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J CLASS TO HOLD 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BARCELONA IN 2024

No history of the America’s Cup is complete without mention of the J Class, the magnificent sloops that competed for the trophy in three editions between 1930 and 1937. Their grace and beauty reflected a time where a booming global economy brought some of the most colourful tycoons to compete for the oldest international sports trophy in the world. Names like Sir Thomas Lipton, Harold S Vanderbilt and Sir Thomas Sopwith graced a period that is known as the ‘Golden Age’ of the America’s Cup before the realities of the aftermath of the Second World War, saw the smaller, more affordable 12 Metre Class replace the J Class.

In modern times the J Class has thrived with owners either restoring or building new to old lines drawn but never constructed and to see one of the yachts in person is to witness sailing and racing at its very finest. With the America’s Cup in Barcelona in October 2024, the class have been welcomed by America’s Cup Events to host their World Championships between 7-11 th October 2024 with a practice regatta on the 3-4 th October 2024. The magnificent fleet have been allocated space in the Port Vell Harbour and will be a welcome sight for spectators and enthusiasts of the America’s Cup. 

Speaking about the J Class coming to Barcelona, Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events commented: “When the idea was first suggested, it was one of the easiest decisions ever to make. The J-Class are integral to the history, legend and fascination of the America’s Cup and we are very grateful to the Class Association and the Owners for taking the opportunity to host their World Championship in Barcelona at the time of the 37 th Match. Seeing those boats being raced just off the Barcelona waterfront will be a spectacle for everyone on the water or watching from the shoreline – we cannot wait to see them in action.”

The J Class fleet has grown in popularity in recent years and the fleet includes Topaz (J8), Ranger (J5), Svea (JS1), Velsheda (JK7), Shamrock V (JK3), Rainbow (JKZ1), Hanuman (JK6) and Lionheart (JH1). The Class Association is seeking a commitment from as many owners as possible with five confirmed to date and others working the America’s Cup into their busy global schedules.

Hosted by the Real Club Nàutic de Barcelona, situated right in the heart of the Port Vell, the club is looking forward to a fabulous J Class regatta in the city, with Jordi Puig, President of the Yacht Club saying: “The opportunity to host the historic J Class for their World Championships in 2024 is something that myself and all the members of RCNB are immensely looking forward to. These yachts with their remarkable history both in the America’s Cup and into the modern era are one of the true wonders of the sailing world and will draw much attention when they arrive in Barcelona whilst acting as an integral part of the America’s Cup celebrations.”

Stuart Childerley, Class Secretary of the J Class, is delighted to be in the heart of the America’s Cup event in Barcelona 2024 saying: “We are extremely grateful to Grant and his team for smoothing the passage to be included in the America’s Cup regatta where the DNA of our fleet essentially lies, and we look forward to playing a central part in the programme both on and off the water. The Owners and Class Association are excited to hold our World Championships in Barcelona which will be the highlight of our season after the Maxi Worlds in Porto Cervo during September 2024 and the Mahon regatta in May 2024. The boats will arrive to the Port Vell and be situated right in the heart of the superyacht basin giving spectators a fantastic opportunity to see these historic yachts up close.”

Details of the 2024 World Championships in Barcelona will shortly be available on the J-Class Association website www.jclassyachts.com and circulated to Owners and Owner’s Representatives in due course.

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America's Cup: J Class to hold 2024 World Championships in Barcelona from October 7-11, 2024

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The allure of the America’s Cup is set to be enhanced by the majestic presence of the J Class fleet as organizers extend a prestigious invitation for their participation in the upcoming event. Scheduled to take place from October 7th to 11th, 2024, the J Class World Championship in Barcelona promises to be a spectacle of grandeur and nostalgia.

Comprising three meticulously refitted original yachts and six newly constructed vessels designed to replicate the iconic hull lines of the 1930s, the J Class fleet boasts a total of nine active yachts worldwide. Among them are the renowned Endeavour, Topaz, Ranger, Svea, Velsheda, Shamrock V, Rainbow, Hanuman, and Lionheart, each bearing a storied history dating back to the illustrious America’s Cup races of the 1930s.

Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events, expressed his excitement for the inclusion of the J Class in the regatta, emphasizing their integral role in the Cup’s rich heritage. “Seeing those boats being raced just off the Barcelona waterfront will be a spectacle for everyone on the water or watching from the shoreline – we cannot wait to see them in action,” remarked Dalton.

Stuart Childerley, Class Secretary of the J Class, echoed Dalton’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to showcase the fleet’s legacy amidst the prestigious America’s Cup regatta. “The boats will arrive at Port Vell and be situated right in the heart of the superyacht basin, giving spectators a fantastic opportunity to see these historic yachts up close,” noted Childerley.

The Class Association is actively encouraging J Class owners to commit to the 2024 event, with five confirmations received to date. As anticipation builds for this unparalleled gathering of maritime history and contemporary excellence, the J Class World Championship promises to captivate audiences both on and off the water, offering a rare glimpse into the timeless elegance and enduring spirit of these iconic vessels.

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Capturing the Cup: Yacht Racing During the Gilded Age , on exhibit at the Flagler Museum from October 16, 2012 through January 6, 2013, tells the exciting story of yacht racing in America during America's Gilded Age, the period that has also become known as the Golden Age of the sport. Works of art, artifacts, historic films, and elaborate gold and silver trophies made by the most important silversmiths, illuminate the history of the great yachts, races, and personalities of the period, like "the Gamest Loser in the World of Sports," Sir Thomas Lipton, who won the hearts of Americans in spite of losing five America's Cup challenges. Among the significant objects on display is a rare perfect replica of the silver America's Cup, the oldest and most coveted prize in the world of sport.

