RETURN OF THE Js

THE INCOMPARABLE J CLASS RETURNS TO MED FLEET RACING FOR THE SUPERYACHT CUP PALMA AND BEYOND. ANDI ROBERTSON TRACKS THEIR FORM.

- ANDI ROBERTSON

The Superyacht Cup Palma has long proven one of the litmus test regattas in the modern generation of the J Class - a fleet popularly regarded as the finest in our sport. In 2013 and 2014 when five Js lined up on the Bay of Palma, the spirited, close and even fleet racing which was enjoyed by Ranger, Hanuman, Velsheda, Rainbow and Lionheart marked the start of the build up to 2017's all time pinnacle events - Bermuda's America's Cup Invitational Regatta and the inaugural J Class World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island.

With an all-time record-sized fleet of seven boats racing in 2017, including the newest launches Svea and Topaz in the mix plus Rainbow (present but watching from the sidelines), Bermuda and Newport marked the twin peaks of recent J Class activity.

However, in the immediate aftermath there was a prolonged dip in racing activity and it's only now that the fleet seems to be on the rebuild. That reduction in racing can be accounted for by a variety of reasons. Hanuman and Lionheart - arguably the top two, best-resourced teams - put their programmes on ice and in Lionheart's case, went cruising. And John Williams, the enthusiastic owner who commissioned and built Ranger in 1999, sadly passed away in 2018.

However, this spring and summer marks a very definite upturn in J Class racing activity. The St Barths Bucket in March saw the return to racing of Ranger, now in the ownership of a passionate young American. And then in April Svea passed into the well-funded, safe hands of a syndicate of experienced Swedish owners.

So the Superyacht Cup Palma in June will now see its biggest fleet of Js in eight years, when Velsheda, Topaz, Ranger, and Svea answer the starting guns. Also, the word from the J Class Association is that Rainbow looks set to change hands, likely to an owner who wants to go racing. Things are very definitely on the up.

BIG CHANGES