Mark Mansfield, J/Boat agent for Ireland with news that wheel steering is now an option on the speedy J/99 cruiser-racer

There is one J/99 already racing in Ireland, Andrew Algeo's’ Juggerknot 2. Juggerknot 2, the 2019 Dublin Bay Sailing Club champion, has been mainly sailing two-handed this year in ISORA coastal racing.

The J99 was designed for both shorthanded and fully crewed sailing and many clients had asked about a wheel option.

The first J/99 with a wheel was delivered to a UK client last week and photos are above and below of the smart Carbon wheel.

Already over 50 x J99’s have been delivered to clients with many more on order. Smaller crews and shorthanded sailing has been growing hugely with the announcement that a two-handed offshore boat will be included in the 2024 Olympic lineup. The J/99 is currently one of the boats under consideration.

The arrival of the COVID 19 pandemic has further pushed the case for shorthanded sailing with crews being able to keep apart more easily.

A J/99 with wheel steering

Any interested parties wanting to talk about any J/ boat or test sail a J/99, even the option with a wheel, should contact mark Mansfield at [email protected] or at 087 2506838.

It is hoped that a J99 will be on show at the Ocean Village Boat Show in Southampton from the 11th to the 20th of September.

The J Cup, a regatta for all J/Boats, that was rescheduled from July to the 3rd of September looks set to be one of the first 'fully crewed' sailing events that will be held in the UK this year.

In the UK, the present regulations appear to only allow for six crew on boats, so larger sized J boats are restricted to six.

As  a  result, the regatta organisers, Key Yachting, have taken on a reduced numbers system, like the option outlined in Afloat in May, where boat size would determine crew numbers. It appears the Welsh IRC Champs in August may also be taking on similar crew size options, as Afloat reported here.

Therefore, the maximum crew numbers for each J Boat to compete in the J/Cup are as follows:

J Boat model	Max. no. of crew	J Boat model	Max. no. of crew
J/32	4	J/99	4
J/70	3	J/105	5
J/80	4	J/109	5
J/88	4	J/111	5
J/92	4	J/112	5
J/95	4	J/121	6
J/97	4	J/122	6
J/120	6	J/133	6

 

Key Yachting, The J Boats Agent in the UK, conducted a survey on all past J Cup participants a few weeks ago, and the response prompted them to decide to continue with the event.

The Irish J/Boats agent is Mark Mansfield who can be contacted at [email protected] or 087 250 6838.

In the light of recent UK Government announcements, it has become clear that the 2020 Landsail Tyres J-Cup will be postponed and not take place in July.

The new date, confirmed by an amendment to the Notice of Race, will be 3-5 September 2020.

Whilst the current measures on social distancing have been eased, they are still in place. However, by early September, the UK Government may allow competitive sports for fully crewed yacht racing, which would allow the Landsail Tyres J-Cup to take place.

Key Yachting will continue to monitor the Government announcements and will keep the J Boat community updated with any relevant developments.

Mark Mansfield, J Boats agent for Ireland will be on the J Boats stand at the Dusseldorf Boat Show from the 18th of January. One of the three boats that J Boats will be showing will be the J/99, which has received the following accolades in its short life.

• US SAIL Magazine’s 'Best Performance Boat over 31’
• British Yachting Awards 'Racing Yacht-of-the-Year 2019'
• Sailing World magazine’s 'Best Crossover Boat-of-the-Year'
• The J/99 is also nominated for the '2020 European Boat of the Year' in the performance category.

J99 Interior

Rarely can you find a cruiser-racer that sports a comfortable interior plus the ability to be able to race it competitively.

• Inshore —Very competitive around the buoys and some recent improvements will make it even more competitive in 2020.
• Offshore —planing hull gives it the ability to really get up and plane downwind.
• Shorthanded—Designed for ease of handling to be easily sailed by a small crew.
• Shorthanded with water ballast—water ballast tanks and pumps can be added for single or doublehanded sailing.

Unlike many other modern boats of this size, the J/99 can perform in all conditions, at all wind angles. Very many new designs are fully offshore orientated with wide sterns and high wetted surface areas. That's great if you are reaching downwind in big breeze, but not so quick upwind and, in particular, upwind in lighter conditions.

