J Class Yachts Thrill Newport Just as They Did in Their 1930s Glory Days
We gathered in a small launch in Newport, Rhode Island — three photographers, Soundings editor Bill Sisson and I — to witness the J Class Regatta. The event is part of a series of international competitions organized by the J Class Association, representing owners and stewards of the legendary America’s Cup yachts. These J Class yachts can reach nearly 140 feet overall and carry sail plans that span thousands of square feet, a sight that still commands attention nearly a century after their first glory days.
In the 1930s, when these yachts were raced off Newport during America’s Cup defenses in 1930, 1934 and 1937, they were cutting-edge. Innovations that are standard in modern performance yachts had their early expressions on these hulls: aluminum masts, moveable spreaders, rod rigging, large quadrilateral headsails and the dramatic “Mae West” spinnaker, among others. Those design advances helped establish the J Class as the pinnacle of sailing technology and style in their era.
Only ten original J Class yachts were built — six in the United States and four in England — and only three of those originals survive. Today the global fleet counts six active J Class yachts, with two more under construction and plans approved to build two additional boats. Seeing even a pair of these vessels sail the waters of Narragansett Bay, where they first won renown, is to witness history brought back to life.
Velsheda and Ranger: Past and Present
The standout entries at this regatta were the English-built Velsheda and the American Ranger. Velsheda, designed by Charles Nicholson and built in 1933 by Camper & Nicholson as a private yacht, represents the graceful, classic lines of the original J Class era. Ranger, a modern interpretation launched in 2004, was built in Denmark and reflects painstaking work to revive and refine the original concept. Ranger draws on the legacy of Harold Vanderbilt’s three-time America’s Cup winner of the same name, penned in 1937 by Starling Burgess and a young Olin Stephens. Ranger’s designers — Studio Scanu, Reichel-Pugh and Fred Elliott, working from the original lines — created a boat that many call the finest of the contemporary J Class fleet.
Walking the docks at Newport Shipyard, the scale of these yachts is striking: towering masts, enormous sails, meticulous brightwork and the many hands required to sail them. Yet the real spectacle is on the water. I witnessed two of the five races in the June 15–19 series, which Ranger ultimately won, and each time the experience was both theatrical and profoundly moving.
A Foggy Prelude and a Grand Entrance
On race day we boarded a 26-foot Contender driven by Michael DuPont and joined a diverse spectator fleet steaming into lower Narragansett Bay. The day began unsettled. Towboats brought the competitors out to the starting area, and Ranger was accompanied by the vintage tender Bystander, the same name and type of boat that led the original Ranger out on these waters decades earlier. Then a bank of Rhode Island fog rolled in and, like a theater curtain, swallowed Castle Hill and the Newport Bridge. For a few tense minutes, the boats were lost to the mist.
When the fog thinned, Ranger emerged like an apparition: a long, lean hull from another age carrying a towering mast and a massive triangular sail that curved and held the wind. The moment stopped the harbor; heads turned and cameras rose. The sight of sailcloth filled with wind and the coordinated ballet of crew and deck sent a tangible wave of admiration through the spectators.
Throughout the day our photo boat was positioned close to the action. At times we sailed beneath the shadow of a spinnaker, feeling the power and scale up close. The combination of raw speed, balanced lines and precise teamwork made clear why the J Class continues to captivate sailors and enthusiasts. Watching them tack and trim is watching both engineering and art in motion.
Why J Class Endures
The Newport J Class Regatta drew crowds to the waterfront to appreciate both history and the future of classic big-boat sailing. Velsheda stands as a living piece of the 1930s, while Ranger shows how modern craftsmanship and faithful interpretation can revive that legacy. What draws people to these magnificent vessels? Tradition and respect for maritime history certainly play a role. So does admiration for exceptional design, masterful craftsmanship and the spectacle of human teams harnessing nature at scale. The J Class embodies all of these values: beauty, performance and a tangible connection to a golden era of sailing.
This article originally appeared in the September 2011 issue.