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2012 REGATTA PRESS RELEASE 1 J CLASS REGATTA 2012 “A spectacular yachting event is coming to the UK”

The J Class Association is pleased to announce outline plans for a series of spectacular regattas in England during 2012 - the Olympic Year. This will be the first time in history that more than four of these imposing yachts will race together in a fleet.

The outline plan has received a positive response from J Class owners and event planning is now proceeding. Many yachts in the fleet are now preparing to be on the start line for these 2012 events.

FALMOUTH The first regatta will be based in Falmouth, Cornwall, hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. Races will be held in the bay and along the coastline.

SOLENT The second regatta will be based in , the traditional home of J Class racing in the UK during the 1930s.

ROUND THE ISLAND The last race will be held over the original course around the Isle of Wight, for the 1851 Hundred Guinea Cup Race, which is now known as the “’s Cup”.

This J Class event will attract many thousands of spectators. There are numerous headlands and vantage points close to the race courses for viewing this spectacular fleet. POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS “The potential exists to have up to nine J Class V yachts completed in time for the regatta”

VELSHEDA Nine is probably a dream too far, but five yachts sailing together would be magnificent. An event of this magnitude could have a profound effect on yacht racing worldwide.

YACHT

SHAMROCK V - Sir Thomas Lipton’s last yacht to compete for the America’s Cup. 1930

VELSHEDA - Built by W.Stephenson to compete alongside Endeavour. 1933

ENDEAVOUR - T.O.M Sopwith’s first America’s Cup challenger. 1934 HANUMAN RANGER - Replica of H. Vanderbildt’s 1936 America’s Cup . 2002

HANUMAN - Replica of T.O.M. Sopwith’s second challenger Endeavour II. 2009 LIONHEART LIONHEART - An original build of a 1936 Ranger design. 2010

RAINBOW - Replica of built in 1934 to defend the America’s Cup. 2011 RAINBOW

SVEA - An original build of a 1937 Swedish design by Tore Holm. 2011 A new era of

Hoek Design is involved in a string of J-Class projects. also analysed by means of Computational Fluid A highly sophisticated Velocity Prediction Program Dynamics software, a study normally only carried (VPP) wasSVEA developed by our offi ce specifi cally out for America’s Cup and other high profi le racing ATLANTIS - An original build of a 1936 Frank Paine design. 2011 geared to J-Class yachts and calibrated using yachts. This research gave us considerable insight tank tests and wind tunnel data. into the speed potential and competitiveness under the new J-Class Association handicap rules of all J’s.

Using this VPP software, we analysed all existing J’s The revival of the J-Class is also driven by the and all those that might be built according to the acceptance of aluminium as a hull material, which present J-Class Association rules. The designs were created an incredible new interest in these fabulous ATLANTIS America’s Cup yachts of the 1930s. The fi rst yacht

4-12-2007 23:47:32 PROGRAMME 2012

“A programme of great races for the DRAFT PROGRAMME competitors - and spectators” FALMOUTH REGATTA 27-30 June Four races based from Falmouth, home of the historic clipper Wednesday 27 June Race 1 20 nm yachts and first port of call for many Atlantic sailing events. Start 10.00

Two short Solent based races, the historic UK home of the J Thursday 28 June Race 2 30 nm Start 10.00 Class fleet. Friday 29 June Race 3 20 nm One long race for the Hundred Guinea Cup over the1851 Start 10.00 course. Saturday 30 June Race 4 30 nm 2012 Coastal race May Yachts leave for the UK Start 10.00

June J Class Regatta - Falmouth SOLENT RACES Three days racing in bay 19-20 July One day coastal race to Fowey Thursday 19th July: Solent based race 20 nm Friday 20th July: Solent based race 20 nm July Two races in the Solent Hundred Guinea Cup Race HUNDRED GUINEA CUP RACE Around the Isle of Wight 21 July

Superyacht Cup Cowes Around the Isle of Wight clockwise over the 1851 course. August Olympic Regatta 2012 Saturday 21 July 2012 Start 10.00 75 nm RYS Line, Cowes TIMELINE HISTORY “The 1930s era saw the birth of the Js Hanuman (Endeavour 11) could sail against Ranger in the classic repeat of the 1937 America’s Cup. Svea, a Swedish - the greatest sailing Class ever created” design dating from 1937 was never built but is expected to start construction this year, 73 years after being designed. Just 10 yachts were constructed, six in the USA and four in England. There were other designs produced but not built. During this period The amazing history of there were never more than four J yachts racing together. the Class is on the official website: Only three originals survived the Second World War - , www.jclassyachts.com Endeavour and Velsheda. They rested and rotted in mud berths, until their rebuild and rebirth as 21st Century racing superyachts.

