j111 yacht review

Cruising Boat Designs

A blog about boats, books, voyages we've made, and yacht design. If you are a designer or builder and would like to have your boat reviewed, send drawings, photos and details to [email protected]

Saturday, November 19, 2011

J/111 review.

No comments:

Post a comment.

J/111: The new sprit

An update of the design J/Boats made famous amps up the fun factor and gets you on the water faster

When the Johnstone boatbuilding family came up with the concept for their new J/111 speedster, ease of getting underway played a key role in deciding on the design. Since Jeff and Stuart Johnstone comprise the J/Boats marketing team, through self-testing and customer feedback they've come to know what current and potential owners want, and one of those things is more time on the water, and less complication at the dock. Delivering on that demand meant conferring with chief designer Alan Johnstone to create a boat that functions as a daysailer, racer and occasional weekender, and which requires little preparation before shoving off.

The details All control lines-halyards, reefing, furler and sprit-are led back to the cockpit. The Harken traveler is mounted on the cockpit sole where a recessed groove accommodates the bottom few inches of the 60-inch-diameter Edson destroyer wheel. Having such a big wheel means the helmsman can comfortably sit to windward to steer the boat and still see both the leading edge of the headsail and the waves. I put two fingers on the wheel's leather cover, moved it an inch in either direction, and the boat instantly responded. According to Jeff Johnstone, several factors are responsible for such magic, including the E-glass spade rudder with carbon post and the non-stretching configuration of chain and wire cables connecting it to the helm. There are no ropes involved. The steering relies on Edson's Articu-lock sheaves with needle bearings and integral wheel brake. The J/111 has a laminated balsa-core hull that is vacuum infused with E-glass/vinylester, and a deck laid up by hand. Below the water, a vertical L-shaped bulb keel keeps the J/111 upright. The stainless steel fin with a lead bulb is mounted in a hull recess with a stainless flange. The leading edge of the keel features a kelp cutter. A simple sailplan was also part of the "less time at the dock, more time on the water" philosophy guiding the boat's design. "We wanted a boat with easy sail management, something that can be handled by two people or even single-handed," said Jeff, easily reaching back from his position at the helm to adjust the hydraulic backstay. "We also knew we wanted a performance boat that we'd be excited to sail ourselves." Simplicity is a driving force aboard the J/111. As Jeff put it, "We have found that a sailboat that's easier to sail is sailed more often. It's as simple as that." Stuart heartily agreed, pointing to the non-overlapping headsail. "There's no big genoa on this boat," he said. The J/111 is in some respects a turbo version of the J/105, which was launched nearly 20 years ago to start the sprit-boat revolution. The J/111 amps up the racer in the cruiser/racer formula by having a back-to-basics racing interior for less weight, longer waterline and more sail area. In general numbers, the J/111 is just over 36 feet, and just under 33 feet at the waterline. It has a slim 10-foot, 10-inch beam, giving it that sleek look. It draws 7 feet, 2 inches. The boat's maximum upwind sail area is 751 square feet. When downwind, it's 1,798 square feet. The low-profile Facnor headsail furling drum is innovative because it's loaded with flat webbing instead of standard furling line. The sails are controlled by two Harken Radial self-tailing winches, a two-speed Harken traveler system and a Harken adjustable jib lead system. The organizer at the base of the mast ensures lines remain untangled and run in the appropriate direction to their respective blocks or clutches. Control lines for the retractable bowsprit are led aft internally to a cam cleat mounted in the cockpit. Nobody need go below to launch the sprit. The Hall Spars autoclaved carbon fiber mast is supported by Nitronic discontinuous rod standing rigging. The seamlessly constructed mast accommodates a double set of tapered aluminum spreaders.

