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J 97 Elegance yacht

Oceanic adventure starts here.

The J 97 Elegance combines simplicity and accessibility whilst boasting refined accommodation space. Her easy manoeuvrability and her high-performance hull make her the perfect yacht for a family cruise.

Keen to head out to sea? This boat is perfectly set up so you can get out sailing in complete confidence. Her directional stability is exceptional. Movement around deck is easy. Her great handling is enhanced by a high level of safety thanks to the proximity of all the necessary controls to the helm.

MAKE THE MOST OF HER FAMILY-SIZED SPACE

The interior of the J 97 Elegance is designed around your well-being , with an additional large double berth for children or a couple of friends. Her large interior saloon is illuminated by hull portholes opening onto the sea, as well as large deck hatches and cabin portholes, which light up the bench seats. You’ll benefit from the outdoor light, whilst being tucked up inside!

ENJOY THE COMFORT OF THE BIGGER BOATS

Her 9m exterior layout has been optimised to give this boat the feel of a bigger boat Easy and practical : Have a swim during a stopover using the safe, open transom. Move up forward easily from the cockpit or from the cockpit to the saloon. Stow all your cruising gear in the large cockpit locker. Lounge on the seats when underway or at anchor.

SUCCUMB TO THE BOAT'S ATTRACTIVE INTERIOR

The interior design of the J 97 Elegance, with her uncluttered atmosphere, relies on genuine, noble wood, specially selected to add a modern and luxurious twist.

Featuring 1.80m of headroom, the yacht’s interior has a layout conducive to comfortable family sailing: it integrates a large saloon with two bench seats, a fully equipped galley, a chart table and 6 berths, of which there are 2 doubles including a large aft cabin for the owner.

SAIL WITH ELEGANCE

The boat’s elegant, timeless lines form a recognisable and unique architectural signature : it’s a J! With her moderate midship section and freeboard, the J 97 Elegance is unquestionably the most accomplished cruising yacht of her category.

UNLEASH PERFORMANCE

Performance is the primary guarantee of comfort when cruising. This yacht has been designed for high quality navigation , with the best possible balance of comfort and living space. You’ll appreciate being able to plan an exact time of arrival on stopover with children. You’ll also enjoy being able to catch up with your sailing companions despite casting off later!

SAIL ECOLOGICALLY

Sailing is certainly the most pleasant and ecological way to get around with the utmost freedom. The Js’ unique ability to sustain performance will reduce your engine use by at least 15% leading to fewer polluting emissions.

MAXIMISE YOUR TIME ON THE WATER

Elegance yachts are designed so you can sail for longer, for added pleasure. This is why they’re designed for minimal maintenance , with easy access to all the technical instruments. Boats from the Elegance range are recognised for their solidity and their tried-and-tested technical equipment.

EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE

Your yacht is a J! What makes it a top of the range boat is her infusion construction technology. This absolutely unique development provides an unrivalled standard of excellence. Solely a J can offer the serenity of the most solid and rigid construction on the market, whilst retaining its unrivalled lightweight design, which establishes its reputation as a high-performance yacht.

YOUR STANDARD YACHT READY

In contrast to the majority of the other models on the market, J/ chooses to offer a comprehensive, ready-to-sail boat. The standard yacht equipment includes spinnaker hardware on a retractable carbon bowsprit and high-quality standing and running rigging. The finish of the profiles and their adjustment is unrivalled, ensuring the best possible glide without any add-ons being required.

DISCOVER THE J 97 GRAND PRIX

Optimize and customize your sailboat : the Grand Prix Division offers you unrivalled racing expertise for your projects

Technical specifications

International reputation.

The materials for the sandwich and infusion composite construction are selected with precision so as to achieve the best possible combination of lightness/solidity on the market.

The lead keel features a 316L stainless steel frame, which provides excellent stability and a refined hydrodynamic profile.

To offer you the most high spec equipment on the market, the rig of the J 97 E forms part of a very precise selection process.

The joinery workshops use traditional methods incorporating high quality solid wood and veneers selected to provide each yacht with a unique finish.

