| As published by Sailing Magazine Nov.
1993
The J/22 has come of age. Although designed as an
affordable entry level boat by Rod Johnstone in 1983, this multifaceted
one-design has developed a following of sailors dedicated to the enjoyment
of J/22 sailing.
The J/22 was the fourth Johnstone designed boat to hit
the water. "The recession in 1983 led us to design an affordable boat
and gave us an opportunity to improve on the J/24 design," designer
Rod Johnstone said. "We wanted to make a one-design racer that was
manageable for a lighter crew. You don't need a gorilla to trim the
spinnaker."
While the small sail area makes the boat easy to manage,
in just 12 knots of breeze the J/22 will move sweetly to windward with
speeds of over five knots. Yet in a big blow the boat's planing ability
adds plenty of excitement.
Sometimes compared to its big sister the J/24, the J/22
is really quite different. "It behaves more like a dinghy than the
keel boat feel of the J/24," explained Terry Hutchinson, J Boat
championship sailor from Traverse City, Michigan. "It's only two feet
shorter but it's much lighter, narrower and quicker downwind. The 22 is a
great boat."
Easily trailerable, it can be launched by crane or from
a ramp with a custom built trailer with an added tongue extension that
makes ramp launching easier. The mast is deck stepped making it a simple
operation for two people to rig and break down the boat for trailering.
"The J/22 is a wonderful daysailer because of the
roomy sit-in cockpit," explained Carolyn Freeman, J/22 sailor and
class secretary. Beamy and stable for its size, the small cabintrunk and
flat decks add to the fun factor. This boat is unswampable because of the
air tanks built under the forward V-berth and the cockpit. It also has
offshore hatchboards; and selfbailing cockpit.
As the boat can be outfitted with simple galley and head
equipment, V-berth and quarterberth cushions for sleeping, some sailors
opt for a weekend cruise. But the true spirit of the boat can be found
racing round the buoys.
Within the class established tolerances, hardcore racers
often tweaked early versions of the J/22 to gain that extra .001 knot of
boat speed. Now, with cooperation from J Boats, the class association and
the builder, TillotsonPearson, the latest special editions are
manufactured with these competitive advantages. Changes in deck layout and
keel fairing have made the new J/22s fast right out of the box.
With an average PHRF rating of 180, the J/22 is a
popular club racer. It is fairly sensitive to sail trim, which makes it a
natural for beginning sailors to sharpen their skills. The J/22 is a
popular boat for sailing schools and frequently used for championship
regattas like the recent women's match racing series-the Santa Maria Cup.
It is the one-design racing, though, that best sums up
what the J/22 is all about. Governed by a class association of dedicated
and enthusiastic sailors, the driving force is the sheer enjoyment of J/22
sailing. These sailors have developed class rules that emphasize both fun
and fair competition. There are special trophies for top placing senior,
junior and all family crews.
There are 750 members of the International J/22 Class
Association worldwide, 650 of them in the U.S. J/22 fleets are found
across the U.S. with active racing in Texas, the Great Lakes, the
Southeast, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. One of the hottest areas
for J/22 sailing is the Chesapeake Bay with the Annapolis fleet recently
growing to over 50 boats.
Intense racing action can also be found in the growing
fleets around the world. The first unofficial world championships held
outside the U.S. were sailed this summer in Durban, South Africa. There
are growing international fleets in Jamaica, Belgium, Switzerland,
Holland, Canada, Germany, Italy, and South Africa. This international
activity is expected to grow as the IYRU is scheduled to vote this month
on international status for the J/22.
The class commitment to developing international fleets
is epitomized in the spirit of the JamAm Cup that takes place every
December. U.S. sailors travel to Montego Bay and join Jamaican J/22 crews
for a week of racing. Originally created to give the relatively isolated
Jamaicans an opportunity to sharpen their skills, it has become a popular
winter regatta where the Jamaicans and their local knowledge give the
Americans a run for their money, especially when the blustery trades set
in.
With such colorful names for their boats as Scotch
Bonnet, Toy Monster, Binky, Rita with Salt, Perpetual Motion, and Bob,
these J/22 sailors seem to have Too Much Fun-another fitting name.
|