Competition for what came to be known as the America's Cup helped ignite a craze for yachting and advanced nautical design in this country. The international competition has been a showcase for the best in the world of yachting ever since. During the late nineteenth century, America's Cup competition between the United States and Britain was fierce. Competitive tensions came to a head during the unsuccessful 1893 and 1895 challenges by the Earl of Dunraven, resulting in disagreements over the rules, an allegation of cheating, and ill will on both sides of the Atlantic.

Though he didn't race his yachts, Henry Flagler was keenly interested in the sport. A member of several clubs including the New York Yacht Club, Flagler owned sailing and steam yachts and attended regattas. In 1883 or 1884, Flagler purchased the famous schooner Columbia , a successful 1871 America's Cup defender. Flagler and his steam yacht Alicia , built for him in 1890, served on the New York Yacht Club patrol for the 1895 America's Cup races. A number of artifacts and works of art related to Flagler's yachts are featured in the exhibition, including a rare painting of the Columbia by maritime artist William G. Yorke.

While it could cost enormous sums of money to compete in the major regattas, winners were awarded large cash purses and costly trophies. Leading silversmiths of the Gilded Age such as Tiffany & Co.; Black, Starr & Frost; Gorham Manufacturing Company; and Dominick & Haff were commissioned by yacht clubs and wealthy sportsmen to create some of the most lavish presentation pieces ever made. The high cost and elaborate design of yachting trophies are evidence of the prominence of the sport in America during the Gilded Age.

Capturing the Cup will feature a number of important yacht racing trophies, including: the Goelet Prize for Sloops, offered annually by Ogden Goelet; the Drexel Cup, provided by John R. Drexel; the Brokaw Trophy, donated by W. Gould Brokaw; the Ogden Goelet and James Gordon Bennett Cup, co-sponsored by two of the period's most important yachtsmen; and two King's Cups, presented by Edward VII and George V. Capturing the Cup will present the fascinating stories of the donors of these prestigious prizes, the champions, and their yachts.

Image caption: A rare perfect replica of the silver America's Cup, the oldest and most coveted prize in the world of sport since it was won in 1851 by its namesake, the yacht America. William I. Koch Collection.

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Special Lecture - Sir Thomas Lipton and His Race for the Cup

By michael d'antonio , author and journalist december 11, 2012 6:30 p.m..

In conjunction with the exhibition Capturing the Cup: Yacht Racing During the Gilded Age , on exhibit at the Flagler Museum from October 16, 2012 through January 6, 2013, author Michael D'Antonio will present Sir Thomas Lipton and His Race for the Cup . D'Antonio is the author of many acclaimed books, including A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup , and he previously presented The Sweetest Company Town Ever Built: Hershey, PA as part of the 2007 Whitehall Lecture Series. Among his many awards is the Pulitzer Prize, which he shared with a team of reporters for Newsday.

Today he is more famous for his tea, but in the world of Gilded Age yachting, Sir Thomas Lipton's name was synonymous with a passionate love of yacht racing and good  sportsmanship. After great success building his empire of markets, factories, and tea plantations, Lipton set his sights on winning America's Cup. He spared no e xpense to capture the most coveted of all sporting trophies, despite the fact that he didn't even know how to sail. For his five attempts to challenge American champions between 1899 and 1930, Lipton built five state-of-the-art racing machines, Shamrocks I through V. Lipton also promoted yacht racing by donating elaborate trophies to encourage yachting competitions around the world. Lipton's generosity and unwavering good will, despite repeated and expensive America's Cup losses, earned him the admiration of sporting fans worldwide, and the nickname "The Gamest Loser in the World of Sports."

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Eclipse crowned the winner of the first World Cup of Superyachts

After a gruelling week of competition and over 47,000 votes cast, the 162 metre Blohm+Voss superyacht Eclipse has been crowned the winner of the inaugural World Cup of Superyachts.

The competition began with 16 of the greatest yachts drawn from a hat and the number was swiftly whittled down to a face-off in the grand final between Eclipse and Octopus - two of the most impressive yachts ever built.

• Step on board the 162.5m Eclipse - the second largest superyacht in the world

At 162 metres in length, Eclipse had size on her side as one of the largest yachts in the world (second only to Azzam who she knocked out in the semi-finals). With nine decks and the design talents of the legendary Terence Disdale touching every curve and corner, she is a truly remarkable vessel. But what Octopus may lack in size at a comparably modest 126 metres, she more than makes up for in her pandora's box of toys, from the two helicopters sitting side by side in the hangar to the 10-person Pagoo submarine (not to mention her globetrotting 12,500 nautical mile range.)

The competition was tough and the battle well fought, but it was Eclipse that came out on top after a week of voting across social media and boatinternational.com.

You can listen to the draw as it happened on our BOAT Briefing podcast .

Images by Klaus Jordan; Peter Seyfferth; A&B Photodesign; Guillaume Plisson; Berge Myrene; Tom Van Oossanen; Stef Bravin; Giovanni Romero; SuperYachtsMonaco; Feadship; Jeff Brown

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The International Eight Metre Association brings together a passionate community dedicated to the elegance and tradition of 8 Metre sailing. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or new to the class, explore the rich history, discover upcoming events, and connect with sailors from around the world.

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