Design and Construction
The hull is vacuum infused from E-glass and vinylester over a laminated balsa core, while the deck is laid up by hand and the deck itself is unencumbered by excessive hardware. A vertical L-shaped bulb keel carries a stainless steel fin with a lead bulb mounted in a hull recess with a stainless flange, and the leading edge of the keel features a kelp cutter. Steering runs through an E-glass spade rudder with carbon post, driven by a non-stretching configuration of chain and wire cables to the helm and Edson's Articu-lock sheaves with needle bearings and an integral wheel brake. CCF Composites in Bristol, Rhode Island and J Composites in Les Sables d'Olonne, France both build the boat.
The near-vertical stern with minimal overhang maximizes sailing length, and the plumb stem almost suggests a hint of tumblehome in profile. At roughly 9,300 pounds she weighs about 2,000 pounds less than the J/109, giving a displacement-to-length ratio near 119.52 and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 23.72. Narrow beam and the deep, high-aspect rudder make her easy to control even when she's heeled hard.
Rig and Handling
All control lines — halyards, reefing, furler, and sprit — are led back to the cockpit, and the retractable bowsprit's control lines run aft internally to a cam cleat in the cockpit. The Hall Spars autoclaved carbon fiber mast uses cutting-edge nanotube technology to raise stiffness and cut weight without a dramatic cost penalty, and it stands on Nitronic discontinuous rod rigging with a double set of tapered aluminum spreaders. A mast-base organizer keeps the led lines from tangling.
The builder cites a non-overlapping headsail, and the low-profile Facnor furling drum is loaded with flat webbing instead of 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 put sail power under fingertip control. A recessed groove in the sole swallows the bottom few inches of a 60-inch Edson destroyer wheel, and strategically placed foot cleats make the helm a pleasure to drive.
On the water, hull #1 sailed off Newport, Rhode Island and proved balanced and easy to drive to windward through moderate swells. 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. Tacking through chop off Newport Neck was effortless, with precision helm control throughout.
Accommodations
A back-to-basics racing interior saves weight and frees up waterline and sail area, yet belowdecks the boat offers standing headroom — 6 feet in the main cabin — and a simple, comfortable layout with four good sea berths for coastal cruising and offshore racing. The interior finish is simple and elegant, far from Spartan. Two quarterberths aft run 6 feet 9 inches each, the main settee is 6 feet 4 inches, and options include two fold-up sea berths. The forward cabin can take a V-berth or be left as a sail locker.
The galley has a two-basin sink, top-opening refrigerated icebox, and a freshwater foot pump. A sit-down navigation station to starboard centers on a wooden desk with a hinged chart-storage lid, and the private head is basic but equipped with a vanity. A wastewater holding tank is fitted.
Power and Systems
A 21-horsepower Yanmar 3YM20 three-cylinder four-stroke with saildrive sits beneath the companionway ladder in a molded, noise-insulated engine box and turns a 16-inch Flex-O-Fold geared folding propeller. The companionway ladder has teak steps. A 15-gallon fuel tank supports the occasional weekender brief, and an anchor locker is sized for the aluminum hook — though the bow pulpit has no hardware to hang it and the stem carries no roller.
The Verdict
The J/111 is a focused one-design that doubles as a light-air rocket and a weekend coastal cruiser without pretending to be a full cruiser. Her infusion-built balsa hull, deep rudder, and all-cockpit controls make her a driver's boat, while the stripped but elegant interior keeps weight off the waterline.
Pros
- Vacuum-infused balsa hull with hand-laid deck and carbon-post spade rudder
- All sail controls and bowsprit lines led to the cockpit for short-handed ease
- Carbon mast with nanotube stiffness and rod rigging in a one-design package
- Balanced, quick helm with effortless tacking and switch-like acceleration
Cons
- Minimal anchor provision: no bow roller or pulpit hardware for the hook
- Racing-interior limits forward cabin to V-berth option or sail locker only
- Slim 10-foot 10-inch beam and 7-foot 2-inch draft restrict berth and mooring choices
