(Key West/ Boston)- According to SAIL magazine editor Adam Cort,
"It was the perfect test for the new J/108. We were in Key West, and the
light southerly breeze was opposing an ebb tide, creating a nasty chop
in the shipping channel, so we opted instead to make an end run between
Sunset Key and Wisteria Island.Doing so in a typical, deep-draft, 35-foot J/Boat would have been risky at best—on the chart the passage between the two islands shows a couple of narrow 8-foot channels flanked by unmarked shoals. But the J/108 is no typical J. Like the 31-foot J/95, which came out in 2009, the J/108 features a shoal-draft keel and centerboard, and twin rudders. The basic hull form is the same as the acclaimed J/109, which draws 7 feet, much too much for comfort in this kind of a situation. But with the centerboard up draws just under 4 feet—about the same as a J/24!
In fact, this is precisely why J/Boats created the new design. The company’s performance-cruisers and one-designs have been wildly popular over the years wherever there’s plenty of deep water. But J/Boats has achieved much less success in thin-water country, like the Florida Keys. Although many sailors, myself included, looked askance at the J/95—how could you have true J/Boats performance without a deep keel— the boat has been a success, both critically and commercially, so that it just made sense to upsize the formula. Read more about Adam's J/108 sailing review here.
A recent test sail by Florida yacht broker Lee Messina, from Sarasota Yacht & Ship Services (a former J/30 owner who raced and cruised her extensively), had this to say after Wednesday evenings sunset sail on the new J/108, "Wow!! This is a lively and fast, yet stable racer/cruiser. For those who understand the lingo, she sailed close-hauled as well with the centerboard up as she did with it down in light air. Thank you again, Craig and Denise for an enjoyable sail on a great boat. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Lee". For more J/108 shoal-performance sailboat information.