New York - July 17, 2009
Ranger was one of the most
famous J-Class yachts ever to
sail, responsible for launching
the Sparkman & Stephens era in
the America's Cup by
successfully defending against
the 1937 British challenger,
Endeavor II, in four straight
races. It was clear that Ranger
was a far superior boat when she
defeated Endeavor II by a full
two miles in race one of the
series.
The original design was a joint
effort between W. Starling
Burgess and Sparkman & Stephens,
who tank-tested a total of seven
different hull shapes before
settling on the "best." So,
when Sparkman & Stephens was
asked to develop a new "Super-J"
for a class aficionado, they
launched an in-depth study of
all the J-Class hull lines in
their extensive library. All
hull lines were assessed with a
wide range of construction
methods in mind, and one clear
star was revealed.
While developing the new design,
the tradition and elegance of
the J-Class was respected at
every step. The new "Super-J"
uses cold-molded wood
construction on the hull and
deck, fastened to stainless
steel frames. Modern,
lightweight systems and
lightweight joinery allow
ballast to be maximized,
yielding the best sailing
performance for the yacht.
The original arrangement was
adapted to modern classic racing
yacht standards - a full-beam
owner's stateroom aft, one
ensuite guest stateroom, and two
additional guest cabins provide
comfortable accommodations for
eight guests. Accommodations
for eight crew members are also
available, in addition to a
spacious full-beam galley, with
an open bar area leading into
the main saloon.
On deck, the "Super-J" boasts of
all the modern conveniences of
yacht racing while staying true
to the beauty and grace of her
older sister, Ranger. The
original low-profile deckhouse
has been maintained resulting in
a clean, unobstructed working
deck. All high-modulus carbon
spars, sixteen hydraulic
winches, four coffee grinder
pedestals, and a hydraulic main
sheet traveler allow her to be
raced competitively against any
modern yacht and most
importantly, her competition in
the class. While the
traditional deckhouse, helm
pedestal, and twenty stainless
steel Dorade vents maintain the
true essence of the era.
The Sparkman & Stephens
"Super-J" is the truest
representation of the splendor
of the J-Class for the modern
yachtsman. Any yachting
connoisseur will appreciate the
care and respect that has been
demonstrated toward a yacht that
is a jewel of America's Cup and
yachting history.
"Super-J" Class Sloop
Principal Characteristics
Length Overall: 135
ft 41.2 m
Length Waterline: 86.9
ft 26.5 m
Beam:
21.0 ft 6.4 m
Draft:
15.0 ft 4.57 m
Displacement: 177
LT 180 tonnes
Naval Architect:
Sparkman & Stephens
Interior Design:
Sparkman & Stephens
Original Design: W.
Starling Burgess and Sparkman &
Stephens
CLASS J RC BRASIL: O PRIMEIRO CASCO