J99 sailing under spinnaker

J/99 - Perfect for solo, twin, shorthanded or the full crew

The new 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. The deck layout and sail plan are optimised for easy handling, while the roomy cockpit accommodates eight + for fun daysailing.

Want to jump into the next adventure-style overnight race or cruise and can’t find crew? No problem. The J/99 will reward you with easy, high-speed sailing no matter how many crew.

This year there is a public vote for the J/99’s category in the European Yacht of the Year Awards. The winner will be decided in Dusseldorf. Vote here.

Contact [email protected] if you would like to view the J/99 at the Dusseldorf Show. Tel:00 353 87 2506838

The J112E has been one of the most successful models of the J Boat range since its introduction a couple of seasons ago, providing the perfect combination of a luxurious interior with top-level racing performance.

The design brief of the J112E was dual purpose, not to be extreme in any way, so as to have a boat that performs well in all conditions, upwind, downwind, and reaching in all wind strengths, with a comfortable interior for cruising.

J112E Interior

In 2018, the J112E was both Class winner at the IRC Europeans in Cowes, and she also won the overall event title. She then went onto the IRC/ORC worlds in Holland and won her class again. J112Es top their class at Spi Ouest regatta and Cowes Week in the same year. All of this in a yacht with a well-appointed interior.

Fast forward to 2019 and a J112E won her class at the ORC Europeans in Sweden. At Cowes Week, J112Es came first, second and fourth in their class.

The Grand Prix version boasts the most important racing upgrades from these top achieving J112E winners, including:

• Special IRC upgraded fin keel
• High Modulus Carbon mast
• The option of a symmetrical spinnaker set-up, with a pole, instead of an asymmetrical set up with a sprit
• Some weight saving on the interior, while still keeping the luxurious finishes
• Flush underwater skin fittings
• Upgraded running rigging specifications

J boats are now offering this package at a special extra price that is significantly less than all these extras would normally amount to.

The J112E J Lance

The J112E will be on display at the Dusseldorf boat show in January, alongside the J99 and J70. Irish Agent, Mark Mansfield, will be in attendance for the full show.

 To arrange your priority viewing of any of these proven performers contact Mark Mansfield at mobile: 087 2506838 or email: [email protected]

Key Yachting, the UK, Ireland, and Channel Islands distributor for J Boats, enjoyed a glamorous evening at the Royal Thames Yacht Club on Monday night, for Chelsea Magazines’ British Yachting Awards. Marie-Claude Heys, Hannah Le Prevost, and Gemma Dunn represented Key Yachting and were joined by J Boats President Jeff Johnstone and a small guest list of British J boat owners.

The second edition of the event, Key Yachting was thrilled to receive two awards on the night.

The new J/99 was crowned Racing Yacht/Sportsboat of the year, a tough category. Voted for by readers of Sailing Today and Yachts & Yachting, presenter Rob Peake stated that upon her launch the winner had proved an instant hit in a string of successes for the shipyard. Accepting the award with Marie-Claude, Jeff Johnstone described how the boat was inspired by the growth of the double-handed racing scene, particularly in the UK. He continued by saying that Paul Heys was instrumental in driving the yard to fill a growing need. This is the first award for the boat, which is currently nominated for four international awards, including the prestigious European Yacht of the Year.

The late Paul Heys on sheet
The final award of the evening was a new category, Lifetime Achievement. This was awarded to Paul Heys, and accepted by Marie-Claude. Before the presentation, Jeff delivered a wonderful and emotive speech, detailing the success of the “consummate salesperson”, who unlike other yacht brokers, relished gatherings of owners to compare notes and stories because this was how the J family in the UK was established and flourished. Jeff himself stated “The boat has little to do with it, it’s all about people. Energy breeds energy and Paul was the energiser”

The J99
Key Yachting has a J/99 available to view in Hamble for a limited time, call Mark Mansfield at 00353 87 2506838 or email to [email protected]. You can meet the Key Yachting team at the next show for the J/99; boot Düsseldorf, from 18th-26th January.

Key Yachting Ltd has announced that four-time Olympian Mark Mansfield, has been appointed the representative in Ireland for their four ranges; J Boats, Grand Soleil, Nautitech Catamarans, and Tofinou.

