{"id":156562,"date":"2025-01-29T06:05:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T06:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/?post_type=review&p=156562"},"modified":"2025-01-30T09:19:16","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T09:19:16","slug":"j-40-review-pinnacle-of-evolution","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/reviews\/boat-tests\/j-40-review-pinnacle-of-evolution","title":{"rendered":"J\/40 review: Pinnacle of evolution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stand-out designs are often the result of a succession of well-informed evolutions rather than a revolution that turns existing thinking on its head. The J\/40 is born out of a long association between J\/Boats in the USA and J Composites in France, a collaboration that created iconic designs including the 36ft J\/109 and 40ft J\/122.<\/p>\n

This new model represents a big refinement of successful and well-proven concepts, without losing the ethos and DNA that fans of J\/Boats have come to expect. At the same time, the J\/40 offers a lot more stability and volume than earlier models of a similar size. This translates to faster performance, bigger aft cabin bunks, a better galley, a hugely improved saloon with 18% more volume than the J\/122, better ergonomics and stowage, plus a much higher level of finish.<\/p>\n

J Composites says the stability figures are 10% higher than those of the 43ft J\/133, yet the new boat is half a tonne lighter, while waterline length and beam measurements are also more similar to the J\/133 than the J\/122. The result is a boat that can be expected to look after her crew even better in heavy weather, yet also offers excellent performance, even in very light airs.<\/p>\n

Immediately noticeable is that the J is still responsive and rewarding to sail in such light breezes. With a true wind of less than 5 knots, boat speed near matches the wind speed when reaching. Unusually among modern yachts it also sailed upwind surprisingly quickly in these very light airs, again with a positive feel on the helm.<\/p>\n

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low freeboard along with relatively narrow beam combine to create timeless lines. Photo: Sailing Energy\/J Boats<\/p><\/div>\n

Once the breeze picked up to 8.5 knots we made 6.6 knots upwind, even though we were sailing with a cruising spec woven polyester furling headsail. By the time the true wind built to 12.5 knots we were well powered up with 7.4 knots of boat speed at an apparent wind angle of only 26\u00b0.<\/p>\n

Depowering as the wind continues to build is easy thanks to the powerful hydraulic backstay, an efficient mainsheet traveller that runs across the cockpit floor and the German mainsheet system. These work together to simplify accurate mainsail trimming in a manner that simply isn\u2019t possible in most cruising yachts.<\/p>\n

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First look: Arcona 415 – electric production yacht<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The new Arcona 415 is pitched as the first series-produced yacht with electric propulsion as standard. Arcona already has a…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t