In the international IRC racing circuit, the 2019 season was characterised by a young and extremely exciting competition. The new competitors for performance cruisers with a hull length of around ten metres (IRC C / IRC Double classes) are: J/99 (test in YACHT 11/19), Sun Fast 3300 (test in YACHT 12/19), MMW 33 (test in YACHT 22/19) and the JPK 1030 - all brand new models built in 2019 with promising performance potential. Accordingly, all three models in the ambitious comparison brought the 2019 season to a very successful conclusion and were able to fulfil the expectations placed in them.
Jean-Pierre Kelbert (JPK) has realised the JPK 1030 in his small but fine production facility in French Brittany as a further development of the equally successful JPK 1080 (test in YACHT 19/2014). The concept remains essentially the same. In other words: sport in focus, high performance, orientated towards IRC handicap, but still suitable for touring, albeit to a limited extent. Kelbert has once again entrusted the design of his latest project to his compatriot Jacques Valer. His design is characterised by the pronounced curve of the bow in the waterline area, the wide stern and the equally striking chines.
The YACHT editorial team was on board the JPK 1030 for a test in Lorient, albeit in rather unfavourable conditions: little wind and pouring rain. YACHT photographer Jean-Marie Liot photographed the boat on another occasion and provided us with his pictures for the following gallery. The test report on the JPK 1030 will appear in an upcoming issue of YACHT.
