bright appearance and are easy to maintain. There are also excellent hand holds and fiddles – factors that are all too often missing.

The saloon has a substantial table, plus two settees that also make good sea berths, while the heads is beyond the main bulkhead and sail storage area right forward.

Each of the aft cabins is a comfortable double and has well planned stowage, including deep fiddled shelves and bins in which items that need to be accessed easily can be kept. Both are well ventilated in port, with opening ports outboard and in the aft bulkhead to the cockpit.

J/99 o n deck

The T-shape of the cockpit is configured to work with either tiller or wheel steering, though it’s hard to see how the extra complication and weight of a wheel could be justified on a boat of this size. Loads on the tiller are low, unless the boat is pushed far harder on a spinnaker reach than any cruiser would sail.

Sail controls include a cockpit mounted mainsheet traveller, powerful backstay, vang and mainsheet purchases, plus spinnaker gear. Deck gear is from a variety of manufacturers, with each item optimised to its purpose, including Antal clutches and Harken winches, while the test boat’s electronics were by B&G.

The keel stepped twin spreader aluminium mast from AG+ has a custom section created specifically for the J/99. This incorporates a track to accommodate either standard luff car sliders or a mainsail with a bolt rope . An extended masthead crane allows for a semi square top sail, while avoiding the need for running backstays.

A wide range of options include twin rudders, water ballast, wheel steering and a symmetric spinnaker. For our test the boat was equipped with main and jib from Incidences, plus a large North Sails asymmetric spinnaker and a latest generation furling North Helix Code 0. The latter makes for easy handling, even in boisterous conditions, as well as giving better sail shape in light airs.

J/99 u nder sail

Our test took place on a bright and crisp day with a north to north-westerly breeze in the upper teens, with occasional puffs well beyond 20 knots. We sailed the first boat out of the mould, configured with a single rudder and tiller steering.

The helm position is excellent, with the mainsail controls, including mainsheet fine tune, traveller and backstay all falling easily to hand. There are also reassuringly chunky foot chocks. If cross winched to the windward side the jib sheet winch could also easily be reached from the helm. Combined with pilot controls on both sides, as well as by the companionway, this arrangement makes for easy, yet efficient, sailing even if there’s only one person on deck.

Sailing upwind with full main and a general purpose jib the boat settled easily into a groove with minimal weather helm. The boat proved to be stiff and needed only the traveller to be eased to stay on its feet, even in the stronger gusts.

Downwind with the 100m2 kite in flat water we were nudging an indicated nine knots of boat speed, at true wind angles of 160-165 degrees. The boat felt very docile, even though the wind was building at this stage. When we luffed up to a true wind angle of 140 degrees, as the wind touched 24 knots, the boat speed leapt into the lower teens and had there been more of a sea state it’s clear we would have enjoyed some exhilarating sustained surfs at higher speeds.

For those preferring a very docile ride, reaching at this angle with just mainsail and jib would give speeds of 8 knots or more – perfect for fast yet easy passage making. For more power that’s easy to handle the North Helix furling Code 0 proved to be a very versatile sail.

J/99 u nder power

A combination of low freeboard, an efficient keel shape and big rudder make this a very predictable boat to handle in tight spaces. There’s minimal prop kick in reverse and manoeuvring astern holds no particular surprises or challenges.

J/99 v erdict

The J/99 enters an increasingly crowded market place and stands out among many for being optimised for a single rudder. In many respects it’s a Contessa 32 for the 21st century – a thoroughbred design that offers more space, a drier ride and more performance that reflects the ongoing advances in yacht design. Yet it still offers the ability to ride out a proper gale at sea.

This is not a bargain basement boat – there are many craft with larger interiors that can be bought for the same money, but they’re nothing like as much fun, or as rewarding to sail. It’s easy to see where the extra money goes to create a boat like this – it’s akin to making the difference between a carefully engineered sports saloon and a lumbering people carrier.

Specifications LOA 9.94m LWL 8.72m Beam 3.40m Draught 1.99m Displacement 3,800kg Upwind sail area 53m2 Asymmetric spinnaker 101m2 Symmetric spinnaker 90m2

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Boat of the Year 2020 Best Crossover: J/99

• By Dave Reed
• Updated: December 10, 2019

At A Glance

Price As Sailed: $220,000

Design Purpose: Handicap, coastal, shorthanded and club racing

Crew List: Two to six

The J/99 was a favorite and a serious Boat of the Year contender. The judges sailed it on the snottiest day on the week, and as the breeze ratcheted ever higher, the boat, they said, comes alive. They’ve come to expect nothing less of a J Boat, because designer Alan Johnstone is on a roll. For J devotees and owners, of which there are many, the J/99 will feel like home.

“We’ve been missing a sweet spot in the 33- to 35-foot range with a performance boat that combines headroom and accommodations for family sailing, but is also purpose-built for owners aspiring to do double­handed sailing,” J Boats’ Jeff Johnstone tells the judges.

While tempting to cater to an emerging shorthanded market with a highly specialized boat, he adds, they didn’t want a one-trick pony with the J/99. “That’s not how we, or our owners use our boats,” Johnstone says. “We like a boat that can day sail well, have room for a full crew and set up right for shorthanded sailing.”

