The J Class has its roots in the oldest sporting race in the world, The America’s Cup. In 1851, the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, allowed the first overseas yacht to enter the annual 100 Guinea Cup race, and it was won by John Cox Stevens schooner America. On his return to New York, John Cox Stevens donated the trophy to the New York Yacht Club and founded the America’s Cup.
By 1930, the America’s Cup was contested using the J Class Rule. The United States had become a world superpower and American railroad multi-millionaire, Howard Vanderbilt, was the undefeated champion of the J Class era (1930 to 1937). The original Rainbow successfully defended the cup in 1934, against Thomas Sopwith’s British challenger, Endeavour.
Unfortunately, most J Class yachts were scrapped prior to, or during World War II because steel and lead had become so precious to the war effort. Only three J Class yachts survived. Shamrock V was kept in relatively good order, but Endeavour and Velsheda were left to rot before being rebuilt in recent years.
In 2000, the J Class Association was formed and several reconstructions were commissioned, including one of Rainbow. Rainbow JH2, as she is formally known, was re-designed by Dykstra Naval Architects according to the original design of William Starling Burgess and launched in February 2012, by Holland Jachtbouw in Holland. Based upon the lines of the original America’s Cup winner in 1934, this spectacular 40 metre J features a racing boat hull with a high-end superyacht interior and unique hybrid propulsion and power system, all topped off by a grand prix deck layout and rig.