Down below Belowdecks, the appointments are lean-essentials only. Some of the less sexy but necessary aspects include a wastewater holding tank and 15-gallon fuel tank. The main cabin is spacious, with 6-foot headroom. The galley to port features a two-basin sink with top-opening refrigerated icebox and a freshwater foot pump. The sit-down navigation station to starboard is centered on a wooden desk with hinged lid for chart storage. An instrument panel is close at hand. The boat has two quarterberths aft, each measuring 6 feet, 9 inches, and if the owner chooses, the forward cabin can be fitted out with a V-berth; otherwise it's designed as a sail locker. The settee in the main cabin has a length of 6 feet, 4 inches, long enough to sleep on. Options include two fold-up sea berths in the main cabin. The head is basic, private and equipped with a vanity. Although this boat could easily become a weekender, it isn't designed for extensive cruising. Access to the 21-horsepower Yanmar 3YM20 three-cylinder, four-stroke engine with saildrive is a no-brainer. Located beneath the companionway ladder, it is contained in a molded, noise-insulated engine box. The ladder, with its teak steps, is removed by unfastening two clips near the top. The bottom legs of the ladder, fitted into round holes in the cabin sole, simply lift out. With ladder set aside, four stainless steel slide bolts unlock the engine box. There's plenty of room on three sides to check fluids and make repairs. The engine turns a 16-inch diameter Flex-O-Fold geared folding propeller.

On deck The simplified accommodation plan creates room for a huge racing cockpit. Like the spacious cockpit, which the Johnstones contend is as perfect for bringing folks aboard during recreational sails or partying at the dock as it is for racing, the deck is unencumbered by excessive hardware. There are few fittings on which to trip or stub a toe. The cabintop rails are stainless steel. The boat features an anchor locker big enough for the aluminum hook, but the bow pulpit has no hardware to hang it, nor is the stem fitted with a roller. This is, after all, a racing machine at heart. Some customers have ordered autopilots and even electric winches. Unlike manual winches on some boats, those aboard the J/111 can be easily converted to electric. "The winches don't need to be rebuilt or replaced," he said. "They're designed to be converted to power with minimal modification." The J/111 is built by CCF Composites in Bristol, Rhode Island, and by J Composites in Les Sables d'Olonne, France. According to Jeff, by year's end, or the  first quarter of 2012, more than 60 boats will have been delivered worldwide to customers from 10 countries on four continents.

Under sail As the boat pinched into the wind and made for the bridge, a 12-Meter crossed our bow and shot ahead. With competitive nature, we leapt into pursuit mode, adjusting the sails until the boat's low center of gravity and relatively light weight of 9,300 pounds (approximately 2,000 pounds less than its predecessor, the J/109), helped it rapidly accelerate. The J/111 was riotous fun to drive, and much more responsive than the boats I'm used to sailing, so I immediately oversteered. Back on course, the J/111 locked in and performed, but the afternoon was waning and we still hadn't sailed downwind. Under the Johnstones' watchful gaze, we fell off until the J/111 was running with the breeze, the hull speed increasing to double digits in a matter of seconds. Jeff asked, rhetorically, "Time to fly the chute?" But his words went unheard by Stuart who was already on the bow, preparing to raise the asymmetrical spinnaker. With the bowsprit fully extended and the A-sail drawing, the boat lurched forward with even more speed until we were planing, exactly what the J/111 was made to do.

Also in Boat Test

• Beneteau First 36
• Jeanneau Yachts 55
• Seductive simplicity
• X 4.3 Pure Performance
• Beneteau Oceanis 40.1
• Sun Odyssey 380

Also from Staff

• Tor Johnson
• Learn to Sail Better
• New boat: Aureus XV Absolute
• Remembering Hobie
• Catalina 275 Sport
• New boat: Saphire 27

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

The latest J Boat, reviewed

Related Articles

• Featured Listings
• Beneteau Sailboats
• Excess Catamarans
• Powerboat Listings
• Sailboat Listings
• Catamaran Listings
• Recent Price Drop
• See All Team Members
• Why Hire Team Murray Yacht Sales
• Your Saved Searches
• Ask a Question

Yachting World’s Video Review of the NEW J/111

• MYS J/111 Page
• MYS J/111 Reviews and Videos Page

________________________________________________________

Click for our Brokerage

SAIL LISTINGS   –   POWER LISTINGS

Click the logo for our New Sailboat Listings

Murray Yacht Sales is your Gulf Coast Beneteau & J/Boats Dealer and has been serving the Gulf Coast Boating Community since 1974

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

J/11s – specially designed for short-handed sailing

• Matthew Sheahan
• March 16, 2017

Sharing the same hull as the popular J/111, this new boat is designed specifically for short-handed sailing. Matthew Sheahan tries her out

In 2015 the double-handed class trophy for the Rolex Fastnet Race went to Kelvin Rawlings and Stuart Childerley aboard the J/105 Jester . Neither had raced short-handed before that season, yet both said afterwards that this was one of the most memorable and satisfying races they had ever done.