To that end, he points out, everything in the halyard and sail-control department is within reach of the tiller; at the same time, the cockpit can accommodate a busy five- or six-person crew for hustling around the cans.

Johnstone’s preferred model for comparison is the company’s big seller of earlier days. “Think of it as a modern J/105, with more headroom,” he says. “In terms of interior volume, it feels like twice the boat of a 105. But it’s quicker. It’s 2 feet smaller, and it’s more stable. It’s also slippery in light air.”

“It’s a boat that’s as powerful as it is versatile. It’s stiff upwind, and with the controls all led right, it’s a boat you can get a lot out of.” —Greg Stewart

The Johnstones campaigned their stock French-built J/99 in New England with mixed results during the summer of 2019, with a provisional base PHRF rating of 78. Once they learned how to better tune the aluminum rig, Johnstone says they began to realize its true colors: “Our top speed, in 30 knots, [in Cowes, England] with six on board, was 18.5 knots,” he says. “We jibed it four or five times with outside jibes without any problems while boats were ­wiping out all around us.”

During their test session in Annapolis, the judges got their own taste of what the boat can do in a strong breeze.

“The boat is wicked stiff,” Allen says. “It’s comfortable to drive, and there’s enough space for the main trimmer to sit right next to you.”

When Stewart finally ­wrestled the helm away from Allen, he expected to be over­powered, being a few bodies shy of ideal weight on the rail. “With only three on the rail, it settled nicely,” he says. “We got to 7.5 knots upwind with ease, and when we put the kite up, everything all worked fine. It’s all really simple. We got it ripping downwind at 10 to 11 knots easily.”

The interior speaks to the boat’s dual-purpose calling: There are aft cabins and an option for flip-up pilot berths amidships, but the forepeak, with a head only, is left open for sail storage and spinnaker douses. Construction is a mix of balsa and CoreCell in the hull, all of it scrimped and infused.

The tapered mast is aluminum with an extruded mainsail track, which adds considerable stiffness to the rig, Stewart says, while keeping the overall tube‑weight low.

Like the J/111 and J/88 that preceded it, the J/99, he notes, continues a good trend for Corinthian-level owners and teams; it’s a boat that’s as powerful as it is versatile. “It’s not meant to be a strictly reaching kind of boat. It’s stiff upwind, and with the controls all led right, it’s a boat you can get a lot out of.”

At $220,000 all-up, Allen adds, this boat is also an ­absolute bang for your buck.

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J Boats J/99

THE AWARD-WINNING J/99

The J/99’s performance and capabilities have been widely recognized by the world’s yachting press as a truly fun, fast, evolutionary boat from the J/Design and J/Composites build teams. Recent awards include:

• Sail’s Best Boats- Performance Award
• Sailing World’s Boat of the Year- Best Crossover Boat
• The British Yachting Awards – Performance Yacht award

• Length Overall: 32' 7"
• Waterline Length: 28' 7"
• Standard Draft: 6' 6"
• Max Beam: 11' 2"
• Displacement: 8,415 lb
• Fuel Capacity: 15 GAL
• Water Capacity: 26 GAL
• Standard Engine: Volvo: 20 hp

The J/99 (32.6') does it all - combining great sailing performance and stability with below decks comfort in a boat that can be sailed by just one or two people. The deck layout and sail plan are optimized for easy handling, while the roomy cockpit accommodates 8+ for fun daysailing. Want to jump into the next adventure-style overnight race or cruise rally and can’t find crew?  No problem. The J/99 will reward you with easy, high speed sailing whether solo, twin, or with the whole gang.

The J/99 has a versatile cockpit for both day-cruising and day-racing that can comfortably accommodate as many as 6. The deck layout has several optimized features including a floating jib lead system, 8:1 inhauler system, cockpit-led outhaul, cunningham, and double-ended boomvang. The 48:1 cascading backstay system leads to both sides of the cockpit. The two self-tailing primary winches are located within reach of the driver.

Specification Features High Quality Composite Engineering & Construction: The J/99 exceeds ISO 12215 requirements for Category A offshore sailing.  The hull and deck are built STRONG by J/Composites of France utilizing the SCRIMP resin-infusion molding process – a molding process proven to yield higher strength laminates for long lasting integrity in an environmentally friendly manner.

G+ Custom Mast Section The J/99 mast is an all-new, custom engineered alloy section (anodized black) developed specifically for the J/99 by AG+ Spars of France. The unique integral mainsail track accommodates either luff cars or bolt rope. This innovation eliminates over 12 meters (40’) of fasteners and glue and allows engineers to take advantage of the increased stiffness the integral track geometry provides for final spar section calculations. A tapered top section and quality hardware result in a rig that delivers the best performance value.

Carbon Fiber Fixed Bow Sprit The J/99 is the first J with a fixed carbon bowsprit. The sprit is easily removed by way of two bolts just aft of the stem, and is supported by a Dyneema bobstay to the bow. The primary benefits of a fixed bowsprit for offshore sailing are reduced weight in the bow and better protection against water intrusion.

