The History of J Class
J Class — A New Era Is Born
The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of yachting, and in 1930, this global event gave us the J Class.
The Universal Rule that took effect in 1930 determined the yacht size that would compete for the Cup until 1937. With huge sail plans and waterline lengths between 75 and 87 feet, these magnificent J-Class yachts became instant icons as they took to the seas.
Ranger — The Super J
In 1935, Sir Thomas Sopwith of the Endeavor announced his challenge for the America’s Cup with his new yacht — Endeavor II. Launched in 1936, Endeavor II competed at numerous UK regattas, where she began to prove beyond a doubt that she was the fastest of all the possible UK Challengers.
America’s Harold Vanderbilt had the answer, and Ranger was born.
The world's press was enthralled with the battle of the leviathans — the biggest J-Class yachts to be built, each taking the waterline length to its maximum of 87 feet.
Ranger was launched on May 11, 1937, and went on to prove that she was the fastest of all the American yachts, winning almost every race in the Defender work up series and Defender selection series.
At the America’s Cup, Ranger won four straight races (out of a possible seven) against Endeavor II and in her short career enjoyed a total of 35 wins out of 37 starts. Harold Vanderbilt, who not only owned but skippered the yacht, described her as being “slower to turn and to pick up speed, but held her way longer, and was perfectly balanced on the wind.”
The End of the J Class
The beginning of World War II in 1939 meant the end of the America’s Cup for twenty years. All but three of the original J-Class yachts were scrapped to provide steel and lead for the war effort, and in the post-war era, J-Class racing was considered too expensive, leading to a smaller class of yachts in 1958’s challenge.
“Sailing RANGER in 1937 was the high point of my racing career. She was not only the fastest J-Boat ever built, but, in my opinion, the fastest - all points of sailing included - sailing ship ever built. Ranger sailed but five completed races over the America’s Cup Course. She won all five and in three of them she broke five Cup Course records.”
- Harold S. Vanderbilt, interviewed in September 1964