And they weren’t alone. Throughout the fleet, whether they had won silverware or not, there were plenty of other sailors echoing the same thoughts; short-handed sailing is on a roll.

Rawlings and Childerley’s J/105 is a boat that is still considered to be one of the best for the job, despite the fact that the design is now well over 20 years old. This in itself is interesting given that J Boats in general have long had a reputation for being good to sail short-handed, thanks largely to the perceived simplicity of the asymmetric spinnaker, and yet have only now launched a boat specifically aimed at this type of sailing.

Several production builders such as Jeanneau and JPK have been tapping into the enthusiasm for short-handing with models such as the Sun Fast 3200 and 3600 as well as the JPK 1010 and 1080. But finally J Boats has joined in with the J/11S.

If this boat looks familiar it is because she is based on the J/111, a boat that has proved herself successful and potent in fully crewed racing. This new 36-footer shares the same hull, deck and, to a large extent, cockpit layout of the J/111, but that’s where the similarities end.

Tweaked for short-handing

The J/11S has been tweaked to make her an easier boat to sail short-handed and more competitive. As a result she has twin rudders connected to a single tiller, a slightly shorter rig and a smaller jib. To contribute towards the lack of bodies on the rail she has more internal ballast. She also has an alloy mast and boom.

The changes and tweaks have helped to bring her IRC handicap down from 1.096 to 1.050, a reduction that gets her under the upper rating limit for the Transquadra race, a popular transatlantic race for single and double-handed amateur sailors over 40. But J Boats believes that there is another key area in which the new model can score.

A slightly smaller jib than aboard the J/111 makes this boat that bit easier to handle and gets the IRC rating down

Unlike the beamy and angular Jeanneaus and JPKs, the J/11S is a more modest hull shape and as a result her builder believes she will prove to be a better all-rounder. Even from just an arbitrary glance, the J appears to have less wetted surface area aft, suggesting she will be less sticky in the light.

She’s a very seductive boat to sail, especially short-handed. Because she’s a more modest affair with a narrower beam than the other two she’s easy to get to grips with and without the wheel steering fitted in the J/111 she has a more open cockpit, which is easier to move about in.

Stretching forward to reach the jib sheets or pulling up a halyard is easy, nothing is too far out of reach and with the autopilot controls positioned close to the tiller it’s easy to press the ‘auto’ button and nip forward if you have to.

Not that you will want to let the autopilot steer for very long. She’s a lovely boat to sail and makes you wonder why wheel steering is so popular on most of the J Boat range. Why numb a great feel?

Balanced on the helm

She’s so light and responsive under sail you would be hard pressed to tell that she has twin rudders, she’s that balanced on the helm. Even when tacking and gybing she feels nimble. It’s only when you’re manoeuvring under engine that you start to feel her wider turning circle and the lack of prop wash on the rudder at low speeds. But these characteristics would be easy to live with when taken in the context of a boat that is a great deal of fun to sail.

But there is one amusing irony. Among the many reasons for J Boats’ continued success in Europe has been its asymmetric spinnaker configuration. Not only did this open up the possibilities for extended downhill sleighrides for club sailors, but the ease with which the kite could be handled, especially through gybes, made life easier for the crew.

Little wonder then that as the amateur short-handed scene started to gather pace, many saw J Boats as providing the perfect platform for both inshore and offshore double-handed racing.

And yet many of those who have been sailing two-up for some time and may have started with asymmetrics, believe that symmetric kites are easier to handle for a short-handed crew. They argue that, although they may be a little trickier through the gybe in some conditions, the ability to square back the pole provides a much bigger range of downwind angles to steer, which in turn increases the range of one sail, while also making it easier to keep the helm well balanced.

