J Class World Championships Pictorial From Barcelona

J Class sailors have been competing in the J Class World Championships in Barcelona this week. The races have been held concurrent with the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, providing a fantastic contrast between today’s foiling cats and the classic monohull boats that graced the America’s Cup races in the 1930s. These magnificent sloops, owned and coveted by “some of the most colourful tycoons,” such as Sir Thomas Lipton, Harold S. Vanderbilt and Sir Thomas Sopwith, competed between 1930 and 1937.

Today’s J Class Association was welcomed to join the action of the 2024 America’s Cup and host their World Championships from October 7–11 with a practice regatta on October 3 and 4.

Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events, commented ahead of the regatta, “When the idea was first suggested, it was one of the easiest decisions ever to make. The J Class are integral to the history, legend and fascination of the America’s Cup, and we are very grateful to the Class Association and the owners for taking the opportunity to host their World Championship in Barcelona at the time of the 37th Match. Seeing those boats being raced just off the Barcelona waterfront will be a spectacle for everyone on the water or watching from the shoreline — we cannot wait to see them in action.”

Sailing photographer Louis Kruk (whose images have often been featured in ‘Lectronic and Latitude 38) sent us a few photos of these classic boats in action.

From the J Class Association website:

“Designers had to produce a J Class yacht which had a rating of between 65 and 76 feet. That was not the length of the boats but a product of the limiting factors of the rule’s equation. Any of the determining factors such as length, displacement or sail area could be changed but such changes required proportionate change in other factors to compensate.” Learn more here: jclassyachts.com/class

Thanks to Louis Kruk for a brief and enjoyable ride aboard a 1930s J Class.