J/24
The J/24 is an international One-Design and Midget Ocean Racing Club trailerable keelboat class built by J/Boats and defined by World Sailing.[1] The J/24 was created to fulfill the diverse needs of recreational sailors such as cruising, one design racing, day sailing, and handicap racing.[2][3][4]
 Class symbol | |
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Rod Johnstone |
| Year | 1977 |
| Design | One-Design |
| Name | J/24 |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 3 – 5 |
| Draft | 1.22 m (4 ft 0 in) |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | GRP |
| Hull weight | 1,406 kg (3,100 lb) |
| LOA | 7.32 m (24.0 ft) |
| LWL | 6.10 m (20.0 ft) |
| Beam | 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | Fixed |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Fractional rig |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 12.68 m2 (136.5 sq ft) |
| Jib/genoa area | 11.58 m2 (124.6 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 41.7 m2 (449 sq ft) |
| Racing | |
| Class association | MORC |
The J/24 class has more than 50,000 people sailing 5,500 boats worldwide; is established in 27 countries with well and is the world's most popular one design keelboat.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
Production
In the summer of 1975 Rodney Johnstone designed and built hull number 1 in his garage in Stonington, Connecticut. "Ragtime" would serve as the master mold for the subsequent hulls. This design allowed him to start the very successful J-Boat company with his brother Bob Johnstone. By 1978 the class was popular enough to hold a one-design regatta in Key West with twenty boats on the line.[11]
New boat manufacturing has been done by multiple companies around the world in UK, France (only 5), Croatia, USA, Italy and Argentina.[12] In the US, J/24s are built by US Watercraft. Italy could still build new boats.
As of January 2009, approximately 5,475[13] J/24s have been produced. Approximately 20 new boats were produced in 2008.[13]
Design
The J/24 is a racing keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a plumb transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 3,100 lb (1,406 kg) and carries 950 lb (431 kg) of lead ballast.[3][4]
The boat has a draft of 4.00 ft (1.22 m) with the standard keel.[3][4]
The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[4]
The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settees in the main cabin. The galley is located on the starboard side just aft of the bow cabin. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin on the starboard side stowed under a table. Cabin headroom is 48 in (122 cm).[3][4]
For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker.[3][4]
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 174 and a hull speed of 6.0 kn (11.1 km/h).[4]
Operational history
The international authority for the class is World Sailing, which cooperates with the International J/24 Class Association on all matters regarding the rules. Interpretations of these rules shall be made by the ISAF, which in coming to its decision may consult the International J/24 Class Association and the copyright holder.[2] The International J24 Class Association (IJCA) has the sole authority worldwide for the conduct and management of the International J/24 Class.[14] IJCA is a "not-for-profit" organization. There are 136 active fleets in the US.[15]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "The boat is light and sails like a big dinghy. In anything over ten knots of air, 'rail meat' is needed to keep the boat on her feet going upwind, but the ride can be thrilling, We cruised her occasionally, and once or twice trailered her to Newport for a week’s cruise of Narragansett Bay, where there was a public park with a launching crane available. But we wouldn't recommend the boat if cruising is your main aim. Best features: This is a great boat to race if you like to socialize and want to learn how to race well. Worst features: With her 4-foot draft, launching at any but the steepest launching ramps is out of the question, Luckily, most places where J/24s are raced have access to a crane. The /24 has an eyebolt on the top of the keel for shackling to a crane hook. The crane can also be used to lift and set the mast, which steps not on deck but on the keel."[4]
World Championships
See also
Related development
Similar sailboats
References
- "Classes and Equipment: J/24". International Sailing Federation. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009.
- "J24 Class Rules effective March 1, 2009" (PDF). J24 Class Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "J/24 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 294. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN 978-0-07-163652-0
- "J24 History". J24 Class Association. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009.
- "Royal Motor Yacht Club / J24". Royal Motor Yacht Club UK. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- "Comhem Sweden". Comhem Sweden. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- "J24 Worlds – World-class Sailing on World-class Banderas Bay". Puerto Vallarta news. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- "UK J 24 Class Association". Sailing Networks. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- "J24". JBoats Southwest. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010.
- "XX J/24 Midwinter Champs Race Report" Archived 2017-03-24 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 2017-03-24
- "J/Builders". J/Boat web site - J/Builders. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- "2009 CLASS REPORT, International J/24 Class Association" (PDF). International Sailing Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- "IJCA Constitution, Revised August, 2006". International J24 Class Association.
- "US Fleets". J/24 USA Class Association. Archived from the original on December 5, 2009.
