The most successul one-design performance keelboat over 30′ in length
BOAT HISTORY
Designed by Rod Johnstone in 1990, the J105 was introduced in 1991 as the first modern day keelboat with a bowsprit and asymmetric spinnaker. The J/105 today is the most successful one-design keelboat class over 30′ in the US with more than 685 boats sailing worldwide. The concept was to design a fast, strong, fun, and easy to sail shorthanded boat while racing in one-design fleets or while cruising with dodger raised, sails furled, and swim ladder swung off the transom. The boats are currently manufactured in Portsmouth, RI.
ABOUT THE BOAT
The J105 is a fun and forgiving performance boat that offers low maintenance with a simple layout, great performance, large cockpit, four berths, and predictable handling characteristics. The boat is easy to sail and offers offshore capability and weekend accommodations for the occasional overnight. The bowsprit and asymmetric spinnaker system make downwind sailing simple for two people and requires fewer crew for racing. It has the stability, rig, and sail controls to handle 15-20 knot winds without the need of reefing.
There are 15 fleets in North America; Fleet #2 is New England. The J/105 Class and its builders have provided J/105s for women’s and men’s regattas for over 15 years. On the merits of its sailing characteristics, national distribution, and smaller 4-6 person crew number, the J/105 was selected for the Storm Trysail Club’s Big Boat Regatta held each fall as the principal one-design offshore class—it’s the biggest offshore one-design class sailed by college sailors every year and continues to be a favorite among sailors of all ages. The J/105 is a two-time winner of US Sailing’s “One-Design Class of the Year.” The class association is an owner-managed organization with strict one-design rules, including an owner-driver rule, tight restrictions on professional sailors, and annual sail purchase restrictions to keep racing affordable and as Corinthian as modern one-design can be.
In September 2019 the Corinthian Yacht Club hosted the J/105 North American Championship in which 18 boats competed. The local fleet includes: Air Express, Allora, Aqua Boogie, Atalantia, Blown Away, Brouhaha, Cerebus, Heartthrob, Knotless, and Merlin, and Scirocco.
CHECK IT OUT
What do you think of this large, versatile one-design keelboat? To see Ric Dexter’s Brouhaha, click here. To see all J/105s, simply type J/105 in the Harbor Directory search bar.