Engineered Low VCG Keel The low VCG (Vertical Center of Gravity) keel of the J/99 is a high-tech two-metal keel (draft of 1.9m/6.5’) comprised of an encapsulated cast iron fin with integral lead wedge bulb - a similar construction method as the J/112e and J/121. This keel provides the J/99 with exceptional stability.

Key Features

• Great performance and stability
• Optimized for easy handling
• Roomy cockpit for 8+ people
• High quality composite engineering & construction
• AG+ Custom Mast
• L-shaped galley w/ stove, ice-box, and inboard sink w/ pressure water system
• Matching double aft cabins

Standard Power: Volvo Penta D1-20 Engine Details  

The British Yachting Awards Winner 2019

Sales Consultant Contact McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers for additional information on this boat.

Email: [email protected] Call: (914) 381-5900

Position Title:  Service Advisor

Position Type:  Full-time / Part Time

Reports to:  Sales Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will be responsible for providing support to the Service Writer, Service Team, and Customers. Responsibilities include working with the customer to get the information required to perform the work on the boat, following through to make sure the work is completed correctly and in a timely manner.

• Assist Service Writer in day-to-day operations, including scheduling and distribution of work for technicians and yard team, utilizing DockMaster and other tools as required to generate and manage work orders.
• Communicate with customers by phone, email an text to determine needs, providing clear and precise instructions on the work order for the technician.
• Answer incoming calls and emails in a professional manner, returning all customer calls and emails prior to close of business each day.
• Promote the sale of additional labor services, part and accessories in a professional manner for each customer.
• Obtain Customer approvals for work order, and collect payment for work prior to releasing customer boat. In the event the repair cost is unknown initially, obtain customer approval on work order to diagnose issues, and then contact customer with estimate for repairs as soon as determined, and obtain approval.
• Review and input technician timesheets into DockMaster.
• Inspect quality of work performed as required, prior to delivery to the customer.
• Communicate with the customer during repairs and coordinate customer pick-up.
• Finalize and invoice work orders.
• Provide prompt, detailed and timely flow of all paperwork.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Results Areas:

• Effective communication with the customer
• Accurate and timely invoices
• Accurate and organized service repair orders
• Minimize aging accounts receivable, timely completion of open work orders

Compensation:

• Pay commensurate with experience
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Health Insurance
• Retirement Program
• Continuing Education

Experience Level:   1-3 years preferred, or similar industry background

1-3 years preferred

Salary and Benefits:  $45 – 55k, Medical, 401K

Email: [email protected]

Position Title:  Sales Meeting Setter Position Type:  Full-time / Part Time

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside the McMichael Sales Team to set web meetings, conference calls and boat viewings for the sales team. You will work with an experienced team that specializes in premium racing and sailing yachts, as well as high-performance inboard and outboard day and cruising power yachts. You will work with an existing client database. You will cultivate ongoing communication with our clients and their families that demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism for the McMichael brand.

Core Skills:

• Effective and professional phone communication skills
• Prospect farming
• Active listening
• Influencing with content through digital and social media tools
• Coordinating meeting schedules with Sales Consultants and prospects
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written
• Ability to work collaboratively with other team members

Responsibilities:

• Call boaters to set web or phone meetings for Sales Consultants
• Send emails to prospects for the purpose of setting meetings
• Send texts to prospects with meeting request

The ideal candidate is someone who can consistently and persistently communicate and send reach out messages to boaters in a professional manner to set meetings. This position is ideal for a recent college graduate or someone going to school part-time.

Experience Level:  0-2 Years in Sales

Salary and Benefits:  $40 – 60k, Medical, 401K

Email: [email protected]

Brett Lyall A lifelong, passionate boater, Brett brings 26 years of sailing and 18 years of powerboat knowledge to the McMichael team. His background includes Environmental engineering and consulting, along with 7 years of sales and marketing experience in the luxury market. In addition to being an avid fisherman, surfer, and scuba diver, he is a sailing coach and has crewed extensively offshore on a variety of boats from J109, J105, J99 and 112E to a Gunboat 57. His knowledge of all things boating related is second only to his reputation for exceptional customer service and professionalism.

Doug Conner Doug’s life-long love of all things nautical naturally led him to pursue a career in luxury yacht brokerage. His professional background in sales and marketing, combined with his overall experience in and passion for the yachting industry, makes him a valuable asset to his clients for sail and power boats. Doug is committed to providing his clients with honest, professional, knowledgeable, and personal service.

Myles McQuone Myles is a licensed captain from age 18. He is a third Generation Merchant Mariner, operating boats runs deep in his family. Myles has held multiple roles within the marine industry between Marine Towing and Salvage, Marine Technician and Marine Service Manager. Myles’ focus has always had the customers best interest in mind; expect the same attention while consulting with Myles.

Ethan Morawski Ethan grew up in Fairfield CT and has been sailing for 13 years and powerboating for 10 years all over Long Island Sound. He has worked in the marine industry since High School and has an excellent reputation for superb customer service, seamanship, and attention to details. He is a graduate of Bryant University in RI.

Position Title: Boat Yard Crew Member Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Reports to: Service Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be to support the efficient daily operations of the McMichael yacht yard and the satisfaction of our customers.

This will include a variety of functions and tasks including basic property maintenance, launch and recovery of boats, cleaning, crane and forklift operations, blocking boats, and winter storage and other relevant duties as assigned.

