I did a 630-mile singlehanded race in my J in 1985. The boat had to be prepped to ORC Category 1 standards with a few exceptions for singlehanding (e.g., high capacity electric bilge pump in place of one of the manual pumps, only one horseshoe ring and pole required, etc). Since that time I have tried to maintain the boat to new ORC requirements such as masthead VHF antenna (yes), mast butt secured to mast step (yes), and bare wire lifelines (not yet). I have also cruised the boat to Mexico several times (an 800-mile hop with 1 or no stops). If the boat is prepared to the ORC requirements I believe you or your crew will fail long before the boat does, which is the way it should be.
The most useful thing I did beyond the ORC was to have Riley Marine Products weld an additional mid-height tube around the bow pulpit making it impossible for me to fall through the large opening in the standard pulpit. It also meant that when I stood atop the pulpit the only thing shaking was me.
I would spend some time making sure that the reefing scheme is as simple and effective as possible. Because the Kenyon reefing camlocks tended to ease after awhile, I added turning blocks at the base of the mast and led the reefing lines back to the cabin top winches and cleats. I added a solid vang to support the boom while reefing so that the boom was always under control.
I replaced the stock hatches with Lewmar Ocean Series hatches. No leaks in the most miserable weather when green water was running the length of the boat.
