J/97e and J/122e Debut Southampton Boat Show
(Southampton, United Kingdom)- Key Yachting Ltd will be exhibiting four J/Boats at the Southampton Boat Show from 12th September, including two which will be making their show debut. Step aboard all of these boats on marina berths M350 – M354 and M340.

The J/97 Evolution – European Boat Show Debut!
The J/97 needs little introduction. In 2013, the J/97 won its IRC class at events including the UK IRC Nationals, Cowes Week, the South West IRC Nationals, Dartmouth Regatta, West Highland Week, Brighton Marina Yacht Cub Regatta and Abersoch Keelboat Week. A J/97 was also declared overall winner of the Scottish Series – three different J/97s have taken this title since 2011.

For 2014, the J/97 has had a mini-remodel and evolved to become the new J/97E, with the aim of broadening her appeal to both racers and cruisers.

The most significant alteration is in the deck layout where the traveller has been moved half a metre aft and is now on the cockpit sole. This move provides 50% more working cockpit space and with the primary winches also moving aft the crew have an increased operating space. A factory fit wheel is now available with a Jefa steering system combined with JP3 self-aligning bearings to give a beautifully light feel to the helm.

Notable enhancements to the interior include increased headroom in the aft cabin, making her even more comfortable for cruising.  The new J/111 window style profile and optional hull windows add to the feeling of light and space in the saloon along with her six-foot standing headroom.

The J/97 offers family cruising accommodation in a high performance, easily driven hull. With the handling ease of an asymmetric spinnaker and non-overlapping headsails, the J/97 fits the needs of today’s sailing families, of all ages.  Following a recent flurry of J/97 sales, the model recently secured its own one design class at the J-Cup with nine entries.

The J/122 Evolution – Southampton Boat Show Debut!
New for 2014, the look of the J/122 has been transformed, with new coach roof windows in line with those on the J/88, along with the addition of hull windows, the first J/Boat to display this most welcome feature. Below decks the living space is rejuvenated, with the large galley and saloon finished in a combination of a satin finish light mahogany woodwork and white lacquered finish, with corian galley worktops.

The Famous J/70 Sportsboat
The J/70 is J/Boats’ first slipway-launchable keelboat - designed to fulfill the growing need for an easy to own, high performance one design, that is exciting to sail, stable enough sailboat for the family, and built to last. A natural evolution of its J pedigree, the J/70’s 7m of sailing length with high aspect, all carbon rig and deep lifting keel, provides spirited performance and stability that feels like a much larger boat.

With its easily driven hull, large cockpit, and three sail inventory, the J/70 is perfect for three adults, two couples, or four juniors. Her long cockpit and moderate height boom allow easy crew movement across the cockpit while tacking and jibing. For sitting and hiking comfort, mid-height safety-lines run cockpit length, making the J/70 one of the most comfortable boats to steer and crew aboard. The small cabin below is a bonus providing weather protection and privacy when necessary. Safety lines around the cockpit, plus an interior with seats and an optional V-berth forepeak give that extra measure of security. Expensive marina berthing can be avoided with the J/70, which can be owner rigged and launched in no time.

Nearly 700 boats have now been sold worldwide, thirty of which are in the UK. The J/70’s appeal and performance ability have won it numerous accolades already, including European Yacht of the Year, and winner of the sportsboat class at Round the Island Race. Demo sails on the J/70 will be available throughout the show.

The J/88 Family Speedster
From the J/Boats sport range that has given us the global successes of the J/111 and J/70 comes the J/88; an 8m family performance boat with stability, style and sailing comfort. The J/88 is large enough to provide the creature comforts of a sit-in cockpit, inboard diesel engine, and overnight interior with head, but small enough to be single-point lifted and trailerable.

Design highlights include a high-aspect, non-overlapping sail plan (no genoas) with a carbon fibre double-spreader mast which is deck stepped for easy rigging, tuning and keeping the main cabin dry. The 1.98m fixed, low VCG keel with molded GRP finish is similar to the J/70’s, ensuring a fair, smooth foil for every boat. The result will be a ride that’s every bit as exciting as the J/88’s siblings; fast and balanced upwind with planing performance downwind in moderate to fresh breezes.

On deck, the day sailing comforts include a spacious T-shaped cockpit similar to the J/111, with seating and backrests forward of the floor-mounted traveller and a wide-open cockpit aft due to the tiller-steered, transom mounted high-aspect rudder. Adding to the J/88’s ease-of-sailing characteristics is an optional under deck furler, retractable carbon bowsprit and cockpit-led sail controls. Below deck, the J/88 sports a weekending layout with optional V-berth, two full length settees, private head forward of the bulkhead, a chart table area, Igloo cooler and galley sink.  For more Southampton Boat Show information