Position at the helm

To appeal to all tastes, the cockpit has been designed to be fitted with either a tiller or a steering wheel.

Manoeuvrability

Her beam and her controlled freeboard make close quarters manoeuvring child’s play. It is easy and safe for you to move around the deck with confidence.

Deck hardware

Each piece of deck hardware is overengineered and selected specially for its technical aptitude.

Stability is the primary guarantee of safety, whilst her solidity enables you to sail with complete confidence. J Composites is the only yard to offer a structure with a 5-year warranty however the boat is used.

The seating area in the saloon is akin to that of considerably larger craft: 6 people can easily be seated around the table.

The J 97 E features a very large aft locker accessible from the cockpit and considerable interior stowage volume under all the seats.

With her high-quality construction and equipment, the J 97 E offers you a level of sailing comfort that rivals the larger cruisers, without the associated effort.

The large double aft cabin is sure to please the owners and the forward berth opening onto the saloon gives the feel of unrivalled volume, which will appeal to children or guests alike.

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: 13rd March 2020

J/97e's main features

J/97e's main dimensions, j/97e's rig and sails, j/97e's performances, j/97e's auxiliary engine, j/97e's accommodations and layout.

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• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

• October 15, 2009

America's most prolific racing boatbuilder, J-Boats, claims its new J/97 is a cruiser. Can this be true?

Product Overview

Overall rating:, manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

If the aim is to attract cruisers, it might have been an idea to provide Dacron sails and a furling jib, rather than laminate racing sails, and lazyjacks for the main. That aside, this is a fast-cruising yacht that will be loved by grown-up dinghy sailors. She’s well balanced, intuitive and delivers performance that will have you scraping salt off your teeth for days afterwards. Below, she’s economy rather than club class but she’ll easily provide a home-from-home for a week, even two. It looks like J-Boats has finally made the crossover into cruising.

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• By Steve Callahan
• Updated: February 11, 2010

If you ain’t got performance, you got nothin’. It’s been a consistent theme for J/Boats over the years. According to designer Alan Johnstone, the 31-foot J/97 is no different. It’s an introductory boat to its larger cousins, the 35-foot J/109 and the 40-foot J/122, and all of them aim to satisfy a wide variety of uses, from high-powered regatta racing to family cruising.

The J/97 is intended to be decidedly untwitchy, even when driven by inexpert crews, and the sail plan aids in the boat’s versatility and forgiving nature. It steals a page from the shorthanded offshore racers of recent decades, featuring a 105-percent jib and a powerful mainsail that’s easy to control from the helm using the adjustable backstay, boom vang, and the mainsheet system’s rough- and fine-tuning tackles.

Johnstone chose to use a 105-percent jib because it’s more powerful than a self-tacker while remaining quite easy to sheet from the helmsman’s seat or by crew in the cockpit forward of the mainsheet. The jib rolls up quickly and easily, too.

J/Boats long ago refined its carbon bowsprit, which carries a large asymmetric chute and retracts into a self-draining tube. With no pole to fool with, handling the spinnaker is quite simple, and although the J/97 won’t sail as deep as one flying a conventional chute, a boat like this sails faster tacking downwind anyway.

Overall, I found that the deck plan is clean and functional. Its ergonomics provide comfortable positions from which to winch, drive, or lounge. You can sit in the cockpit and enjoy good back support, and you can stretch out along the full-length seats into which the traveler is set flush. When sailing the boat flat, the crew will often sit up on the wide coaming; when the boat’s heeled, they’ll slide out onto the side deck. Cockpit seat tops feature inboard lips that can retain cushions and provide good footrests. A 15-inch-high bridgedeck stands as a buttress against any possible downflooding, and the wide-open transom will drain any shipped water instantly. It also provides a large space for a life raft, and it can be closed off with a removable athwartships seat.

The standard boat features a racy smooth sheer aft. Both cruisers and racers headed offshore may want to add toerails there for added security. When they sailed the boat, Boat of the Year judges also felt that the high camber to the cabin top around the mast was less than ideal, although one rarely needs to work there because the running rigging leads logically to secure winching positions in the cockpit. The crown also helps to provide 5-foot-11- inch headroom below while the hull retains a low profile.

