Back to the Future: J Class Joins AC75 & AC40 Fleets in Barcelona
by Kate Davison 5 Oct 08:01 PDT
J Class racing ahead of the first day of racing in the 35th Match Race of America’s Cup – Regatta Day 17, June 17, 2017 (ADT) © Richard Gladwell
The AC75s of the America’s Cup offer no shortage of stunning action. Meanwhile, the AC40s have introduced fresh appeal, showcasing their unique style of swift, agile fleet and match racing, set to take center stage when the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup commences this Saturday.
Undoubtedly, high-speed vessels are the future of sailing. Yet, a different kind of remarkable yacht is also about to make its appearance.
The Golden Era
Long before terms like hydrofoils, cyclors, or carbon fiber became part of sailing lexicon, the J Class dominated the seas.
The original class in America’s Cup history, the J-Class debuted in the 1930s as the definitive racing yacht of its time—symbolizing the pinnacle of design and technology of the period and leaving an unparalleled legacy in its wake.
J-Class World Championship
Scheduled for October 7-11, the J-Class World Championship in Barcelona, coinciding with the 37th America’s Cup, presents a distinctive occasion.
With the history of the world’s oldest international sporting trophy vividly playing out before us, it’s a significant chance to honor the progression of the America’s Cup, its innovative spirit, technological advancements, and the enduring beauty of its traditions.
Southern Spars and Future Fibres proudly support all yachts in the America’s Cup, whether classic or contemporary. As industry leaders in high-performance composite rigs and rigging for the maritime sector, these brands may be more linked to cutting-edge technologies like AC75s and AC40s than to designs from the 1930s, yet all three contestants in the J-Class World Championship are outfitted with a high-performance rig from Southern Spars and composite rigging from Future Fibres.
Delivering unmatched performance for the world’s elite superyacht regattas, Southern Spars and Future Fibres also offer unparalleled reliability that sustains the heritage of these iconic vessels—enabling them to perform spectacularly for many more years.
Let’s take a closer look at the three contenders:
JK7 Velsheda
Velsheda, one of the three original J Class yachts to persist from the 1930s, was initially launched in 1933. Though not built specifically for the America’s Cup, she quickly became a leading racing vessel in British waters. Over the decades, Velsheda has undergone meticulous restorations to maintain her classic silhouette while integrating modern racing technologies like her Southern Spars mast and ECsix multistrand rigging from Future Fibres.
J-KZ1 Rainbow
Rainbow was initially conceived and constructed in the 1930s to contend for the America’s Cup, and after clinching victory in 1934, she eventually became inactive. That year, Rainbow triumphed over the British challenger, Endeavor, which was the closest the British have come to reclaiming the Auld Mug since its loss in 1851. It’s certainly fitting for Rainbow to return just as the British are once again posing a threat.
The modern restoration of Rainbow was finalized in 2012. After being sidelined from competitive racing for nearly a decade, she underwent a significant refit in 2024. Now, she’s back and better than ever, outfitted with a high-performance Southern Spars mast and Future Fibres standing rigging, including ECsix laterals. Rainbow’s comeback tale is worth watching—could it lead to gold?
JS1 Svea
Svea stands out as not only the largest J Class yacht but also the most recent, having launched in 2017. Her designs were initially created in 1937 for a Swedish America’s Cup challenge, but the plans were put away due to the war and discovered years later, hidden away in a drawer. Svea melds traditional aesthetics with modern racing technology, incorporating a notably low Southern Spars boom. She was launched with the aim of competing in the 2017 America’s Cup J Class Regatta in Bermuda and has since excelled in superyacht regattas—thus, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her take top honors in Barcelona.
Southern Spars and Future Fibres collaborate with the world’s most innovative superyachts, maxis, modern classics, and America’s Cup foilers, yet the J Class holds a distinct significance in the public’s imagination. It is a genuine pleasure to energize these legendary yachts, and we eagerly anticipate seeing them grace the waters in Barcelona.