Design and Construction
At just over 36 feet, the J/111 has a slim 10-foot, 10-inch beam. Her near-vertical stern and minimal overhang maximize sailing length, while the plumb stem almost suggests a hint of tumblehome in profile.
The hull is vacuum-infused E-glass and vinylester over a laminated balsa core. The deck is laid up by hand and kept free of excessive hardware. CCF Composites in Bristol, Rhode Island, and J Composites in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, both build the boat.
A vertical, L-shaped bulb keel combines a stainless steel fin with a lead bulb. It mounts in a recess in the hull with a stainless flange, and its leading edge incorporates a kelp cutter. Steering is by an E-glass spade rudder with a carbon post. A non-stretching arrangement of chain and wire cables connects it to the helm through Edson Articu-Lock sheaves with needle bearings and an integral wheel brake.
At roughly 9,300 pounds, the J/111 weighs about 2,000 pounds less than the J/109. Her displacement-to-length ratio is near 119.52, and her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is around 23.72. The narrow beam and deep, high-aspect rudder make her easy to control even when she’s heeled hard.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The Hall Spars autoclaved carbon-fiber mast uses cutting-edge nanotube technology to increase stiffness and reduce weight without a dramatic cost penalty. It’s supported by Nitronic discontinuous rod rigging and a double set of tapered aluminum spreaders.
All control lines—including halyards, reefing, furler, and sprit—lead back to the cockpit. The retractable bowsprit’s control lines run aft internally to a cockpit cam cleat, while a mast-base organizer keeps the led lines from tangling.
The builder cites a non-overlapping headsail. Its low-profile Facnor furling drum uses flat webbing rather than round furling line to keep the stack low. Two Harken Radial self-tailing winches, a two-speed Harken traveler system on the cockpit sole, and an adjustable jib-lead system keep sail controls close at hand.
A recessed groove in the cockpit sole accommodates the bottom few inches of a 60-inch Edson destroyer wheel. Strategically positioned foot cleats make the helm a pleasure to drive.
On the water, hull #1 sailed off Newport, Rhode Island, where she proved balanced and easy to drive to windward through moderate swells. Tacking through the chop off Newport Neck was effortless, with precise helm control throughout. Off the wind, she lit up under a massive but easy-to-handle A-sail, and in the puffs she accelerated like flicking a switch.
Accommodations
The back-to-basics racing interior saves weight and frees up waterline and sail area, but it isn’t Spartan. The finish is simple and elegant, and the straightforward layout provides four good sea berths for coastal cruising and offshore racing.
There’s standing headroom below, including 6 feet in the main cabin. Two quarterberths aft are each 6 feet 9 inches long, while the main settee measures 6 feet 4 inches. Two fold-up sea berths are optional. The forward cabin can be fitted with a V-berth or left open as a sail locker.
The galley includes a two-basin sink, a top-opening refrigerated icebox, and a freshwater foot pump. To starboard, a sit-down navigation station centers on a wooden desk with a hinged lid for chart storage. The private head is basic but includes a vanity, and a wastewater holding tank is fitted.
Power and Systems
A 21-horsepower Yanmar 3YM20 three-cylinder, four-stroke engine with saildrive sits beneath the companionway ladder in a molded, noise-insulated engine box. It turns a 16-inch Flex-O-Fold geared folding propeller. The companionway ladder has teak steps.
A 15-gallon fuel tank suits the boat’s occasional-weekender brief. The anchor locker is sized for the aluminum hook, though the bow pulpit has no hardware from which to hang it, and there’s no roller on the stem.
The Verdict
The J/111 is a focused one-design that also works as a light-air rocket and weekend coastal cruiser, without pretending to be a full cruiser. Her infusion-built balsa hull, deep rudder, and cockpit-led controls make her a driver’s boat. Below, the stripped-back but elegant interior keeps weight off the waterline while providing practical accommodations for racing and short cruises.
Pros
- Vacuum-infused balsa-cored hull, hand-laid deck, and carbon-post spade rudder
- All sail controls and bowsprit lines led to the cockpit for easier short-handed sailing
- Carbon mast with nanotube stiffness and rod rigging in a one-design package
- Balanced, quick helm, effortless tacking, and switch-like acceleration
Cons
- Minimal anchor provision, with no bow roller or pulpit hardware for the hook
- Racing interior limits the forward cabin to an optional V-berth or sail-locker arrangement
- Slim 10-foot, 10-inch beam and 7-foot, 2-inch draft restrict berth and mooring choices