J/Europe in France has been building J/Boats under license since the 1990s using the well-known SCRIMP resin-infusion-system. Its experience building the J/109 and J/122, says Al Johnstone, has led to a new interior plan. The J/97 utilizes outboard chainplates and unidirectional composites running across the deck in the mast area to remove the need for a main structural bulkhead at the mast. Moving the forward bulkhead 32 inches forward allows the J/97 to retain the V-berth while gaining saloon, head, and storage areas aft.

A two-burner gimballed stove with oven swings in the galley. A single deep sink sits near the centerline. Aft of the galley and under the cockpit, there’s a comfortable double-berth cabin. A number of opening ports provide good ventilation throughout. The settees are well positioned and sized for sea berths, but judges noted that bolts protruding from furling gear mounted on the cabin top weren’t capped and could contribute to head nicks. Johnstone later pointed to a rush to get ready for the boat show and says that any protruding bolts will be capped on all future boats. Storage spaces aren’t huge, but they’re adequate for short cruises and are augmented by hanging duffel-bag “lockers” that are easy to remove. The overall layout should prove effective for both around-the-cans racing and coastal cruising.

Construction materials and standards of structural assembly and finish appear to be of high quality. J/Europe infuses the balsa-core hull and Divinycell-core deck with polyester resins. Some experts have questioned the longevity of balsa core and the fastening of deck to hull with Plexus without the use of fasteners, but J/Boats has been using these construction methods for a very long time with good success. The hull comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

A fabrication of stainless steel imbedded in the lead keel is tied to the boat with 10 bolts. There’s no real keel sump, encouraging crews to keep their bilges dry since bilge water can then migrate up along the hull sides when the boat heels. The keel’s near-vertical leading edge may not take too kindly to rock ledges, but that’s the tradeoff that J/Boats is willing to accept to provide a boat that not only performs well in light air but also can handle heavy conditions offshore.

If the proof is in the pudding, the J/97 proves a treat. The boat points high and maneuvers like a hummingbird while remaining simple to handle. It can clock near wind speed in light to modest air. Acceleration is immediate, but the J/97 isn’t fussy and can be pinched up without dying. The tiller remains fingertip light thanks to the balanced high-lift rudder and smooth bearings. The boat also powers easily at 6.5 knots or better. One warning: With no stops on the rudder on our test boat, the blade developed considerable leverage when backing under power. Johnstone reports that rudder stops are standard and that our test boat has since been retrofitted with them. Although not strictly a racer, the J/97 offers sparkling performance with a workable and attractive interior. The boat can easily be customized to fulfill the needs of a wide variety of people, whether they’re jaunting off to Catalina, racing around the cans, or heading off with the kids for a weekend or longer vacation. Wherever you’re headed, the J/97 will provide the joy of sailing.

Steve Callahan is a frequent CW contributor.

LOA 31′ 6″ (9.45 m.) LWL 26′ 6″ (8.08 m.) Beam 11′ 0″ (3.35 m.) Draft 6′ 4″/5′ 5″ (2.11/1.65 m.) Sail Area 498 sq. ft. (46.3 m.) Ballast 2,900 lb. (1,316 kg.) Displacement 8,600 lb. (3,901 kg.) Ballast/D .33 D/L 206 SA/D 21 Water 26 gal. (98 l.) Fuel 13 gal. (49 l.) Holding 12 gal. (45 l.) Mast Height 49′ 0″ (14.94 m.) Engine 20-hp. Volvo w/ saildrive Designer Alan Johnstone Sailaway Price (base) $190,000

J/Boats Inc. (401) 846-8410 www.jboats.com

• More: 2001 - 2010 , 31 - 40 ft , J/Boats , racer / cruiser , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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• Sailboat Guide

J/97 is a 31 ′ 6 ″ / 9.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone and built by J Boats starting in 2008.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Originally built in France. Asym area: 90m2/969 sq.ft. Now called J/97E

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J/97E review by NW Yachting

J97e review by NW Yachting

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New boat: J/97E

It’s a testament to the progressive design of the original J/97 that the new boat, the J/97 Evolution, required only modest design upgrades to make it stylistically competitive with the brand-new designs of 2015. 

