J/40 on test: sleek and beautiful line between sporty performance and ride comfort (2024)

J/Boats has launched a new boat for the popular twelve-metre class. Have the boat builders found the ideal compromise between speed and comfort?

The J/Boats brand is undoubtedly a bastion and the number one in US series yacht building. Since the mid-seventies, the Johnstone family has been developing and building boats from 7 to 16 metres hull length in the sailing stronghold of Newport. The shipyard has become famous for its invariably sporty and performance-orientated concept, but also thanks to its consistent adherence to the line in terms of the construction and design of the individual models. They have never wanted to orientate themselves to the spirit of the times. As a result, the yachts from the US East Coast don't really fit into any mould. And that's a good thing.

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Despite its insistence on independence, J/Boats has not been immune to change. The most important change in terms of brand strategy was certainly the decision to have boats for the European market built by J Composites in Les Sables d'Olonne on the French west coast from 1994. What's more, in recent years there has been a veritable intercontinental shift in focus: Almost all models from the current programme are now built in France, largely developed and distributed globally from there.

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It is therefore hardly surprising that the latest new developments, while retaining the typical brand identity, are increasingly being tailored to the requirements of potential buyers here. This is particularly evident in the brand's new models for the upmarket Elegance range: the J/45 (Test in YACHT 5/2022It was developed quietly and modestly and was only announced by the shipyard after the prototype had already been built.

Attractive class, great variety: an overview of the competition

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| New J/40 Elegance yacht |

Photo: Werft

As the successor to the successful and frequently built J/122, the 40 will have a difficult legacy to take on. After all, the predecessor model was delivered more than 200 times over a period of almost 20 years and has established itself as a strong international competitor.

Even in the harbour, the J/40 is a strikingly beautiful ship, full of character thanks to a pronounced deck step and the comparatively low freeboard. As usual, the design comes from Alan Johnstone, co-president of J/Boats. You could call his style conventional or even classic. This is particularly emphasised by the slender stern with its moderate frame shape. The designs in vogue these days, which produce yachts with enormously wide sterns, strongly stepped chine edges in the hulls and two rudder blades, are and remain taboo at J/Boats.

Fabulous feeling on double steering wheels

On the test day, a stable breeze of around 13 knots is blowing off Les Sables d'Olonne, and the swell is quite challenging at around 1.5 metres. The best conditions to challenge the J/40. On the contrary, she shows impeccable performance: despite the waves, she achieves a good speed of 7.3 knots on a course angle of 40 degrees to the true wind. This results in a windward speed (VMG) of 5.6 knots, which is particularly relevant for performance boats. This is comparatively high and should worry the competition. However, it must be mentioned that the prototype is equipped with an optionally available carbon fibre mast and a set of good laminate sails.

The feel of the double steering wheels is marvellous, just as it should be and as we know it from J/Boats. A pleasant pressure on the rudder quickly provides good feedback on the wheel, and the boat can be kept on course wonderfully and sensitively. Only in high waves is an annoying kickback on the steering noticeable from time to time. And the rudder pressure is relatively high when sailing downwind under gennaker. This is a sign that the narrow and deep rudder blade is probably not yet perfectly balanced. The shipyard wants to work on this.

Otherwise, the behaviour of the J/40 in rough seas is impeccable. During the test, the slender construction with its sharp water entry got through the high and steep waves perfectly; it hardly pitched at all.

The layout in the cockpit corresponds to the tried-and-tested arrangement for sporty performance cruisers and primarily fulfils the requirements of a race-proven crew. This means: primary and secondary sheet winches on the cockpit coaming, double-guided mainsheet according to the German-Cupper system, the trim lines and halyards on the side of the companionway. With the support of an autopilot, even a small crew or solo sailor can easily perform the manoeuvres and have enough space to do so in the open cockpit.

Choice of sails is the responsibility of the owner

At the wheel, the helmsman has a good view forwards and into the sails. However, the height difference from the rear running deck to the cockpit floor is large. If the helmsman wants to sit sideways, his legs will hang in the void when the boat heels. The only option is to lean sideways - which is likely to be uncomfortable on long journeys.

The same applies to the position of the mainsheet trimmer in front of the helmsman. He also sits in a cramped position and looks for support with his legs. Instead, he has the mainsheet winch within reach and can also operate the well-geared traveller directly.

