| As Published in Yachting World Magazine
Dec. 1983
Any mention of J Boats conjures up pictures of fleets of
identical J24s duelling boat for boat - they are after all the most
successful of the onedesign racing cruisers. There is, however, more than
one string to the J Boats' bow. In the UK we have the J29 as well as the
J24 (see Yachting World February 1983) and in the US there is a whole
range of J's on the water and more on the drawing board.
While in the US for the America's Cup, we took advantage
of the proximity of the J base to try their latest creation, the J22. This
lightweight is designed to the same one-design strictness as the J24, but
the concept is smaller, simpler and cheaper.
A distinct family likeness exists between the J24 and
J22. The rake of the stem, the sheer and line of deck at side, even the
transom and rudder have that distinct look. Beyond these similarities,
however, the differences are marked. The J22 has fine ends, a generous
maximum beam and a firm mid-section to help initial stability. Her flaring
sections will give more stability with increasing heel and the flaring bow
should keep some of the worst of the water down at speed. In spite of her
ample deck beam, the J22's waterline is slim and sleek, with a fine entry.
Cast from iron, the slim keel weighs between 6941b and
7271b (315kg and 330kg) - permitted tolerance within the class rules - and
is strictly controlled. There is a full drawing as part of the rules to
ensure compliance. Similarly, the rudder and its shape is tightly
controlled, with little room for modification.
Comprising a hull and deck moulding, joined and well
faired. at the sheer and with a bolted- through teak toerail, the basic
structure is well executed. Finish is good and the painted-on nonslip is
better than most of the moulded types. Fittings are attached using big
backing washers, but we would prefer to see continuous reinforcement in
the form of plates or bars in high stress areas.
A web bulkhead in the way of the mast takes the loads
from the simple rig - upper shrouds over spreaders and lowers to the same
chainplates well inboard - and the thrust of the well finished Hallspar
mast is taken to the hull through an under-deck pillar.
J Boats took great pains to point out to us that the J22
has plenty of built-in buoyancy in the form of air tanks, a lesson no
doubt learnt from the unfortunate sinking of some of the European J24s.
The class rules insist that the 22s race with buoyancy intact, but it can
be used for dry storage in cruising conditions.
Down below, the J22 is simply but cleanly finished. A
platform forward of the mast could be used as a double berth if a mattress
were provided and there are teak benches under the small coach roof. A
small amount of teak trim is used, but the impression is very much of a
day- sailer/racer, with a secondary camping function for the hardy.
Up on deck, first impressions are ruled by the huge
cockpit. Over seven feet (2-1m) long, it is divided by the mainsheet
traveller. The backrests are low - they provide no real support but there
is plenty of room to adjust your position for comfort or for racing
efficiency. Class rules only allow for a total crew weight of 550lb (250kg
although the number of bodies used to make up that weight is optional, so
it should be possible to play the permutations to suit the conditions.
Again, class rules dictate the location and amount of
deck gear. They even control things like the power of kicking strap and
mainsheet, backstay adjuster and Cunningham tensioner. Standard gear is
simple, but unless the boat we sailed had been set up incorrectly, the
control line and halyard arrangement that runs over the companionway hatch
garage is awkward to use. Halyards can be tensioned using the sheet
winches, but they then rely on alloy Clamcleats for security. This is not
enough in our experience. Spinnaker pole lift and downhaul lead from full
length bridles on the pole, and also run over the garage, to camcleats.
No laminated materials; hanks on the jib; minimal
overlap on the jib; a big but restricted measurement spinnaker; these are
just some of the sail control regulations that go to ensure one- design
J22 racing. The standard jib is ideal combined with the spinnaker for
three-sail reaching - it keeps all the crew happy and should amuse the
ex-dinghy sailors - but its area is small enough to be handled easily by a
lightweight crew with the standard winches, or with the permitted option
of a 2:1 purchase on the clew.
In light winds and bedevilled by an outboard motor
bracket that was loose and refused to be lifted out of the water, causing
considerable drag, we sailed the J22 from the J World sailing school's
dock in the heart of Newport's waterfront, around the harbour and into
Narragansett bay. We sailed open water, but spent a lot of time cruising
the fascinating moorings of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.
A light boat should accelerate well and the J22 does,
the ample mainsail and sensibly-sized jib picking up the lightest of airs.
She handles like a dinghy, a low wetted area and narrow fin allowing her
to spin like a top with only a small application of rudder angle.
Sensitivity to windward is excellent, the helmsman getting the pleasure of
a very responsive boat to sail. The big spinnaker should provide planing
performance in the right winds, and in the light stuff - apart from a few
gear foul-ups - we were able to set and hand the sail with ease.
Sensitivity to fore-and-aft weight distribution in a
small boat is to be expected and we found that the boat liked to have its
flat run lifted clear of the water as much as possible in the light. In
stronger winds, when planing, fore-and-aft sensitivity will pay off in
allowing the best trim to be achieved.
Our brief trial left us with the impression of a
thoroughbred boat that will not only produce good class racing, but also
be a good knockabout and dayboat. Hull and rig combine well to give a
responsive and exciting sailing boat, but we would query some of the
choice of gear and its positioning. One disadvantage of the one-design
concept is that if there is something basically wrong, it is difficult to
put right later.
In the USA the J22 is already carving out a considerable
niche for itself. In Europe, however, it is more difficult to see a solid
slot for the boat. In a smaller market already populated by similar boats
like the Formula One, the First Class and the Fun, it will be an uphill
task. Factors that are bound to help the boat are: performance, good
finish and standards of construction and that certain J Boat style. |