J/Boats considers the 97E a dual-purpose offshore boat. Its sail area-to-displacement ratio is 19, which is in the cruiser range, but its displacement-to-length ratio of 204 is in the racer range. That means the boat is easily handled, but it can turn some speed on too. The original J/97 put up an impressive race record, and the 97E will stay in the 97 class, racing with its older sibling. 

The 97E’s new hull ports and cabin ports are designed to send more light into the interior, and lots of light belowdecks is certainly a trend in modern production boats, especially those of European design. The cabin port is a long triangular window at least twice the size of the original port, and the rectangular hull port is completely new. 

Like all performance boats, the original 97 has a traveler, but the knee-high track across the cockpit makes for awkward foreaft movements, especially when cruising. J/Boats opened the cockpit of the 97E by lowering the midcockpit traveler down into the cockpit sole. 

With the traveler out of the way, cruisers can easily make their way aft to the transom, modified slightly from the original to accommodate the new cockpit, which is open for good access in and out of the water. 

That’s all the changes J/Boats made, just a recessed traveler, open transom and more light belowdecks. A wheel is an option, but with so few changes the boat can be raced alongside the original 97s, which are known for their 6-foot headroom, retractable bowsprit, roller-furling nonoverlapping jib and berths for six people. 

While the interior fits six, the space is better suited for a family or two couples. There is an enclosed head, V-berth and aft owner’s cabin. There is stowage belowdecks aft and storage for a propane tank under a cockpit seat. 

The rig is fractional with swept spreaders, and the mainsail is a traditional triangle so there are no worries about catching the roach on the backstay, which is split at the bottom. The standing rigging is Dyform wire and the halyards are Spectra. 

When the original J/97 was introduced in 2009, the unusually roomy 32-footer was hailed by the sailing media as a superb boat for club and IRC racing, and family cruising. A few modest tweaks to the design haven’t changed that, but now the cruisers can enjoy more sunlight belowdecks while the kids swim off the stern.

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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.

J-Boats J97E

Description

Introduced in 2009, the J/97 has rapidly gained popularity on both sides of the Atlantic — largely due to successful performance in many sports competitions. Thus, in France, in 2011, she was named best yacht of the handicap chases on the IRC. But not only the racing qualities of a good J/97 — the first time in the last two decades in the production line of J/Boats has full-fledged cruising yacht. The boat is equipped with not just the cabin-a refuge, a normal domestic household, allowing you to spend time on Board with sufficient comfort. It includes a salon, two cabins, a galley and a latrine minimum required set for the cruising vessel.

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J-Boats J/97 E

Do you want to know more? Please contact GT Yachtbrokers .

Volvo Penta D1-20F. Perfect fast family cruiser

Basic data of the J-Boats J/97 E

• Seller: GT Yachtbrokers
• Brand: J-Boats
• Model: J/97 E
• Motorization: Volvo Penta D1-20F
• Category: Sailing Yacht
• Additional category: Sailing Yacht
• Year of construction: 2018
• Material: GRP (Polyester)
• Experience: Family holidays, Fast motorboating, Sailing races, Weekendcruiser, weekends aboard
• Length: 31.50 feet
• Width: 10.99 feet
• Draught: 6 feet
• Variable draught: No
• Headroom inside: 185 cm
• Beds: 4fixed
• Country: Netherlands
• To view in sales harbour/showroom: No , breskens
• Price: under offer
• Account Manager: Victor Van Heuverswyn
• Boat specifications in PDF: Download here

Nordic Breeze has little engine hours and has never raced. It's located in Breskens.

