| J boats are racing keel-boats measured according | | | | the presence of a staggering 130 boats. |
| to their hulls. J-1, the first model, was designed | | | | Rod Johnstone perfected his design for J boat |
| and built in summer 1975 by Rod Johnstone at his | | | | racing with the J-27, manufactured between 1983 |
| home in Stonignton, Connecticut. This boat, called | | | | and 1992. Its overall length is 8.38 m, beam 2.6 m, |
| "Ragtime", would serve as the basis for some | | | | displacement 3,800 lb, draft 1.5 m and length at |
| 5,200 future designs. Today, Portsmouth, Rhode | | | | the waterline 7 m. Its belowdecks headroom is 1.4 |
| Island is the center of manufacture. Johnstone's | | | | m, standard water capacity 5 gallons and lead keel |
| pioneering J-24 model has an LOA of 7.32 m, an | | | | of 1,530 lbs. The J-27 is still raced under the |
| LWL of 6.10 m, a beam of 2.71 m, a hull weight | | | | auspices of various regional fleet authorities |
| of 1,600 kg and a 261 sq ft sail area with a 100% | | | | covering parts of the USA, Canada and South |
| headsail. | | | | Africa. The current class president is Louis |
| The very first regatta to feature J boat racing | | | | Johnson and the treasurer is Doug Davies. |
| was Key West in 1978. 20 boats competed. | | | | The current situation of J boat racing is very |
| Other J boats include the International J-22, which | | | | positive. Regatta management and racing |
| usually involves a crew of 3-4 and is of a fixed | | | | regulations have been improved resulting in bigger |
| keel design which means that older boats can | | | | and better events, such as those organised by |
| compete on equal terms with newer versions. Its | | | | Midwinters XX. Championship organisers have |
| "class jib" means that it possess a big spinnaker, a | | | | been returning to the old sailing venues that made |
| mainsail and a non-overlapping jib. The International | | | | the J boat great. San Francisco hosted the 1997 |
| J-22 can plane on runs and reaches. Since it was | | | | North American and 1998 World Championships. |
| created in 1983, more than 1,600 J-22s have | | | | Corpus Christi in Texas and Newport, Rhode |
| been built and sail in 65 fleets in 18 countries. The | | | | Island have both been awarded major |
| 2004 World Championship race was graced with | | | | competitions in recent years. |