(Newport, RI)- For the first time in recent history, a newly introduced
"J" has been nominated for a record number of five "Performance Yacht of
the Year" awards across the USA, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
European Yacht of the Year 2020- J/99 in the Performance Cruiser Category!
The European Yacht of the Year Award is the most important, influential,
and most widely communicated boatbuilding prize worldwide. Often
referred to as the "Oscar" of yachting.
Initiated by German sail magazine YACHT, it was first presented at boot
Düsseldorf in 2004. Today, twelve magazines from all over Europe make up
the jury, each of them the leading voice in their respective countries
and respected beyond national borders. The announcement of the winners
will take place during the Boot in Düsseldorf January 18th-26th 2020.
Here was the commentary of the J/99 nomination:
"Even before being unveiled, the new offshore speedster by J-Boats sold
in the dozens. And the J/99 was an instant success not just
commercially– she also showed strong results on race courses right from
the beginning. Available with single or twin rudders, symmetric or
asymmetric spinnaker setup, she can be tailored to her owners' likings.
While she may look rather modest compared to flashier new designs and
weighs more than some of her direct competitors she is nonetheless right
up there in the mix– including a relatively modest pricing compared to
industry standards." For
more European Yacht of the Year Award information
SAIL Magazine Best Boats Award- Performance Monohulls
J/Boats have won numerous SAIL Best Boat Awards over the course of time,
in fact since the very beginning that SAIL magazine created the
awards! Here is their commentary on the J/99 nomination:
"Following up on the J/121, which won a SAIL Best Boat’s award in 2018,
the new J/99 is similar in concept, with a deck layout and rig optimized
for smaller crews in the interest of addressing the increasing interest
in shorthanded racing both in the United States and abroad. Beyond
that, the 33ft J/99 is vintage modern “J”. with its plumb ends, slippery
“SCRIMP” infused hull, deep high-aspect rudder and similarly deep fin
keel lead “shoe,” the latter designed to get the boat’s center of
gravity as low as possible. As is the case the with the rest of the
J/Boats fleet, the cockpit is a functional work of art, with plenty of
room for trimming sail." For
more SAIL magazine Best Boats Award information
SAILING WORLD Boat of the Year
For the first time since inception, the Sailing World Boat of the Year
was reduced to a single category with a dozen boats selected for their
2020 Award- e.g. a single boat will win.
Dave Reed, Editor of Sailing World, hopped aboard the J/99 immediately
after the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. Sailing on a
particularly nasty weather day, the Sailing World evaluation team that
included Dave, Greg Stewart, and Chuck Allen experienced 10-20 kt ENE
winds, driving rain squalls, and a classic short, steep Chesapeake Bay
chop. One reviewer commented, "wow, the J/99 has a beautiful feel on her
helm upwind and she's stiff...maybe that's why we're going 7.1 kts
upwind!" Another commented downwind after a half-dozen gybes with the
large A-sail up, "this boat is on rails downwind, cannot believe we just
hit 13.0 kts in a 19 kts puff?! This boat will be fun offshore!" For
more Sailing World Boat of the Year Awards information
CRUISING WORLD Boat of the Year- Performance Cruiser Category
Cruising World magazine announced its roster of nominees for the 2020
Boat of the Year awards. Like their sister publication (Sailing World),
testing for the awards took place after the U.S. Sailboat Show. The J/99
has been nominated in the "Performance Cruiser" Category.
Twenty-four boats – 17 monohulls, 6 catamarans and a trimaran – have
been nominated for the 2020 Boat of the Year prizes. The annual awards,
selected by an independent judging team, recognize the best new
production cruising boats and multihulls laid out and equipped for
coastal and offshore sailing and voyaging. This year’s judging panel is
comprised of systems expert Ed Sherman of the American Boat and Yacht
Council (ABYC); Ralph Naranjo, a veteran cruising sailor and author; and
well-known technical writer and cruiser Dan Spurr.
"This is a deep and highly diverse fleet, ranging in size from a compact
30-footer, to a full-sized 67-foot cruiser", said Herb McCormick,
Cruising World Boat of the Year director. "It promises to be a very
competitive contest, and our judges will certainly have their work cut
out to determine the winning entries." For
more Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards information
The British Yachting Awards- Racing Yacht/ Sportsboat Category
For the first time this year, Sailing Today teamed up with presenting
partner MUSTO and sister magazine Yachts & Yachting to bring you the
British Yachting Awards, truly a celebration of every aspect of the
sailing world – from Caribbean cruising to high-tech racing.
In the Racing Yacht/ Sportsboat Category, there were a half-dozen boats
under consideration. The selection team commented on the J/99
nomination:
"The J/99 has proved an instant hit, with 30 boats ordered, mostly off
plan, within a few weeks of the prototype’s first sailing trials.
Although clearly aimed at the burgeoning short-handed scene, the boat is
also set up to be raced fully crewed, suitable for amateurs and
professional teams." Learn more about
the British Yachting Awards 2019 here Learn
more about the J/99 Speedster here
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