• Ability to clearly understand instructions and complete tasks accordingly
• Mechanically inclined
• Able to lift and reposition equipment, tools, and materials
• Basic boat operations – power and sail (will train)
• Focus on customer satisfaction
• Proactive mindset
• Able to work unsupervised
• Ability to collaboratively work well with other team members
• Support of daily operations
• Support clients boating activities, prepping boats, fueling, etc.
• Safe operation of company vehicles, forklifts, and equipment, including trailer handling
• Haul, block and launch boats
• Boat cleaning and detailing
• Bottom paint and waxing boats
• Dock and marina area maintenance
• Shrink wrapping
• Repositioning boats

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience at a previous boat yard or yacht club. Their background will include a familiarity with boats. They will be someone who enjoys the boating lifestyle and enjoys working outdoors. They value working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization an enhancing part of the local community. We encourage you to apply if you do not have the experience but are dedicated to building a career in the marine industry.

What does a typical workday look like? A typical morning could involve arriving and immediately removing covers, prepping several boats to be launched and readied for use by their clients. You could find yourself assisting with changing a large tire on a trailer or rigging and craning a boat onto a truck for transportation. Daily activities will also include basic maintenance of the boatyard facilities which includes painting, building repair, emptying garbage, and cleaning, as well as assisting technicians with boat maintenance.

Salary range: $15 – $30

https://vimeo.com/758079548

Position Title: Fiberglass / GelCoat Technician Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be fiberglass and gel-coat repair work on sailboats and powerboats. The fiberglass work will include everything from small parts repair to structural repair and rebuilds. The gelcoat work will be similarly inclusive and will also involve spaying hull bottoms and topsides with boat bottom paint and gelcoat.

• Working with vinylester, polyester, and epoxy resins
• Experience working with various coring materials
• Knowledge of gelcoat matching and application
• Cutting, grinding and finish sanding
• Visually spot imperfections in all parts
• Use of buffers, DA’s, pencil grinders etc.
• Finish buffing and polishing
• Exceptional paint rolling and spraying finishing
• Proactive mindset and able to work unsupervised
• Complete fiberglass and composite repair work to the highest possible standards
• Spray gelcoat, clear coat, and metal flake consistently and evenly to desired thickness
• Getting the customer back on the water with a safe operating boat
• Ensuring all repair work structurally and visually exceeds expectations
• Lifting heaving objects
• Assisting the entire service teams with various tasks

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience in fiberglass and composites fabrication or repair as well as experience with painting and gelcoat work or similar skill sets. Their background will include a familiarity with boats and enjoy delivering exceptional finish work. They will be someone who appreciates the boating lifestyle and working sail and powerboats. We are looking for a person who values working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization that is a respected part of the local community.

Salary and benefits: $50 – 70k, Medical, 401K

Position Title: Marine Service Mechanic Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred. Certifications Preferred. Equal skills and high motivation also accepted.

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be engine maintenance and repairs for both gas and diesel engine systems as well as service and repair work on a variety of other boat system. A large part of this position will include troubleshooting, engine and drive preventative maintenance, emergency repairs at the yard or at the location of the boat needing service. You will be working on inboard and outboard systems and interacting and communicating with our boaters, so a focus on customer service is an important skill. Certification not initial required but is a plus.

• Effective and knowledgeable mechanic
• Problem solving – engines, drives, control systems and electrical
• Mechanical and electrical troubleshooting
• Engine rebuilds, 12v DC systems, machining work
• Gas and diesel engine/generator operations
• Wiring and soldering
• Performing maintenance and repairs safely and quickly
• Have your own set of tools
• Performing functionality checks on engines and systems
• Basic boat operations

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience as a marine service technician, automotive mechanic, Gen Tech, or similar skill sets. Their background will include a familiarity with boats and enjoy solving mechanical and systems issues. They will be someone who enjoys the boating lifestyle and working outdoors. They value working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization an enhancing part of the local community. We encourage you to apply if you do not have the experience but are dedicated to building a career in the marine service industry.

Salary and benefits: $60 – 80k, Medical, 401K

Position Title: Yacht Sales Consultant Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Reports to: Sales Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside the McMichael Sales Team to consult with our client boaters, guiding them to find and purchase the best yacht for their modern boating needs. You will work with an experienced team that specializes in premium racing and sailing yachts, as well as high-performance inboard and outboard day and cruising power yachts. You will work with existing clients as well as being responsible for identifying, nurturing, and closing new clients. You will cultivate relationships with our clients and their families that demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism for the McMichael brand. You will be supported by the team to help you locate, acquire, and nurture prospective new client boaters. You will be a part of a sales and service team that caters to the all-encompassing boating needs of the McMichael community of boaters.

