The World’s Most Popular One-Design Keelboat
Whether your style is weeknight beer-can racing or competing on the world stage – the J/24 is undeniably the most popular racing keelboat to make waves around the world. This appealing keelboat started with one man’s desire for a sailboat to accommodate his family and to be a competitive racer. Twenty-seven years later, the J/24 has become a legend. A stable sailboat for family togetherness, the J/24 has also been the competitive launch pad for the careers of numerous America’s Cup professionals.
The world-wide acceptance of J/24 design, the strong one-design rules and the strength of the International J/24 Class Association have led to the J/24 to be selected as the platform for the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Nation’s Cup, the ISAF Women’s World Match Racing Championship, the Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship and US Sailing’s St. Francis International Masters Championship (aged 55+).
While some of the world’s best sailors have the latest version J/24, a well-prepared 1977 model, built to the same shape and weight with rigid end-grained balsa core construction can still win the J/24 Class world championship even after 30,000+ miles of trailering. That’s “One Design” racing! The International J/24 is presently built in the U.S., Argentina and Italy and has more than 50,000 people sailing 5,200 boats in 27countries.
The J/24 is a one design vessel that is suitable for anyone regardless of age or sailing style.
The J24 has a flared topside that make her dry on deck. It also has a ‘weekender’ cabin which makes it possible to get warm on cold days and she can be sailed easily by one person with only the mainsail.
And yet the J/24 is designed to race, being the craft of choice for the ISAF Nation’s Cup, the Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship and the St. Francis International Masters Championship.
The International J/24 is built in the U.S., Japan and Italy and has more than 50,000 people sailing 5,200 boats in 150 fleets in 40 countries.
J/24 Class Specifications
Overall Length 7.32 m.
Length at Waterline 6.10 m.
Beam 2.71 m.
Displacement 1406 kg.
Ballast 431 kg.
Draft 1.22 m.
Racing Weight 1375 kg.
Construction J/24 Model 2001 Specifications (J-Boat)
Sail Area 24.25 sq. m.
Racing Crew Five
J/24 Class History
1975 Designed by Rodney Johnstone.
1976 The J/24 Prototype Ragtime is launched
1979 J/24 Introduced into Australia
1981 J/24 achieves International status.
1988 World Championships held in Australia
1992 Hull No. 5000 is launched.