The boats from J/Boats are known for their straightforward, playful, high-performance and extremely functional ship concepts. These attributes apply to the larger yachts from the upmarket and touring-orientated Elegance line as well as to the smaller models from the sporty range. And of course now also for the new flagship of the US brand, the J/45. With a combination of American pragmatism and French flair, the shipyard wants to emphasise touring and fast cruising. And with the nomination for European Yacht of the Year 2022, the model has indeed received a welcome boost for a successful market launch.
As a fast performance cruiser, the J/45 fully convinced the YACHT test with its excellent sailing characteristics. The practical cockpit layout is also pleasing, which should suit both a well-practised regatta team and family sailors. The shipyard also makes no compromises when it comes to the equipment on deck and only installs the best and highest quality components. For the first time, it has commissioned the well-known and experienced interior designer Isabelle Racoupeau to design the interior. The interior is particularly appealing with its open and bright design and high level of living comfort.
The ship concept of the J/45 is very much geared towards the European market. For this reason, the ship will initially be built exclusively at J Composites in Les Sables-d'Olonne on the French west coast, J/Boats' licence production facility in Europe. The new boat was to have been presented for the first time in Germany at the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf, which has unfortunately now been cancelled.
The comprehensive test report on the J/45 will be published in a future issue of YACHT. Until then, the first photos from the YACHT test in Spain are available below as a gallery.