• Conveying key features and distinguishing selling points of a given boat model
• Ability to close high-value sales from $500k – $3M
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Consulting with and guiding clients effectively
• Proactive mindset that fosters successful unsupervised work
• Close deals on new yacht sales
• Deliver world class service in the form of professionalism, knowledge, and customer service
• Acquire and develop prospects into leads, then into new boat sales
• Attend boat shows and events to meet with and engage boaters
• Use digital and social media tools to engage with boaters
• Secure used boat listings
• Close used boat sales
• Guide boaters through the research, selection, specification, closing, delivery, and commissioning process
• Work with the Sales Team to constantly increase brand and model knowledge
• Influence your client boaters to choose McMichael Yards for their boat servicing and storage needs

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical/boating lifestyle and has grown up around boats. They will have previous experience selling in the corporate environment, in addition to a strong boating background and several years of selling yachts over 30 feet and over $500K. They will be an excellent communicator who is able to convey information clearly and concisely. They will be motivated to constantly learn more and achieve more regarding new boats and sales goals. They will be a person who can collaborate with all the members of the sales team to find creative solutions to barriers and issues.

Experience Level Experienced as a sail or power boater or similar industry background 2-3 years preferred

Salary and benefits: Base of $50 – $70k, commissions, Medical, 401K

John Glynn John brings to McMichael more than three decades of sailing, boating and sales experience. In addition to his time at BEYC, Glynn’s resume includes years as an Associate Editor (and Contributing Editor) for Sailing World magazine, where he was part of the team that created both the “Boat of the Year” awards and the NOOD Regattas. Over the years he has raced aboard C&C 40s, New York 36s, J/35s, Express 37s and Farr 40s, as well as his own J/30 and Soverel 33 Grey Seal. He boats with his family out of Captain Harbor in Greenwich, CT.

“John brings a wealth of experience as a racer, boat owner and industry professional,” said Michael Beers, McMichael Sales Manager. “He will be a fantastic resource for his clients in buying and selling boats. We’re proud to have him on our team, and his background will help us continue to fulfill our motto, ‘Experience Counts!’”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend my career in and around the sailing and boating community, enabling me to love the various jobs I’ve held,” said Glynn. “In joining McMichael Yacht Brokers I’ve found another fresh, new outlet from which to apply my knowledge of and passion for yachting. Moreover, I’m able to do that while working in the company of some of the finest yacht brokers in the business. It is my hope to bring to my brokerage customers a sense of confidence and satisfaction as they make yacht transactions, both from the buyer’s and seller’s sides.”

Cameron Campbell Cameron has been boating his entire life, starting as a toddler on Great South Bay on Long Island. He grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Long Island Sound. In college he was a member of the University of Rhode Island Sailing Team and also ran operations at the URI Waterfront Center. After college he was an ASA Sailing Instructor at the New York Sailing School on City Island and then for Olympic Circle Sailing on San Francisco Bay. He participated in many regattas on both coasts in both small and large boats. He owned a Sabre for many years which he cruised from Annapolis to Maine. Cameron also has experience with power boats ranging from center consoles though larger cruisers.

Cameron has been working with clients preparing for Bermuda races, extensive blue water cruising, and many that are new to boating.

Rick Fleig Rick grew up on Long Island spending many years sailing on the Sound in everything from J/22′s to J/105′s, Custom C&C 41′s and many other boats, competing in all the major Northeast events. This experience and passion for sailing led him on a path to sail in the 1987 America’s Cup in Perth, Australia with both the Courageous and USA Syndicates. He has sailed in many major international regattas, including the Swan World Championships in Sardinia, the World 6 Meter Championships in Portofino, Italy, and several Newport Bermuda races.

Rick combines his extensive sailing background with both the marine and sports industry, having worked as a regional sales manager at SunfishLaser and Vanguard Sailboats, and prior to that as a regional sales representative with sporting goods giant Nike. He believes that building relationships and understanding the clients’ needs are essential in helping customers have a great experience with their boats. He works out of the McMichael Yacht Broker’s Newport office at the Newport Shipyard.

Rick resides in Portsmouth, RI, with his family, having fallen in love with the Newport area during his many sailing events there. He recently retired as the director/coach of the Portsmouth High School Sailing Team after many years, and along with his wife, Carline, now enjoys his time proudly following their youngest son, Tyler, who just finished his second year at the US Naval Academy. Tyler is a very accomplished sailor himself, and a member of the nationally ranked USNA dinghy sailing team. Rick is a member of Sail Newport and can be seen racing many weeknights and weekends in all the local events in a variety of boats.

Michael Beers Michael is a licensed captain and active racer who began his sailing career in Boston on the Charles River. As someone who did not grow up sailing, he especially enjoys introducing new boaters to the sport. Michael has a proven track record of working tirelessly for his clients, and enjoys working directly with buyers to identify the best possible “next boat” from the many options available. He is an active racer, recently racing in the J/70 fleet at Quantum Key West Race Week and aboard the J/130 Dragonly in the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race.

Prior to joining McMichael in 2007, he captained the 80′ schooner Adirondack II in Newport, RI and was an instructor at Offshore Sailing. In his free time, he enjoys cruising his Sabre.

Todd Williams Todd started sailing on his family’s cruising boat before his memory serves. His love of racing was cultivated through sailing Blue Jays and Lasers in Pequot Yacht Club’s junior program.  Since then he has actively raced in the J105 fleet, J109 fleet, and helped form the J122 class. He also developed and helped launch the LIS IRC 35 class.  Todd is an experienced distance sailor and was involved with winning the Vineyard race class and IRC overall aboard the J122 Partnership.  

