J/45 Review

In this review we will talk about the new cruising sailing yacht J/45, presented by the shipyard J/Boats as an offshore racing sailboat, which can be successfully used for long autonomous family sailing. An unparalleled level of comfort ensures the convenience of life on board. High speed, as well as other seaworthiness qualities, including the comfortable control of the yacht, complete the picture.

This vessel is the culmination of three years of work by the J/Boats North American team, as well as the J/Composites shipyard division based in Les Sables d'Olonne. Later they were joined by Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design represented by the famous designer of large yachts Isabelle Racoupeau, who developed the interior design, layout and ergonomics.

A manufacturer of racing cruisers with a proven track record in offshore and inshore racing, J/Boats is trying to take things to new heights. The task was to create the most comfortable cruiser without losing the seaworthiness of a racing yacht.

Since the introduction of the new boat in the spring of 2021, based on nothing more than documentation and brochures, it has become clear that a group of naval architects and designers seem to have coped with their task. Further testing at sea of the first samples fully confirmed these hopes.

Today we clearly see that the J/45 sailing cruiser is primarily intended for long-term sailing of a family of 4 or a small group of friends who can not only live on board in comfortable conditions on the high seas, but also participate in offshore racing.

J/45 was highly appreciated by the yachting community. She straightaway became the owner of two most prestigious awards: Cruising World’s “2023 Boat of the Year” and "Best Performance Cruiser", as well as Sailing World’s “2023 Boat of the Year” and "Best Crossover Winner".

 

Features of Review J/45

 

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J/45 Review by TopRik Team

TopRik team saw the J/45 racing cruiser for the first time at Cannes 2021. Then we already realized that the yacht would become the flagship of the shipyard.

In this motley crowd of yachts, flags and advertising posters, it was difficult to see the elegant lines of this stunning sailboat, which combined North American pragmatism and French charm. The first manifested itself in the nautical characteristics of the boat, and the second - in its ergonomic contours and elegant interiors of the living quarters.

All the extra comfort required extra volume and weight, but the architects tried to keep the displacement low, although the J/45 is still heavier than some cruising sailboats of this size. The developers have ensured that when the yacht is fully loaded, the performance is optimized in such a way that the weight of the boat does not affect its handling and speed.

When making the hull, the method used was vacuum injection of vinyl ester resin into the composite fiberglass materials from which the boat is made. The vacuum infusion method prolongs the life of the yacht as it prevents the osmosis process. Hull lamination provides the necessary structural rigidity, which improves maneuvering and other sailing properties, and increases resistance to mechanical stress.

 

Two Helms for One Rudder

Traditionally, let's start with a survey of the cockpit, where two control posts are installed. J/Boats is a single rudder lover and the J/45 is no exception.

The main tools are placed on the helm panel - a multifunctional marine display, control of the thruster, autopilot, etc.

Immediately behind the helms are large winches. Halyards and sheets do not clutter up the deck, they are placed in a separate panel, the backstay is hydraulic. A large locker is intended for the cables. Two more winches are located on the sides of the cabin roof.

Safe movement in the cockpit and on deck is provided by the bulwark and handrails on the deckhouse roof.

The cockpit and decks, as well as the cockpit’s benches, are covered with anti-slip material.

 

Offshore Race or Cruise?

With this yacht, such a question is trivial - it’s both. You can also use it for pleasant long passages, using sails or an engine if necessary.

You just have to decide on the layout of the cabins. For family cruising, two cabins are ideal, each with its own bathroom. The owner's cabin is located in the bow of the yacht and provides significant living space.

And if you choose the option with three cabins, then the inhabitants of two of them will have to use a shared bathroom.

If you opt for the two-cabin version, you also get a huge cockpit locker, where you can store not only all your diving equipment, but also an inflatable dinghy.

Another large locker is located on the bow, it is designed to store the sails. There is also a box for the anchor chain and water tanks. This apparent oversaturation of equipment in the stern and bow of the boat, and not in its center, just serves to optimize the handling of this sailing cruiser.

 

Comfort of Life on Board

If we are talking about a cruise, then we assume that people (or the sole traveler) will spend a fairly long time on board. The cabins on this boat are clearly designed for maximum comfort for sailboats of this size: large cozy double beds, wardrobes and shelves for storage.

In the owner's cabin of the 2-cabin version, a peninsula bed and an additional pouffe are provided. In this case, as we noted above, the residents have separate bathrooms for each cabin.

All rooms located below deck have sufficient comfortable height. They have access to natural light through the side and ceiling windows.

The same can be said about the saloon, which is just filled with light. This is a fairly spacious room, which includes a skipper's place with a separate table and seat. The navigation spot is equipped with a chartplotter, communications equipment and other useful things.

Opposite to it is a full-fledged galley with a stove, refrigerator, sink, where fresh water is supplied, and table for cooking.

The dining area has a folding table, which, if desired, can be transformed into an extra bed. Around it are soft sofas and seats with pillows. Opposite is another sofa. The vibe is conducive to communication and relaxation in a pleasant environment.

Sitting in the saloon, the skipper can watch the sails through the large hatch in the roof. A ladder with wide steps provides quick access to the cockpit.