Key Yachting is the sole agents for these performance brands in the UK and Ireland and has not had a specific Irish agent for a number of years. 

New Grand Soleil 48 Performance

Marie-Claude Heys, MD of Key Yachting said “We are really excited to have Mark join the Key Yachting family. Mark already knows and sails with many of our owners in Ireland, so is perfectly placed to assist them with any technical issues, and of course, help them upgrade their boat when the time comes! Mark is a top sailor and we are hopeful that he will help to sustain the fantastic reputation our J Boats, in particular, have in Ireland.”

J Boats

The premium cruiser-racer range that includes the IRC top-level winner J/112e, the newly launched J/99, and the fastest-growing One Design keelboat in the world, the J/70.

J112e Davanti Tyres

Grand Soleil

A very well known range of top quality Italian produced cruiser-racer and cruising yachts. Recent successes in Ireland on the racing front have come from Frank Whelan’s Grand Soleil 44, Eleuthera which has won nearly everything she has competed in, Nieulargo, the Grand Soleil 40 Owned by Denis Murphy from Royal Cork has also been a top performer, winning both the April and Autumn leagues this year. A number of years ago, the Grand Soleil 43, Quokka, featured on the Winning Irish Commodores Cup Team in 2010. This range combines fast easily driven hulls, with very comfortable cruising interiors.

Grand Soleil Long Cruise 42

Nautitech

The French premium catamaran builder which has recently introduced the Nautitech 46 Flybridge model, which will be exhibited at the January Dusseldorf boat show.

New Nautitech 46 Flybridge

Tofinou

Tofinou Yachts are a brand of top of the range Day sailors and cruiser racers and will also be showing at the Dusseldorf show.

Mark Mansfield

Mark Mansfield is well known in the Irish sailing and marine market. Following 30 years working in the banking sector, he turned sailing professional/sailing coach/consultant five years ago and has had considerable success in that area. Mark is also an agent for UK Sails Ireland.

Mark has completed in four Olympics and has won at virtually every level in sailing, from numerous 1720 titles to European wins in the Star and IRC Europeans, and Irish Champion of Champions. Mark has achieved success at virtually every IRC Regatta around the UK and Ireland including the Scottish Series, UK IRC Champs, Irish IRC Champs, Spi Ouest Regatta, and Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Mark is a contributor to Afloat and written on many performances and race orientated subjects here

More to follow, but Mark will be on the J Boats and Grand Soleil stands at the Dusseldorf Boat Show from the 18th to the 26th of January. J Boats will be exhibiting the J/70 sportsboat, the J/99 Short Handed IRC Cruiser racer, and the J/112e Cruiser Racer, which is likely the most successful IRC boat over the last number of years in Europe.

Grand Soleil will be exhibiting the new Grand Soleil Long Cruise 42 Cruiser and the 48 Performance, only launched in 2019.

Mark can be contacted at [email protected] and by phone at 00 353 87 2506838.

Olympian and Sailing Coach Mark Mansfield runs through the options available for an owner looking to buy a new boat for racing in the 30 to 50-foot range and picks his top 15 from the market

Having sailed in numerous regattas over the last few years, there are clear designs that feature well on the IRC rating system used in Ireland, the UK, France and many other European countries. Some of the 15 that I have selected below are more offshore orientated, some are true cruiser-racers, with nice interiors, and only one is a full-on racing boat.

There are, of course, numerous other designs that are no longer in production, or one-off boats. However, these 15 are yachts that could be purchased now, and in most cases be sailing and racing in Irish waters by the middle of the summer next year.

I have selected the 30 to 50-foot range as that is where the majority of new boats purchased now come from. So here goes, in size order, largest first. The pricing mentioned are the basic prices without Instruments, sails or safety gear.

1: X Yachts Xp 50

XP50 - a proper cruiser-racer with a luxurious interior Photo: Afloat

One of these is already gracefully sailing and racing in Ireland—Freya, owned by Conor Doyle of Kinsale. She has had some flashes of speed so far. Internationally there are a number of them doing well on IRC. A proper cruiser-racer with a very luxurious interior. Takes a bit of handling those large sails though.