• Dark blue wrap (bit damaged on port side)
• Two Tone Deck (grey)
• Echomax X + S
• Genoa cover
• Mainsail cover
• Elvstrom mainsail dacron 2018
• Genoa UK sails 110% X-Drive 2021
• Gennaker Elvstrom with sock
• Cruising Package - Battery Charger, 110VAC Shore Power, Hot Water System, house battery upgrade to 150amp, bow roller with anchor
• Cockpit Opening Ports
• Retractable and Removable Swim Ladder
• Retractable Mooring Cleats in lieu of STD
• Raymarine Instruments- Axiom 7' Plotter with card, I70s Multi data screens, Raymarine Autopilot, Ray 50 VHF

The J/97E is one of the J/Boats' "E" Series of versatile performance sailing yachts. The "E" is for elegance and evolution in performance cruising design. J/97E is the first J in over two decades under 32' to combine headroom and family cruising accommodations in a high performance, easily driven hull. With the handling ease of an asymmetric spinnaker and non-overlapping headsails, the J/97E promises to be J Boats' most versatile design yet under 35' to fit the needs of today's sailing families, both young and old alike-- the ultimate combination of sailing performance and creature comforts for all!

The key to creating a versatile sailboat is staying focused on the quality of the sailing experience, a trait shared by all J designs. Boats that are easily driven, easily handled, and genuinely fun to sail provide greater long-term "sailing value" to their owners than designs driven by the latest rating rule or designs that are over-compromised to meet the latest styling trends. Form follows function in good sailboat design, the J/97E is no exception.

The J/97E cockpit is similar to the award-winning cockpit found on the J/111. It features full length seats with back rests, wheel or tiller steering, and an open transom. All sailing controls are within reach of the helmsperson to make the boat very easy to manage. A retractable bow sprit with masthead asymmetric spinnaker allows great all-around performance without the need for numerous skilled crew. The low VCG throat provides exceptional upwind stability while being cruising friendly with swept back leading edge and moderate draft.

The J/97E's interior layout conveys a feeling of extraordinary from a wide, spacious living room with windows looking out to the sea. With large overhead hatches, enormous cabin windows and large portlights over the settees, it feels like you're outdoors! It's ideal for one couple cruising with room for more. The enormous main cabin has two settees, galley, forward-facing navigation station; plus an enclosed aft head, V-berth, and aft owner's cabin. Cruising stowage includes a large "garage" aft of the head (accessed through the cockpit seat locker).

• Designer: Alan Johnstone
• Shipyard: J boats
• Hull number: 77
• CE-category: B
• Hull shape: Roundbilge
• Hull colour: White
• Deck colour: Grey
• Deck construction: Grp (polyester)
• Cockpit: Aft cockpit
• Draught: 191 cm
• Steering system: Helm
• Position steering system: Outside
• Rudder: Single
• Keel/Lee board: Fixed keel

Accommodation

• Headroom: 185 cm
• Berths: fixed: 4
• Type interior: Modern, wood look
• Color upholstery: Brown
• Mattresses:
• Water tank & material: 120 litre
• Water tank gauge:
• Water system: Pressure system
• Outside water: Deck Shower
• Toilets: 1 Manual
• Cooker & fuel: 2 burner(s) Gas
• Fridge & power source: 90 Litre

Engine, electrics

• Starting type: Electric
• Type: Inboard
• Brand: Volvo Penta
• Model: D1-20
• Power: 20 hp
• Hours counter:
• Engine hours: 120
• Fuel: Diesel
• Transmission: Saildrive
• Propulsion: Adjustable propellor
• Fuel tanks: 1
• Total fuel tank(s) capacity: 60 Litre
• Fuel tank gauge:
• Tachometer:
• Battery: 2 x
• Battery charger:
• Shore power:
• Shore power cable:
• Voltage: 12V 220V

Navigation and electronics

• Log/speed: Raymarine
• Depth gauge: Raymarine
• Wind gauge: Raymarine
• Chart plotter: Raymarine Axiom 7
• VHF: Raymarine 50 VHF

Rig and sails

• Sailplan type: Fractional
• Number of masts: 1
• Spars material: Aluminium
• Bowsprit: Extendable
• Winches: Raking
• Self-tailing:

GT Yachtbrokers

Kabbelaarsbank 11 Steiger K1 3253 ME  Ouddorp, Netherlands, www.gtyachtbrokers.com

Berth of the J-Boats J/97 E

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