J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment J 30 purchase

I am considering Hull# 271 a 1981 boat, I have read the Practical Sailor review of the J30 and am wondering if any one has comments re. sailing to its rating on LIS and comment on cockpit comfort and how to make it better. Thanks, Paul Boat was the former Donna J

I happen to find the cockpit quite comfortable. I think it's designed to put people where they should be when sailing. At the dock it's fine to rest up against the lifeline... Lifeline cushions can help a bit there.

I can't speak to LI PHRF, perhaps John McArthur can? Where I race (Chicago, Lake Michigan), we do just fine in PHRF with a 138 rating. Most of the time our racing is essentially one design. We have enough J/30s in our section that nobody else really matters. And some J/30 usually wins the section.

What part of LIs are you on?

The post '84 cockpit (which my boat has) is more cruise friendly with full coamings, but this configuration is less ideal for racing, harder to find and consequently usually more expensive. I have seen an earlier vintage boat with the older cockpit modified with teak coamings (boat name "Good News") that I think Dennis may have sailed at the NA's a few years back in Westport. I cannot vouch for comfort, cost of modification or usability.
As far as PHRF, I think "Chinook" and "Paddy Wagon" (and others) have raced a fair amount in PHRF LIS (and Key West) with some success. The boat tends to suffer most in light air and chop. But don't forget that LIS has a growing one design contingent, where there is no performance differential!

The PHRF number for a J30 on the sound are 135(western end YRALIA) and 138 (eastern end ECSA). The J30 sails to the rating in most cases. The only week point is in light air (6 Knots or less) At the top of the #1 (15 to 18 knot) it's great.
I find the cockpit OK. I do not do a lot of cruising, but do motor to and from regattas. When motoring we have a few small cushions we will sit on in the cockpit and rest our backs on life line cushions.
There are 8 J30s at Cedar Yoint Y C in Westport. CT. I know of at lease 3 in Stamford and about 4 at City Island. On Long Island there are a few boats in the Huntington Bay-Northport area. It's great to have another on the Sound.


T

The J-30 performs to its LIS rating of 135 reasonably well. In light air you have to sail smarter, but if you get some breeze to power up the #1 or use a #2 then you are in good shape. In 2000 we won the Competitors Trophy for LIS. This is for all PHRF races for boats rating 117 and up. J-30's also took 2nd and 3rd at Block Island race week last year (maybe this year there will be more?)

Ed Austin
Chinook

[Once we aquire the boat , after the survey, it will be moored in Huntington, NY We normally race in the Target Rock series spring &fall Thanks for the quick responses-----Paul QUOTE]Originally posted by D Bartley:
I happen to find the cockpit quite comfortable. I think it's designed to put people where they should be when sailing. At the dock it's fine to rest up against the lifeline... Lifeline cushions can help a bit there.

I can't speak to LI PHRF, perhaps John McArthur can? Where I race (Chicago, Lake Michigan), we do just fine in PHRF with a 138 rating. Most of the time our racing is essentially one design. We have enough J/30s in our section that nobody else really matters. And some J/30 usually wins the section.

What part of LIs are you on?

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I have just purchased hull #523, a late 1985 boat, and will be bringing her up from Florida to Stamford CT in the next couple of weeks. The later cockpit did appeal to me because I will be doing some family cruising as well as racing on LIS. It is great to see that we may have more company on the sound.

Yo all those reading this thread- I am trying to get a class sanctioned East Coast Championship regatta at the Larchmont NOOD Sept. 7 thru 9. If we have good participation from Sound and Narraganset Bay boats, we could have 15 plus starters. Post here if thi interests you.

Re: cockpit comfort - last year I made up a set of cockpit coamings that can be quickly set up or removed for cruising or racing. They do interfere with the main winches, but we find we can use the cabin top winches instead for the #2 or the #3. They do improve things for cruising, or lounging around after the race, and there is less worry about things that might be laying on the cockpit seat rolling out and over the side! If anyone is interested in the details, let me know at at roulton@smss.com

Hi Steve , talked to my partners and we would be interested in the regatta at Larchmont. Keep in touch and let us know how things progress. Paul, Bill & Mike QUOTE]Originally posted by Steve Buzbee:
Yo all those reading this thread- I am trying to get a class sanctioned East Coast Championship regatta at the Larchmont NOOD Sept. 7 thru 9. If we have good participation from Sound and Narraganset Bay boats, we could have 15 plus starters. Post here if thi interests you.

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