Todd enjoys using his extensive knowledge of boating to find his clients the boat that best suits their needs.  He is dedicated to providing the best possible service to all his customers.  Todd can often be found racing with clients and helping them build their racing programs. Through the years, he has custom built many J/Boats, Alerions, and MJM power boats for clients, many of whom he now considers personal friends.

During the winter season you may spot the Williams family on the slopes at Okemo where they have a ski house.

Andy Kaplan Starting October 4, Andrew (Andy) Kaplan has joined the brokerage team at McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers. The addition increases the McMichael roster to seven full-time yacht brokers serving customers up and down the east coast with a concentration on the Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. He will work primarily out of the McMichael Mamaroneck, NY, office as well as Martha’s Vineyard.

“Andy is bringing to McMichael a lifetime of experience in sail and power boating with a keen focus in the sailboat racing world,” said McMichael President Steve Leicht. “His broad familiarity with offshore and one-design sailboats combined with his powerboating experience makes him an ideal addition to our brokerage team.”

Kaplan spent the majority of his career in finance including helping create the Quattro Global Capital, LLC where he was a principal and head of operation and marketing. “I believe that my financial sales and management experience is a great asset as I transition to yacht brokerage,” noted Kaplan. “While they are different industries, to succeed in either you need similar disciplines when matching buyers with the right product. That’s what creates and maintains long term customer relationships.”

Kaplan grew-up in Mamaroneck and has been a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club for over 30 years where he has been active in the Club’s leadership. He lives in New Rochelle, NY, and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

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The J/99 short-handed, offshore monohull speedster is the new kid in town and catching the attention of sailboat racers and cruisers alike. The racing yacht is designed by Alan Johnstone and built by J/Boats, which started production in 2019 out of their Rhode Island facility. The newest addition to the J/Sport line, she is crew-friendly and offshore-capable, combining comfortable interior accommodations with the tiller-driven responsiveness of a sport boat. The interior features twin aft cabins, a proper sit-down forward facing nav station, an L-shaped galley, and a private forward head with sail locker.

“The J/99 opens up a wide range of sailing possibilities,” commented designer Alan Johnstone. “ The versatile sail plan, balanced hull form, and efficient cockpit will work as well for short-handed offshore sailing as for weekend sailing with friends. The J/99 packs a lot of performance and versatility into a manageable size and budget.”

Those who visited the Seattle Boat Show this past January may have spotted David Miller’s J/99 One Life featured in the Sail Northwest space. She was hard to miss with her hull’s striking custom design of bright swirling black and blue lines. I caught up with David Miller, and Ken Machtley, another new J/99 owner, to hear what they had to say about the new racy sailboat.

“Over the last couple of years, I fell in love with racing, single-handing, and cruising Puget Sound,” explains David Miller. “The J/99 is a race boat capable of being raced with just one person or a full crew. It’s also comfy enough down below with headroom and berths to cruise. I’d been looking at similar-sized boats from X-yachts, Elan, J/105s and J/109s. Then J/Boats sent out the design brief for the J/99 two years ago, and I pretty much fell in love at first sight.”

Ken Machtley, who many in the sailing community may know as the skipper of J/33 Dash , just purchased the new J/99 with his partner Stephanie Arnold. His boat is in production and expected to be delivered in early summer. “The size is good for our experience level and ambitions,” he shares. “The J/88 was too small, and the J/111 was larger than what we needed. We have the Martin 242 for buoy racing. The J/99 will be for double-handed races, plus crewed races we wouldn’t otherwise do on the Martin 242, like Round-the-County.”

One benefit of the J/99, in Machtley’s view, is the aluminum mast that may help keep maintenance and insurance costs down. “The non-overlapping headsail will make for easier tacks,” he explains, “and the headsail furler will make for much easier sail transitions. He also likes the cleaner cockpit, with no traveler to step over, and where lines are easier to manage. They’ve also added a refrigerator to their new J/99 because cold beer is a good thing!

In terms of racing options, David Miller was drawn to the sturdy autopilot and the specially designed mast with an option that frees him from fooling with boltropes. “I like the versatile sail plan and the water ballast was also a huge draw. For me, it’s all about its ability to allow me to choose crew —regardless of gender, age, and mobility—for their sailing expertise and not their mass. Hopefully, we’ll have the bugs worked out by the time Ken’s boat gets here!”

The big question on many racers’ minds is whether the J/99 will be the next One Design sweetheart in the Pacific Northwest. Currently, Machtley knows of three J/99s sold in our area. His boat, when delivered this summer, will primarily sail in the Bellingham and Orcas Island area. Miller’s One Life sails will fly in Seattle and the third J/99 was purchased by a skipper in Olympia. “There’s a lot of excitement around the new 2024 Olympics double-handed offshore event happening in Paris,” Machtley adds, “and a growing interest in double-handed racing in the region.”

Miller agrees about the growing interest in the 2024 Olympics and double-handed sailing events in general. “Double-hand racing is growing pretty much everywhere but on the West Coast, but I expect the J/99 to be a big player here.” Miller’s hope is that race organizers will incorporate double-handed races into the 2021 racing season plans. For scoring, the double-handers could race in their regular PHRF class, but also have a virtual class where all these competitors could also be scored together. “This is a little easier with condition adjusted rating systems, but I think all of us are laid back enough locally that we can adapt,” he says with a grin, “and yes, One Life is already registered for Point Roberts Race Week and is looking forward to it!”

