Click on main image to enlarge

J-Class revival

Thanks to Richard Amos, the J-class still exists. He bought Endeavour I (or rather, what was left of her) and started an extensive restoration in the Eighties. Lack of funds saw an early death of the project. Elisabeth Meijer, from the “School of Restoration” in Newport (RI) had the money and commissioned Dykstra & Partners to do a complete refit. A completely resurrected Endeavour was re-launched at Royal Huisman Shipyards in Vollenhove in 1989.

This inspiring example triggered the owners of Velsheda and Shamrock V to do a similar thing. They equipped the yachts, although temporarily, in a racing mode to allow a revival of the long gone spectacle of racing J-class yachts. At a later stage both Velsheda and Shamrock V were sold to wealthier owners and these yachts too, were completely refitted, again under supervision of Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects.

Endeavour JK4

It took an incredible amount of work, love and pain to reach the present level of Endeavour’s perfection. Endeavour set sail again on June 22nd 1989. After 52 years! In April 1999 history repeated itself when she sailed against Velsheda and Shamrock V in the Antigua Classics Regatta. After 60 years a new era of J-class sailing had started.

Velsheda JK7

She is Dutch owned since 1996. Velsheda was completely refitted in 1997 at Southampton Yacht Service, again under supervision of Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects. As of 1997 Velsheda is in full racing state. 

Shamrock V JK3

Was renovated in 2000 by her Brazilian owner at Pendennish Shipyard in Falmouth. During the 2001 America’s Cup Jubilee Shamrock V sailed against Endeavour and Velsheda on Solent waters. Just befor this event, the Sir Thomas Lipton cup had been sailed off Lymington.

Ranger J5

The first new J-class boat was built in 2003. A replica of Ranger, the yacht that beat Endeavour II in 1937. The original Ranger, a Sparkman & Stephens design, was scrapped in 1941. The new Ranger was built in 2003 by Danish Yachts. Because her performance was below expectations, she was refitted in 2006 by Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects.

Hanuman JK6 (replica Endeavour II )

After Ranger in 2003, Endeavour II was the first completely new built J at Royal Huisman Shipyards in Vollenhove. The yacht, to an original design of Charles Nicolson, was again rigged by Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects. Towing tank and wind tunnel tests were carried out at Wolfson Unit in the UK. The J, commissioned by Jim Clark and named Hanuman was launched in 2009 under sail number J K-6. Hanuman beat Ranger in the Rolex Cup race in Sardinia summer 2009.

Lionheart (replica of one of the Ranger designs)

The design team of Andre Hoek Naval Architects are involved in the building of yet another J-class yacht. The original design was one of the Ranger plans by William Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens. That Lionheart design was never built. Because the design is considered an original J-class boat this new yacht will be permitted to race. The hull was built in 2008 at Freddy Bloemsma’s in Makkum and is presently being fitted out. She will be launched in 2010.