Some even argue that an end-for-end pole gybe on a kite that is flying all the way through the manoeuvre is easier, more stable and less risky than gybing an asymmetric. Hoists and drops are easier and less prone to a trawl with a symmetric kite, especially if you are recovering using the ‘letter box’ drop technique where the kite is gathered between the mainsail foot and the boom.

Symmetric kite and conventional pole

None of which has been lost on J Boats, master of asymmetric racer-cruisers, which had blanked off the retractable bowsprit moulding on the first J/11S in favour of a symmetric kite and conventional pole.

While I can see the logic, our test sail, performed two-up, suggested that we had a little more work to do on timing and technique! But whichever configuration you prefer, having the facility for both is a key advantage for this boat.

Below decks she’s a very straightforward affair with a pair of settee berths either side of the saloon table, a small galley to port and a dedicated navigation station to starboard. Further aft under the cockpit side decks are a pair of berths and the forecabin plays host to the heads and a sail locker. All of which reminds you how much space you have aboard a 36-footer when you take five people out of the equation.

The bottom line is that this is a boat that feels the right size for a short-handed crew – so much so that it seems a shame to spoil the side deck with bodies. At roughly the same length as the J/105 she also feels like a natural successor to the 680 built.

All she has to do now is head out there and prove it.

A return to a symmetric spinnaker pole may surprise some people, but the short-handed gurus claim that symmetric kites are easier and safer than asymmetrics

Not a standard fitting, but bound to be popular, this is the short fixed bowsprit for the Code 0. Note the slot for the bow roller and anchor chain

As you might expect, all controls are led aft, but the size and ergonomics of the cockpit mean there are no special arrangements. She just fits

Specifications

LOA 10.90m/35ft 9in

Beam 3.31m/10ft 10in

Draught 2.99m/7ft 3in

Displacement (light) 4,600kg/10,141lb

Upwind 63m 2 /678ft 2

Downwind 95m 2 /1,023ft 2

Engine 18hp

Fuel 50lt/11gal

Water 100lt/22gal

IRC rating 1.050

Price £123,000 ex works ex VAT

Designed by Johnstone/Le Moal

Built by J Boats, www.jboats.com

• Apply for Vendor
• Vendors List
• Delivery & Payments

J/111 for Sale

Price based on price list 2023 . Excluding VAT

Find right registration for your yacht Here »

EU (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, England, Croatia, Turkey and other), USA, UAE, Asia and other countries.

• Price Calculator
• Description
• Attached files
• Video gallery

Sale of J/111

We talk about the advantages of the sailing offshore racing cruiser from the American shipyard J/Boats and how to choose a J/111 for sale at a bargain price with the help of topRik marketplace experts. All the specialists of the marketplace are practicing yachtsmen, repeated participants in international regattas, including on sailboats from J/Boats. The most comprehensive free consultations based on practical experience are guaranteed.

What is particularly remarkable about the sailing monohull J/111 from the famous American shipyard? Firstly, this is a real offshore racer, which is designed for yachtsmen that are addicted to hardcore sailing. And secondly, it is quite ready to take on board a few people who are not burdened by the lack of luxury on a sailing cruiser and like to feel the wind in their hair and have fun at the helm.

Due to its lightness and strength, the J/111 has become a status boat among those who like to gather as a team to participate in regattas. This high status is dictated not by the price, which is, by the way, very moderate, but by the performance of the yacht and its amazing maneuverability under sail.

If you are not a fan of regattas and yachting is your passion even without setting records, the J/111 is the right boat that will provide you and your small family with enough comfort to live on board for a long cruise. For this, a double cabin and two comfortable sofas in the saloon, as well as a well-equipped galley with a spacious refrigerator are just right.

When offering J/111 for sale, topRik marketplace team always finds out in what capacity you are going to use it and, in accordance with this information, gives comprehensive recommendations based on their own experience of participating in regattas and working with our SimpleSail fleet.

To eliminate all the problems associated with the purchase of the yacht, we will:

• negotiate with the manufacturer or a reliable dealer;
• arrange all the necessary documentation related to the purchase, insurance, customs border crossing, etc.;
• control the delivery of the ordered packages at the place of shipment;
• drive the boat to the place you specified.