“Prism Graphics brought what I had in my head for her hull art to life and I’m just thrilled how she looks. Josh Butler at Doyle Sails Seattle has been hugely helpful, and he will continue to be as we trailblaze J/99 sail and rig setup here in the Pacific Northwest’s light winds. CSR has also been amazing. Everyone at CSR truly treated One Life like their own boat and it shows inside and out.” CSR Marine is a boatyard in the Shilshole area of Seattle.

Machtley describes his experience working with Sail Northwest as, “Absolutely the best.” He first met Ben at Whidbey Island Race Week (now Point Roberts Race Week) a couple years ago, and met Bob this past January at the Seattle Boat Show. “Ben is quick to respond and very helpful,” he adds, “and Bob was very fair in negotiating for the boat and trade-in. I can’t think of anything more I’d want from a dealer and broker.”

The Dash By Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth, and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged. To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

To secure the J/99, Machtley and Arnold traded in their J/33 Dash . “We traded her in to Sail Northwest and she’s currently up for sale at their docks. We just did a brand-new bottom in December and the North 3Di sails are only a year old, so someone is going to get a sweet boat.”

The couple have decided to keep the name Dash One Life,” he says. The boat’s name refers to the poem The Dash by Linda Ellis as seen here to the left. The poem reminds us that what matters most in life is not the day we’re born or the day we die, but rather the time in between, the dash on the gravestone. This is where we really live and in the end, we only have one life.

To learn more about the J/99, visit sailnorthwest.com or check out David Miller’s blog at onelife99.com .

Schelleen Rathkopf

Schelleen Rathkopf is Managing Editor of Northwest Yachting magazine and Owner and Producer of Whidbey Island Race Week (now Point Roberts Race Week). She is also the producer of the SHE Regatta, a new all women regatta in Seattle.

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J/99 – Calypso

Description, sail wardrobe, additional info, electronics, for sale €165,000, vat not paid eu (+vat).

The J/99 ‘Calypso,’ which was launched in 2020, stands as the latest addition to the J Sport range, seamlessly blending headroom and comfortable interior accommodation with the agility of a racing boat. Consistent and impressive performance in all areas – even in adverse weather conditions, well built and boasting remarkable resale value.

Founded in 1977, J boats is a globally recognised brand that for over 4 decades have been designing and building brilliant performing, comfortable, easy to handle yachts.

When I think of J boats, I think of reliability, high quality attention to detail and a comfortable. interior.

An important feature in the J boat formula is the all round performance and being able to sail in a wide range of conditions. J Boats start moving in the lightest of the breeze and are able to sail in 5 knots but can also sail effectively and safety in 35+knots. With many modern offshore yachts optimised for running or reaching J boats have a super high stability

This presents a great opportunity to acquire a fully equipped and striking J/99, complete with an extensive array of options. Notably, in the 2023 Rolex Middle Sea Race ‘Calypso’ achieved an impressive 2nd overall in ORC (13 minutes and 19 seconds of 1st after 4 days of intense racing) and 5th overall in IRC in a very competitive fleet beating many professional fully crewed yachts.

This J/99 shares the same DNA as the J/112E and J/121 and designed to meet the needs of owners who wish to sail with a small crew, or a double handed campaign. She benefits from an extensive Sail wardrobe for both inshore and offshore sailing, as well as upgraded rigging and a good suite of electronics. Easily sailed short handed, with the advantage of Jefa direct drive autopilot with B&G H5000 control systems and remote, the truly dual purpose J/99 can meet all of your sailing needs.

She is an offshore-capable speedster with a comfortable interior – combining great sailing performance and high stability; the defining highlight of this 32-foot, competitive club racer.

The deck layout and sailplan are optimised for easy handling, while the roomy cockpit accommodates 8+. Want to jump into the next adventure-style overnight race or cruise rally and can’t find crew? No problem. The J/99 will reward you with easy, high speed sailing whether solo, twin, or with the whole gang.

Don’t miss the brilliant opportunity to be on the water in a J/99 immediately!

Read the article “Whats so great about the J/99 ?”

Main: D4 aramid/carbon (2021)

J1: D4 aramid/carbon (2021)

J2: D4 aramid/carbon (2021)

J4: D4 aramid/carbon (2021)

J4: Pro-radial (2022)

A1: Nylon 0.60/0.75 (2021)

A2: Nylon 0.75/0.90 (2021)

A4: with A6 reef (2021)

Jib Top: BX 05/10(2021)

Code 0: BX 05/10 (2021)

Code 5: (fractional) (2022)

Staysail: Pro-radial

Delivery Jib & Main Pro-radial, Storm sails

Standard Hull with single rudder and tiller

Full lead flat keel

Gori 2-blade racing propellor

Additional capacity service battery for total of 200Ah

Performa winches, halyard & primary

Additional opening ports in cockpit

Pilot berths in saloon

Removable battery charger

Removable dehumidifier

Aluminum mast with carbon spreaders

Carbon boom HS40

DM20 Backstay. Upgraded cascade with SK99 and Ubi Maior blocks

Harken Carbofoil (New Oct 2022)