With the formation of the J Class Association (JCA) in 2000, the possibility The race which took place on existed for replicas from history to be built and race again. New yachts 22 August 1851 had a very have been launched and some are under construction. Most of these different outcome from that projects are expected to be completed by 2012, creating a fleet of the anticipated . biggest, finest racing yachts the world has ever seen. Of the 15 competing vessels, Rainbow is expected to launch in 2011 and could line up against the only one that was not Endeavour, repeating the historic races for the America’s Cup of 1934. British was a black schooner flying the flag of the United States, which won the race and took home the prestigious trophy. The winning vessel was the ‘America’ and the Cup was named after it, not after the continent or the country that it represented. The owners of the ‘America’ donated the trophy to the in 1857, on condition that the Cup should be “perpetually a Challenge Cup for friendly competition between countries”. RACING A J CLASS YACHT “No other class requires a crew of 30 plus experienced sailors to manage more than 10,000 square feet of sail driving a 200 ton hull at 16 knots around the course”

In the 1930s they were the ultimate racing yachts. Now, with advanced rigging, hydraulics, carbon masts, PBO ropes and electronic navigation systems, the new Js still represent the most demanding yachts in the world. Sailors just off TP52s and Volvo yachts declare their awe at the power, loadings, size, skill and management required to race these monsters which are around 40 metres (140 feet) long and draw 5 metres (16 feet).

Changing a genoa on a downwind leg takes 10 minutes and commits almost all the crew to lift and reposition sails, making every tactical decision critical.

Yet these yachts are incredibly maneuverable and with no guardrails, spectacular to watch, making them probably the ultimate big yacht racing platform.

“Being aboard a J is about the power and glory of sailing. It provides a unique link with another era dominated by one of the most visually stunning classes ever to take to the water”. David Glenn, Yachting World

“It’s fantastic to see these magnificent giant J Boats back on the water racing after some 70 years and especially to have so many new replicas of the Golden J Boat era under construction” Erle Williams, Helmsman

“I had the chance to be on the start line with two other Js for the first time in 50 something years. Now I’m hooked on the power, performance and challenge of racing Velsheda against other J’ as well as modern Maxis”. Tom Dodson, North Sails CLUBS & Venues FALMOUTH “The start and finish of great ocean voyages” The Notice of Race and all event information will be posted on the official J Class website: www.jclassyachts.com Falmouth’s natural sheltered deep water harbour was the first stopping point for the great Clipper yachts and is the natural choice for the first of three J Class Regattas. The large bay offers wonderful sailing in minimal tide conditions. The JCA is supported in this event jointly by: There are superb spectator points at each headland, especially in the start area under Pendennis Castle. The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth The Royal Southampton Yacht Club, Southampton

SOLENT “Probably the best known base for yachting in the world and the start of the America’s Cup”

The Solent was “home waters” of British J Class racing during the 1930s. Several races are planned in the strong tides and changing weather conditions.

The Hundred Guinea Cup Race is the one race that probably captures the true spirit of the J Class, testing the crew and navigational skills of each yacht.

The race is based on the 1851 course, clockwise around the Isle of Wight, over approximately 75 miles. HUNDRED guinea CUP race

“Over the original 1851 course, clockwise from Cowes around the Isle of Wight, including a Nab Tower mark and without a time limit” PRESS INFORMATION

Regular updates to this programme will be issued via the main J Class website.

Press enquiries: [email protected] Official website: www.jclassyachts.com Issued 16th February 2010

© J Class Association +44 (0)1590 645082 [email protected] www.jclassyachts.com