The functions for trimming the sails are perfectly arranged. J/Boats has never been one to skimp on important attachments. The winches are large enough and of good quality (Harken Performa), the standard aluminium rig is braced with Dyform shrouds and the backstay is trimmed hydraulically. In addition, there are the good, high-quality deck fittings from Harken as well as halyards, sheets and trim lines made of Dyneema. This means that the J/40 is already excellently equipped as standard and largely suitable for regattas.

However, as is usual with performance boats, J/Boats also leaves the choice of sails up to the owner. For a simple set of Amwind cloths, the buyer has to shell out at least an additional 15,000 euros. For a gennaker, spinnaker or a code zero, another minimum of around 5,000 euros is due. Anyone who wants to compete in ambitious regattas with the boat will have to dig deeper into their pockets for a high-quality wardrobe.

Available with two or three cabins

The J/40 is fitted with three cabins as standard from the shipyard. This was also the case with the test ship. In this version, the wet room in the foredeck, which is also directly accessible from the saloon, is relatively small. Competitors' boats usually have two heads in the three-cabin version. On the J/40, however, both the navigation area and the galley are larger and therefore more usable than on the competitors' yachts. Nevertheless, it remains a compromise that you have to be prepared to make. The L-shaped galley at the companionway is particularly spacious with its generous work surfaces and storage areas.

As an attractive variant, J/Boats also offers the 40 with just two double cabins. In this case, the aft cabin on the port side is converted into a large forecastle, which is accessible both from the inside and directly from the cockpit. In addition, a second, somewhat more spacious bathroom is then provided aft.

With a width of 1.45 metres at shoulder height, the berths in the aft cabins are narrow - which is due to the slim hull shape and the retracted stern. The comfort dimensions remain unchanged even when fitted out with just one aft sleeping compartment, as the load-bearing longitudinal bulkhead cannot be moved for structural reasons.

Price orientated towards competitors

J Composites now has a large, well-equipped furniture production facility in France and builds the boats itself. In the past, the components were manufactured outside the company and supplied as modules. The change can be seen in the form of a good, robust finishing quality with a relatively high proportion of solid wood. As an alternative to the interior fittings in mahogany, as on the test boat, variants with light-coloured oak or dark walnut wood are available. Solid handrails to provide a foothold in rough seas and numerous hatches for optimum air ventilation in the saloon and cabins round off the good overall impression below deck.

The current price development at J/Boats is interesting, especially with the market launch of the 40. With a basic ex-shipyard price of less than 400,000 euros gross, the boat is lower than those of potential competitors. Only the slightly smaller but most comparable Grand Soleil 40 is at the same level in terms of cost.

It seems as if J/Boats wants to orientate itself more towards the competition in terms of price with the latest model, especially in the attractive and highly competitive 40-foot class. At the same time, the shipyard is sticking to the good, upmarket basic equipment, which plays a considerable part in the strong brand image. However, it remains to be seen whether this ambitious approach can repeat the success of its predecessor, the J/122. However, the advance praise in the form of the boat's nomination for European Yacht of the Year 2025 will certainly contribute to this.

The measured values for testing the J/40

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The J/40 in detail

Photo: YACHT/N.CampeThe alternative to the standard layout with three cabins and a wet room is the extension with two double cabins and a second bathroom aft. In this case, there is also a large forecastle that can be accessed from the inside

Technical data of the J/40

Hull and deck construction

GRP sandwich with foam core (vacuum infusion). Vinyl ester resin for outer layers, polyester inside

Equipment and prices

Surcharge for comfort equipment

Included in the price:

Halyard locker, self-aligning rudder bearings, storage space for liferaft, Dyform shrouds, fixed bowsprit with anchor holder

Rig and sail

Two-saling aluminium rig from manufacturer Marechal as standard. The carbon fibre mast of the same height from Axxon with rod shrouds costs around 45,000 euros gross extra. The sails are not included in the basic equipment ex shipyard

Motorisation

The four-cylinder built-in diesel from Volvo Penta (D2-50) with Saildrive and two-blade folding propeller is standard with no alternative

Batteries

2 x 100 AH (AGM) service batteries as standard, 1 x 75 AH (AGM) starter battery for machine

Equipment on deck

Complete Harken equipment as standard. Performa winches 2 x 50 STP / 4 x 46 STP

As of 08/2024, how the prices shown are defined can be found here!

Shipyard and distribution

Shipyard

Distribution

YACHT rating of the J/40

The new, French-built J/40 sails just as well as it looks. The boat represents a great compromise between sporty performance and high cruising comfort. It also impresses with its high construction and equipment standards

Design and concept

Sailing performance and trim

Living and finishing quality

Equipment and technology