Performance Daysailer – J/9

November 2, 2022

Read Katherine Stone’s complete review in Canadian Yachting HERE.

Although the J/9 is not a sport boat, it is designed like any other J/Boat for sailing first and foremost. After all, they have won over 20 awards for their sailboat designs featuring a second-generation family-run business since 1988.

How lucky was I to discover that there was a J/9 (with hull 9) in Canada. Not only in Canada, but right in my own sailing grounds AND at my yacht club, and owned by an old friend, Boyd Taylor and his wife Jan. Boyd hails from Newfoundland, but now makes Toronto his base, with plans to spend more time on Georgian Bay where the boat will eventually end up. The Taylors have owned many sailboats in their lifetime, some racing and some cruising, and have chartered numerous boats in lovely cruising areas. What they both wanted now was a boat they could easily daysail by themselves or that could entertain family and friends without a lot of effort and that was not a trailer boat (deck-stepped).

The mainsail is what drives this boat and the real focus of the J/Boats design. Not only is it easier to sail, but it allows for the best downwind sailing with a larger main. Surprisingly, it also sails well with just the rolling furling jib, with an option for a self-tacking jib track. Have you ever noticed that while you are out daysailing, well over half the boats only have one sail up? The aluminum, single spreader mast is keel-stepped and there is a choice of the standard 4.9’ fixed keel or 3.9’ shoal-draft option.

ENGINE

With the demand for a sustainable option to the diesel-powered engine, this is the first time that J/Boats has offered the option of an electric motor. It’s a Torqeedo Cruise 4.0 pod drive engine with a dual-blade folding prop powered by a 48V Power-5000 lithium-ion battery.

Canadian Boat Dealers:

Pat Sturgeon Yachts                                                

Mississauga, ON                                                                 

patsturgeonyachts.com                             

Sunnybrook Yachts 

Lunenburg, NS

sunnybrookyachts.com    

Fraser Yacht Sales

Vancouver, BC

fraseryachtsales.com