New classic up for sale

Few yachtsmen would disagree that the most beautiful large racing yachts ever built were the magnificent J-Class sloops built to contest the America’s Cup in the 1930s.

Only a handful escaped the scrap yard when World War II caused the suspension of the AmCup and they were superseded by the far smaller 12 Metre class yachts when racing resumed in the 1960s.

But today, with people happy to spend millions of dollars on their toys, the J-Class is booming with about six or seven restored or newly built yachts racing in class regattas around the world.

The largest J-Class yacht ever constructed, Lionheart, is nearing completion in Europe and to everyone’s surprise her owner has decided to put her on the market as his business dealings now prevent him from having the time to sail her.

The first of her type to be built of aluminum (the originals were steel or wood), Lionheart is now for sale through international brokers for an-eyewatering 14.9 million Euros ($23 million).

Designed by Hoek Design and built by Claasen Jachtbouw, Lionheart is 142 feet (43.4 metres) long and features overhangs at the stern and bow that measure 56 feet (17 metres).

The seller worked for some years with Andre Hoek on the design of the yacht and insisted that she be suitable for cruising as well as racing. He also wanted the option of being able to charter the yacht to defray the expenses of keeping her in the water.

Hoek designed four staterooms, unusual for a yacht of this class, and two deckhouses and two cockpits. The huge steering wheel stands between the two cockpits. The forward one, just aft of the towering carbon fibre mast, is for entertaining and the smaller rear cockpit for the owner. It leads directly to his full width suite.

The designer analysed all the performance data of the existing j-Class yachts to ensure that the weight penalty the yacht carries because of her luxury interior would not hamper her performance. Although the yacht is yet to sail, the design team is confident she will be more than competitive with the other yachts in the class.