One month until the J Class Barcelona Regatta will see J’s take centre stage during the America’s Cup

In one month’s time J Class yachts will enjoy a welcome return to the America’s Cup spotlight when four stunning examples – Shamrock V, Velsheda, Rainbow and Svea – muster in Barcelona during the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup to race at the J Class Barcelona Regatta.

In many respects the long awaited, highly anticipated regatta, may represent a pinnacle event that the competing teams have been working towards for a couple of years, but for sailing fans and lucky visitors to the beautiful America’s Cup host city, the seven-day regatta will be a great opportunity to view the J’s docked in Marina Port Vell, in the heart of the Catalan Capital, to see them dock-out and return each day, and to witness some of the racing off the beaches at Barceloneta and Port Olímpic.

Five days of racing

After a weekend given over to registration and measurements, racing runs from Monday 7th to Friday 11th October. Two windward-leeward races are planned each day with a warning signal each day at 1230hrs (local time).

The assembled fleet will reflect a full design history of the J Class. From the two original boats, ‘Queen of the J’s’ Shamrock V, the first J to be built in the UK in 1930 and the only wooden boat, and the 1933 launched, lovingly maintained and campaigned Velsheda, to the potent Rainbow and Svea - recent builds to original designs.

Freshly relaunched Shamrock V returns to regatta racing after the most comprehensive two-year bow-to-stern refit during which she was stripped back to her steel ribs and 95% of her original planking restored before it was refitted.  

And it will be the first major class event for the new owner of Rainbow which had not raced since 2014. The lighter, more nimble William Starling Burgess design replica, launched in 2012, is said to be well-suited to the anticipated light to moderate conditions expected off Barcelona.

Swedish flagged Svea, which is derived from an original design by Swede, Tore Holm, in the hope of a Swedish America’s Cup challenge, debuted at the J Class America’s Cup regatta in Bermuda in 2017. In the hands of Swedish owners who are passionate, experienced owners Svea has been the most successful J in the last couple of years.

Sharp contrast

The contrast between the J Class Yachts – that raced at three editions of the America’s Cup off Newport RI between 1930 and 1937 – and the aerodynamic, flying modern AC75s has never been sharper. Whilst today’s America’s Cup machines are flown by powerful electronics and hydraulics, winning on an elegant, powerful J Class is still about careful choreography and smooth, practiced manoeuvres by a crew of nearly 30.

 “We are very excited at the prospect of the J Class racing together back in an America’s Cup environment. We are sure the competition on the water will be spectacular. The J Class Barcelona Regatta will give great visibility to a class which is so much part of America’s Cup history whilst proving an outstanding counterpoint to the modern AC75.” Highlights Stuart Childerley, Secretary of the J Class Association. “And for us as an organisation it is another step towards building a greater number of regular events to ensure the J Class enjoys a sustainable future, built around what owners and their crews want.”

Jordi Puig, president of the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, shares the enthusiasm for the J Class visiting Barcelona for the first time: “Hosting these historic sailing yachts is a true honour for all of us. For the RCNB, our members, and also the city of Barcelona, it is very special to be able to enjoy the amazing J Class at the same time as the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. I believe the contrast between the AC75s, which are pure innovation and technology, and the J Class, which are great references and icons of this sport, will be incredible. The show is guaranteed!”

And there has been great support from the management authority for the America’s Cup, “We are so honoured and excited to have the J Class here during the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. Already at 10 days into the event, we are seeing an incredible atmosphere, both on land and on water, with a wide range of fans and visitors attending from all over the world – from sailing super-fans, to the local community, from families and yacht owners, and we know that the J Class will add further history, glamour and diverse content to the event.”  Leslie Ryan Event Director 37th America’s Cup.

Antonella Della Pietra, Managing Partner BWA Yachting Spain said “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the J Class yachts to Marina Port Vell for the upcoming regatta in Barcelona. The J Class Barcelona Regatta is shaping up to be an unforgettable event, with these stunning boats bringing all the action right into the heart of the city. We’ve been working closely with the J Class for over two years to make this event truly extraordinary, and they’ve become like family to us. We can’t wait for everyone to feel the incredible energy and excitement these iconic yachts bring, and to celebrate them at the Barcelona Superyacht Regatta Gala, alongside the other magnificent yachts.”

The J Class Barcelona Regatta, hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, is scheduled to run between 5th and 11th October, so falling between the end of the Louis Vuitton Cup/Challenger Selection Series Finals and the start of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match.