Pricing—From €636,000 plus VAT. Available mid-July 2020

2: Grand Soleil 48

Grand Soleil 48 Performance

A new design in 2018. A model designed for both Comfort but also speed. Nearly all Grand Soleil designs perform very well on Irc. The Grand Soleil 43 was an exceptional design, and it is suspected that the 48 will follow along these lines. Very well built yachts, but also with lovely interiors.

Pricing from €459,000 plus VAT. Available mid-July 2020

3: X Yachts Xp 44 

XP44 - Sovereign's Cup class winner WOW (above) Photo: Bob Bateman

The X Yachts XP 44 has been around for a few years, but in those years, it has acquitted itself very well on the race courses around Europe on IRC. In Dublin, George Sisk's new Wow is an XP 44 and they have already won their class at Sovereign's week. A true dual-purpose yacht with a lovely interior.

Pricing from €358,000 plus VAT. Available mid-July 2020

4: J122e

J122e - Clyde based El Gran Senor (above) combines comfort and speed Photo: Afloat

The J122e is a development of the very successful J122 design. Technically the e-versions from J Yachts are supposed to relate to cruising comforts, but all three designs with this 'e' designation appear to be extremely competitive and very good on IRC. Jonathan Anderson from the Clyde has been very successful with His J122e—El Gran Senor. A very good 40-footer combining comfort with speed.

Pricing from €296,000 plus VAT. Available Spring 2020 

5: Italia Yachts 11.98

Italia Yachts 11.98 - launched in 2019

The brand New Italia Yachts 11.98 was only launched early this season but already has finished very well in some ORC and IRC regattas in the Mediterranean. The smaller sister, Italia Yachts 9.98 finished a close second at the 2018 IRC worlds. These boats would be very able performers on IRC and still have a decent interior.

Pricing from €210,000 plus VAT. Available Spring 2020

6: JPK 11.80

JPK 11.80 - Cowes Week class winner

The JPK 11.80 is the big sister of the all-conquering JPK 10.80. Built to the same high standards, they are primarily a racing boat but actually have very good levels of comfort below deck. One of these has already won its class over the last two years at Cowes Week

Pricing from €209,000 plus VAT. Available June 2020

7: Melges IC37

IC37 - The latest one design for New York Yacht Club where Royal Cork (above) sailed to podium success in September Photo: Daniel Forster

Designed by County Wicklow yacht designer Mark Mills. This design has become the latest one-design for the New York Yacht Club. Not big on creature comforts, it has however shown itself to be a potent IRC performer and while only recently launched, won its class in Cowes Week this year with a string of firsts.

Pricing from €265,000 plus VAT. Available Spring 2020

8: J112e

J112e - IRC Worlds and IRC Europeans winner

The J112e has become one of the most successful IRC boats ever. In 2018, one of these won both the IRC Worlds and IRC Europeans. Built-in France, these designs offer a true compromise between racing and cruising. In Ireland, there are already three of these racing and I would expect more.

Pricing from €199,000 plus VAT. Available Dec 2019

9: JPK 10.80

JPK 10.80 - Paul O'Higgins' Rockabill VI (above) has won the last two Dun Laoghaire to Dingle races Photo: Afloat

The JPK 10.80 is well known in Irish waters, as Paul O'Higgins Rockabill VI has won the last two Dun Laoghaire to Dingle races, and has also been crowned ISORA Champion for 2019. This design has won the Fastnet Race overall and, though a few years old, it is still winning on the world stage. Pretty well-appointed down below, it excels in a breeze, particularly downwind.

Pricing from €142,000 plus VAT. Available Spring 2020

10: Grand Soleil 34

Grand Soleil 34 - Justtina (above) sails on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

All Grand Soleil yachts are built very well, and the 34 is no exception. There is one in Dublin, Justina, and it is clear even from looking at her on the dock that she is a class act. She has shown flashes of brilliance since arriving and clearly there is more potential to be had. Very nicely fitted out down below.