Fractional sheave and halyard

Staysail tack padeye (Ubi Maior)

Reinforced bowsprit with DM20 bobstay

Performance running rigging (Marlow)

Outboard lead padeyes (Ubi Maior)

Upgraded jib & spinnaker blocks (Ubi Maior ULTRA)

Staysail furler – Ubi Maior FR87

Code 0 furler – Ubi Maior FR125

2nd tack-line with Spinlock XTX clutch

Ronstan rope bags and Ronstan one-touch winch handles

H5000 Hydra base pack w. autopilot

Autopilot remote control

2x Cockpit MFD’s

3x 20/20HV displays on mast pod

Zeus ‘9 at chart table

Jeffa drive direct autopilot motor

VHF V60 – DSC & AIS

NAIS-500 Class B AIS

proTAC 5311 Tactical Wideband 4G Antenna

Teltonika-RUT950-LTE dual sim router

Cyclops smarttune forestay loadcell

Yacht Details

• Builder: J Boats
• Build Year: 2020
• Draft: 2.0m
• Displacement: 3800kg
• Location: Malta
• Price: €165,000 VAT NOT PAID EU (+VAT)

Contact: Lucy Jackson

T: (+44) 020 3920 6261 M: (+44) 07825 234963 E:  [email protected]

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Call: +44 (0) 20 3920 6261 Email: [email protected]

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J Boats J/99 Racer/Cruiser

Used yachts for sale, sail monohulls 30ft > 35ft,        j boats for sale, j boats j/99 boats for sale.

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Low-Hour Azimut 60 Fly For Sale

• By Jake Lamb
• September 26, 2024

Yachtsmen seeking an owner-operator friendly and entertainment-focused yacht can add the Azimut 60 Fly to the short list. This 60-foot flybridge cruiser has a powerful combination of design elements that make it suitable for day boating or weekend cruising. MarineMax has Equilibrium , a 2022 Azimut 60 Fly, listed for $2.15 million. 

“[ Equilibrium ] is the epitome of luxury and performance on the water,” MarineMax says. “This sleek and stylish yacht features a modern design with clean lines and a spacious layout, making it perfect for entertaining and relaxing with family and friends.”

The teak-deck outdoor lounge and entertainment areas onboard Equilibrium will have owners and their guests kicking back and enjoing conversations and cocktails from the stern to the bow. 

The flybridge has two distinct sections, what is covered by the hardtop and what is not. The forward three sides of the hardtop have an isinglass enclosure with the back open. The upper helm station is forward to port with a U-shaped dinette abaft and a J-shaped lounge pad to starboard. If guests want to dial up, or down, the sunlight the flybridge hardtop has a sunroof. The after section of the flybridge has additional lounge seating with sofas to starboard and port, and if guests want a little more reprieve from the sun a sun shade can extend off the hardtop. 

The foredeck has bench seating abaft a three-person sun pad, offering guests a place to catch some sun or to relax and enjoy Sunsetters at sunset. Aft, the cockpit has alfresco dining for up to six people. The area is shaded from the flybridge overhang above. 

Volume-enhancing windows run the length of the main deck interior, flooding the space with natural light. The two-tiered salon has a main deck galley amidships to port with a dining space adjacent. The lounge area is aft with a U-shaped settee to port and a sofa to starboard. The galley is equipped with a range of appliances, including: 

• Wine cooler 
• Miele ceramic four‐burner stove 
• Miele microwave oven
• Refrigerator

After a fun day on the water, owners and guests can retire to one of three staterooms belowdecks. The full-beam master stateroom sits amidships with an athwartships queen berth, a 43-inch flat-screen TV, a variety of stowage and an en suite head. Forward, the VIP stateroom is in the bow with a queen berth, a 32-inch flat-screen TV and an en suite head. The starboard stateroom has side-by-side single berths, a 24-inch flat-screen TV and head access from the companionway. 

Equilibrium has an impressive 38-knot top hop thanks to twin 900 hp Volvo D13 diesels. The engines have just 650 hours on them. It’s worth noting this 60 Fly has a six-year Brunswick Passport Premier Warranty until 4/15/2027 that is fully transferable, as well as an extended three-year Seakeeper Platinum Warranty up to 2,000 hours that is also fully transferable (currently at 450 hours). 

Some other notable features on board Equilibrium include: 

• Crew quarters
• 2022 Williams 345 Jet tender
• Kohler 21 kW generator 
• Starlink satellite system
• Seakeeper 9
• Volvo Penta joystick docking
• Bow and stern thrusters
• Yacht Controller
• Raymarine MFDs
• Raymarine radar

Where is Equilibrium located? The yacht is currently lying in Savannah, Georgia.  

Take the next step: contact the listing agent , Scott Roberton, (727) 638-7890. 

Quick Specifications

• Length Overall: 60’
• Maximum Beam: 16’2”
• Fuel Capacity: 740 gallons
• Draft: 4’ 10
• More: 50'-99' , Azimut , Azimut Yachts , Brokerage , MarineMax , Yachts for Sale
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