HANDLING THE J CLASS YACHTS IN THE 1930s

The Skippers had to be experienced in racing and their skill on the race circuit became a matter of pride. These mighty craft had no engines and they had to be handled with great precision to get into and out of ports. Often their experience came from sailing all types of small craft, including fishing boats, during the winter months, when the J Class yachts were laid up. Sailing small boats in often inhospitable waters gave them the skills to manage their J Class yachts. The same is true today. Skippers have to deliver their yachts across Oceans, and compete around the race course, using their skills and all the technical advantages that are available today.

The most common adjective that is used by those who have sailed on the existing J’s is the word ‘awesome’. The immense sail area and sheer power cannot easily be described. Also the speed, slicing effortlessly like a knife through butter and their ability to turn almost in their own length. They were the Greyhounds of the seas then - and still are today.