Pricing from €149,000 plus VAT Available Spring 2020

11: J99

J99 - excels off the wind Juggerknot 2 (above sailing on Dublin Bay in her 2019 debut season Photo: Afloat

The J99 is the new kid on the J Yachts portfolio. Designed to be able to be crewed by fewer people, there is one in Dublin already, Juggerknot 2 skippered by Andrew Algeo. The jury is out on whether it is going to be as successful as the j109, but there is still more speed to be found in this design. She excels off the wind where her lighter displacement and planing hull show off her abilities. Very well built, like all J boats and very much a premium, high-class product.

Pricing from €114, 000 plus VAT. Available Feb 2020

12: JPK 10.30

JPK 10.30 - Fastnet class winner

The JPK is a new design from early 2019. It has won its class of 85 entries in the 2019 Fastnet race. It replaces the JPK 10.10. Very much in the mould of all the Other JPK boats, they perform very well offshore and were designed to be crewed shorthanded. However, that is not to say that they cannot be crewed inshore with a full crew. Interior would be simple, but very usable for racing. Expect to see a few of these in the next few years in Ireland.

Pricing from €114,000 Plus VAT. Available Spring 2020

13: Jeanneau Sunfast 3300

Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 - water ballast removes the need for a large crew

The Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 is very much along the lines of the JPK 10.30. Similar in size and rating, the two designs have been having a great Battle this year. The Sunfast bested the JPK in the opening event, Spi Ouest, whereas the JPK won her class(with the Sunfast 3300 second) in the Fastnet. Both boats are relatively light allowing them to plane easily and so are very suited for downwind sailing. Rumour is that there is an order being finalised on a Sunfast 3300 as we speak, and it will be sailed very competitively by an experienced owner. The Sunfast 3300 allows water ballast, thus removing the need for a very large crew.

Pricing from €104,000 plus VAT. Available March 2020

14: Italia 9.98

Italia 9.98 - second in class at the 2018 IRC Worlds

Italian Built, and a wonderful pedigree. None in Ireland yet, and I don’t know why. This design came second in her class in the 2018 IRC Worlds, and was quite close to the excellently well-sailed J112e, j lance. Since then the Italia 9.98 has added a new IRC orientated Keel to make her even a better IRC boat. Very potent all-round boat and well built.

Pricing from €119,000 plus VAT. Available Spring 2020

15: J97E

J97E - features well under IRC

Like her larger sisters, the J97e comes from a fine pedigree of boats designed to be potent race boats but also having a well fitted out interior. So far none have arrived into Ireland yet but there are a few of the older J97 models around and they feature well under IRC. 

Pricing from €130,000 plus VAT. Available December 2019

So, that is the 15 yachts I have chosen. Should any prospective owner want further details or would like to discuss why I like these models, feel free to contact me below

Useful Irish race boat sales links

Irish Jeanneau agent

Irish X Yachts agent

Irish Beneteau agent

Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell has been appointed J Boats dealer for Ireland, a new role for the established sailor who also works with North Sails. 

Key Yachting Ltd, the sole agent and distributor of boats by J Boats and Grand Soleil throughout the UK made the announcement yesterday saying:  'Prof is an established and talented sailor and marine industry professional. He is also a long-term friend and business contact of Key Yachting through his continuing and ongoing work with North Sails Ireland. He is superbly placed to assist with the J Boats fleet build and to support both the new and established J Boat owners throughout the country'.

Paul Heys MD of Key Yachting explained 'We recognise the fact that Ireland is a hotbed of extremely skilled racing sailors and we know from our experience they love the unique challenge and reward that sailing and racing well-built, quality performance yachts such as J Boats presents.

At the moment the J/70 Class is growing at an unprecedented rate. There are already three J/70s in Ireland and it follows that the Class will grow quickly here. This is why we have just furnished Prof with a new J/70 for potential owners to trial sail in Dublin.' He continued 'We have known Prof for many years and in our view he is precisely the right guy to work with the J Boat owners throughout the country.'

Prof has been racing the J/70 with assorted clients and sailing friends in Dublin Bay Sailing Club's 'Turkey Shoot' Series. They are racing against an enormously varied fleet of over 60 boats. On day one Prof, Suzie, Aidan and Helen punched in a win of over three minutes on corrected time, hitting 16 knots at one point down the first reach.