 

Comfort under Sail

Who says it's impossible on a racing sailboat? It all depends on what you put into this concept. We liked that the sailing yacht J/45 did not require to use excessive force for managing it. We came to the conclusion that the sailing rig is equally comfortable and easy to manage both at wind speeds of 7 and 20 knots. In both cases, a combination of mainsail and staysail will be enough for you, and when the wind speed changes, you do not have to change sailing equipment, as is required by heavier cruiser sailboats.

It is also important that even with a light wind you don’t have to use engines, which allows you to save on fuel and avoid polluting the environment.

The rudder is obedient to the helms, and the helms respond to the lightest touch. This ease of handling is due to the low center of gravity, the ergonomic shape of the hull and the intelligent distribution of equipment below deck, as mentioned above. As a result, the draft and wetted area are minimal for a boat of this size and weight, which pleased us with excellent maneuvering in various wind speeds.

 

Advantages of J/45

I don’t even want to trifle and note some noticed shortcomings, since they are far outweighed by the advantages of this magnificent sailing cruiser. Well, except that one can note a tendency towards a larger roll angle, which is explained by the presence of one rudder. So-so disadvantage, you see, not even worth attention. It noted by our afficionado of boats with two rudders. Another crew member wished there was more storage space.

Yet the advantages of the sailing racing cruiser J/45 were appreciated by all those who conducted the review, including the picky ones.

1. Security. This point is especially important, since the boat is primarily intended for family cruises. Safety on board is facilitated by the hull manufacturing method, which eliminates the osmosis process and provides the boat with high impact resistance.
2. Quality. The team of architects and designers has carefully selected the required marine equipment, engines, sailing equipment, galley and bathroom equipment from the best manufacturers in each field.
3. Complete set. All reviewers of the J/45 note the impressive list of standard sailboat equipment. It even includes parts that other shipyards consider optional, and for which the buyer must pay on top of the cost of the boat. On the J/45 you can sail with confidence even with standard equipment.
4. Multifunctionality. The J/45 can serve as a reliable cruiser for the family, as well as an offshore racing sailboat for a group of friends or rented out for commercial purposes.
5. Cabin options offer a two-cabin/two-bath version or a three-cabin/two-bath version.
6. Upholstery options for furniture and walls, including furniture finishing with white oak, teak or walnut veneer.
7. Large list of options for on-board equipment and additional comfort.

 

Reviews of J /45 from Professionals

 

Video Reviews of J/45

Here’s what this yacht is able to show off on camera.

In this one you get more full explanation of different features of the boat, including life on board:

Very detailed review by Yachting World – a lot of valuable information in 15 minutes:

Simple walkthrough of the interior:

More incredible footage both at sea and on board:

 

Conclusion

TopRik team's review of the J/45 racing sail cruiser, the results of which are confirmed by other authoritative sources - journalists and yachtsmen of the leading yachting media - allow us to conclude:

• the yacht perfectly combines the properties of a racing sailboat with excellent seaworthiness and a comfortable cruise ship;
• thanks to convenient and simple control, the boat is perfect for lovers of high-speed sailing alone (for experienced sailors) or a small team of yachtsmen;
• the speed characteristics and maneuverability of the J/45 confirm that the boat can successfully participate in offshore yacht racing;
• ease of handling, careful selection of safe and reliable equipment, increased comfort on board, elegant interior, layout of cabins at the request of the owner allow the yacht to be used for long cruising by both a married couple or a family of any size;
• the boat is ideal for a romantic sailing for two, especially if the couple loves speed;
• this is an excellent investment choice for those involved in the charter industry - such a versatile and comfortable yacht, capable of accommodating up to 10 people, will not stay idle waiting for clients.

The J/45 sailing racing cruiser is a prestigious acquisition for corporate use, which will emphasize the commitment of the company's team to a healthy lifestyle and will strengthen its team spirit.

This reliable and safe yacht is suitable for anyone who loves sailing, who loves the speed and romance of the sea, who enjoys the opportunity for energetic sports, who feels the joy of steering a powerful vessel and those entrepreneurs, who are ready to provide others with all these feelings by renting out a magnificent J/45.

 

Where to Buy J/45 at a Bargain Price

When you decide that it's time to buy a J/45, just visit our marketplace and the topRik team will take care of everything else.

All employees of the marketplace are professional current yachtsmen who have a combined knowledge of all yachts, boats, motor boats and marine equipment that are presented on the website. We provide our clients with a full range of services before the purchase of a J/45 yacht:

• we provide comprehensive consultations on all issues of selection, configuration, cost, design and delivery;
• we give practical advice on each model so that your expectations are fully justified;
• we never impose unnecessary options or equipment - we only suggest how to improve the capabilities of the yacht in full accordance with your needs - the choice is always up to you;
• we select not only convenient, but also the most profitable payment option for you;
• we ourselves negotiate with the manufacturer of the package that you have approved;
• we deliver the yacht to a specified place;
• we provide the yacht with all the necessary equipment and accessories that are not provided in the standard configuration and options - cables, fenders, watermaker, etc.

If necessary, we will provide professional training in our yachting school SimpleSail, after which you will receive a certificate for IYT Yacht Training Course "International Bareboat Skipper".

Contacting the topRik team eliminates all the problems that may arise when purchasing a sailing yacht J/45. Use the feedback page to reach out to our employees, call the specified phone number or send a request to our email address.