The “J Composites” yard, based in Les Sables d’Olonne, will enjoy a high point in its rich history from 6 to 13 July, with the hosting of the World J80 Championships in Marseille. 121 craft, built and distributed by ‘J Composites’ will be taking the start. Three questions to Didier Le Moal, CEO of the company in France’s Vendée region…
1) 130 one-designs for a World Championship, that’s a success in itself. What do you put this down to?
The French and international classes have worked hard over the past 20 years to ensure that the J80 is a renowned one-design. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the J80 is an attractive craft, which fully adheres to the one-design spirit that guarantees that all its boats are thoroughly identical. Since it was created, we have been building the J80 in exactly the same way so the construction process is absolutely identical. It’s a seaworthy boat, which can be used for the major race meets, like the Worlds, as well as for family cruising. Furthermore, the J80 is recreational. You have fun aboard this boat. These different characteristics have attracted scores of sailing clubs and amateur owners. Finally, the class rules enable racers to get out on the water at a minimal cost.
2) How do you build the J80s?
So far we’ve built over 1,500 boats. It is one of the few one-designs to benefit from such a slender balsa sandwich construction, which guarantees its lightness and stiffness.
3) What will the role of “J Composites” be during these Worlds?
The World J80 Championship will be this year’s largest French one-design dinghy event. We’ll be in attendance throughout the event for meetings among the International J80 Class, as well as providing technical support. We’ll have some brand new J80s for charter at the event for racers from the other side of the world. We’ll be on call with a good array of spares so that all the different racers can take their adventure right the way to the finish if need be. It’s important for us to be as close as we can to the racers themselves.