Zaandam, Amsterdam, Netherlands – Holland Jachtbouw Shipyards
From Superyachts.com News by Ben Roberts
The latest J-Class yacht to join the global sailing fleet ‘J8’ has launched recently from Holland Jachtbouw’s shipyard in Zaandam, on the outskirts of Amsterdam.
Now christened by her official name, ‘Topaz’, this Frank C Paine and Hoek design collaboration has been built with a reduced wetted surface and higher keel aspect ratio to the longest waterline length yet to be seen in a J.
[image img=”https://www.seal-superyachts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Holland-Jachtbouw-launches-J-Class-Topaz-300×198.jpg” url=”https://www.seal-superyachts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Holland-Jachtbouw-launches-J-Class-Topaz.jpg” alt=”J8 Topaz Yacht”/]
This latest addition to the J-class revival is set to rewrite the history books in terms of performance according to a special software program devised by Hoek Design that has been able to compare all the J designs from the 1930s. It has calculated that J8 was to be the best in terms of performance, given her reduced wetted surface and highest keel aspect ratio in comparison to the other Js. Furthermore she is designed with the longest waterline length.
“When Frank Paine originally drew this vessel in 1935 he was prepared to take a sail area or displacement penalty in order to gain the extra length required,” explained Andre Hoek. “By optimising the design for the modern handicap rules of the JCA, we paid enormous attention to J8′s stiffness to weight ratio and lightweight aluminium hull. Taking all our experiences into the equation too, I think it is safe to say that J8 will be spectacular in every sense.”
Read more here – J-Class Yacht ‘Topaz’ Launched By Holland Jachtbouw