Of the J/70s performance, Prof, who just finished fifth in the Melges 24 Worlds in San Francisco, has this to say: 'the first day I set eyes on the J70, I loved the boat. The carbon rig is stiff, light and very easy to step. The boat is a "proper upwind boat" and flies downwind, whilst being so simple, easy to sail and very well built. It's appeal will very broad'.

The J/70 is the fastest selling sportsboat in the world at the moment (with over 500 sold in less than two years since the launch) and the class has just been granted ISAF status. J Boats know how to develop, support and maintain one-design racing classes better than any other manufacturer: just look at the global enduring success of the J/22, the J/24, the J/80 and the J/109! The J/70 class benefits from strict one-design rules and there is no restrictive crew weight limit. You can race the boat with three or four people she planes effortlessly in 12 to 14 knots of true wind speed. The carbon rig is easily stepped by just two people and the lifting keel means that she is easy to launch on a slipway.

Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell is on +353 86 2364200 or email him at [email protected]

The Hamble Winter Series is one of the most hotly fought off season regatta series in the UK with an entry list that puts it right at the forefront of competitive sailing. There are of course many reasons for this. For starters, it's an extremely well managed event, run by an experienced and inituitive race management team. The courses are varied and challenging, and the racing is tight and competitive. It also enjoys strong sponsor and volunteer support. All in all it's a fabulous series in which to compete at any level, but to win it... well that's really something!

The series prizeging for the Garmin Hamble Winter Series took place on the 10th of December at Hamble River Sailing Club and the Class winners and pdium finishers were all in attendance as one would expect, to collect their prizes. Racing took place across eight classes in the main IRC series including a J/109 one-design class and then there were four additional classes for the J/109s, the J/80s and other sportsboats on the two 'Autumn Championship' weekends. As usual, the J Boat entry list for the series was both strong and sucessful.

In the main IRC series, raced over eight Sundays, David Ballantine's J/133 Jings achieved a creditbale third place overall; a great result to round off his first full year in the boat. Chaz Ivill took the helm of the J/111 Jenga VI and finished second in IRC 1. Ivan Trotman and his J/122 Joulou were placed fourth in the same class. Fourteen J/109s raced as a one-design class on a level rating basis and Richard and Valerie Griffiths veritably romped into the top slot with OutraJeous clocking up just ten points to count across the ten races sailed. David and Mary McGough's Just So slammed in a second place in the J/109s and Paul Griffiths was third with Jagerbomb.The J/97s and J/92s raced in IRC 3 and Mike and Jamie Holmes J/97 Jika Jika won the class convincingly accruing just eight points to count at the end of the series.

The Autumn Championship was a nail-biter for the J/80 Class. Sailed over two weekends in October, Rob Larke's J2X was leading the fleet by a single point after the first weekend, but let things slip on the second weekend. At the end of the fourteen race series, Phil Taylor and Kevin Sproul's J.A.T emerged victorious. J2X settled for second, just three points behind and Thor Askeland took third in Elle S'Appelle. The J/109s also raced at the Autumn Championship and once again it was Outrajeous which emerged victorious. Steven Tapper's Stalker finished in second place and Jody Windmiller's J2Eau took third.

So it was a bunch of very happy J Boat owners at the prize-giving. However, after the series silverware was presented, there were still the two main prizes to be awarded: 'Yacht of the Series' and 'Sportsboat of the Series'. Race Director Jamie Wilkinson explained that these prizes are awarded at the discretion of the race management team to the two boats which in their opinion put in the most impressive performance across all classes. He made the point that the standard of competition at the Garmin Hamble Winter Series is always top-flight and he also reminded the assembled crowd that the sheer number of entries each year means that any single race win is an achievement of which one should be extremely pleased: to actually win 'Yacht of the Series' is a major accolade. Mike and Jamie Holmes scoreline in the J/97 Jika Jika included eight bullets. IRC 3 was considered one of the most competitive classes in the series and Mike, Jamie and the crew of Jika Jika were deserving (and extremely proud winners of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series Yacht of the Series. Phil Taylor and Kevin Sproul never once finished outside the top two in any of the fourteen races they sailed in their J/80 J.A.T. and the class was 22 boats strong! The 'Garmin Hamble Winter Series Sportsboat of the Series' was awarded to Phil, Kevin and the crew on J.A.T.: delighted and proud winners.