Even the complete set of the yacht from the manufacturer pretty much never takes into account all the necessities for life on board. Pay attention to the established company brands that the topRik marketplace works with, and you will understand that all the problems with marine equipment and accessories can be solved right here, if they are not taken into account by the manufacturer. Our experts will help you choose fenders, watermaker, chartplotter, dishes, tools, electronics, electrical appliances, etc. from the best manufacturers of marine equipment.

Sale of J/111 at the topRik marketplace is completely tailored to the interests of the customer. If you want to get the yacht of your dreams in a short time and at a favorable price, without wasting time on completing it, just use the phone number above. You can also contact our experts through the website feedback form or by sending a request to our e-mail address. The topRik marketplace is everything you need to get bargain deals on boats and marine equipment without any hassle.

Specifications (j111-2022-specs.pdf, 178 Kb) [ Download ]

Price 2023 (TARIFS_J111_AU_6_FEVRIER_2023_GB.pdf, 499 Kb) [ Download ]

J/111 One design yacht : venture to new horizons!

No much things in life can compare to the experience of sailing as a part of the team - both professional and casual

On test: J/111 – hot new one-design

Quick yet informative review of J/111 from Yachting World

J111 sailboat tour - Retroboat E32 - with #sailinganarchy Scot Tempesta

"There's not much to not like about this boat", says Scot Tempesta, and explains why

Sailing with Mike in his J/111 Offshore Speedster, Stockholm 2019

Sailing J/111 in 4K - most high-quality footage of the yacht in action

Let's Talk J/111 | Optimize Your Handicap

Finally, a huge webinar going for 1 hour 14 minutes about in-depth optimization of J/111 from North Sails experts

Articles about J/111 for Sale

J-111: Ready, Set, Go by boats.com

J/111 by Sail Magazine

Video of the new J/111 by Yachting World

The latest J Boat, reviewed by Sail-World

What do J/111s, the military, statisticians, and certain cereals have in common? by Yachts and Yachting

J/111 Review by topRik Team

Comment The racing cruiser J/111 has a number of benefits: • simple control with high seaworthiness; • innovative materials and technologies that reduce the weight of the sailboat, increase the rigidity and strength of the structure; • well-thought-out security system - a large open cockpit with a spontaneous withdrawal of water and the ability for the team to move freely when changing the side, a reliable hull design; • life on board with maximum amenities in the format of a racing boat, the ability to cook hot meals and comfortably accommodate for the night; • accessibility for beginners due to ease of management and class conditions; • good price compared to other racing cruisers of the same size. Show more

• Profile details
• Comparison list
• Gift certificates
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Refund Policy
• Tallinn, Valukoja 8/2 (Regus Offices)
• +37253060890
• Mon-Sun 10.00 - 18.00
• [email protected]
• View on map
• Leave feedback

[{{{type}}}] {{{reason}}}

{{texts.summary}} {{#options.result.rssIcon}} RSS {{/options.result.rssIcon}}

{{{_source.title}}} {{#_source.showPrice}} {{{_source.displayPrice}}} {{/_source.showPrice}}

{{{_source.displayUrl}}}

{{{_source.displayDate}}}

{{{_source.description}}}

{{#_source.additionalFields}} {{#title}} {{{label}}}: {{{title}}} {{/title}} {{/_source.additionalFields}}

• J/70 (22.8')
• J/80 (26.3')
• J/88 (29.2')
• J/9 (28.0')
• J/99 (32.6')
• J/111 (36.5')
• J/112E (36.0')
• NEW J/40 (40.9')
• J/121 (40.0')
• J/45 (45.6')
• Other J/Models
• J/Newsletter
• Sailing Calendar
• J/Classes & Owners
• J/Gear Store
• J/Owner Resources
• J/World Annapolis
• J/World San Diego
• Request New Boat Info
• Find My Dealer
• Contact J/Boats
• Contact J/Composites
• Licensed Builders

NEW J Boats J/111

New yachts for sale, sail monohulls 35ft > 40ft,        j boats for sale, j boats j/111 boats for sale.