The class arose in the 1930s, and its heyday only lasted seven summers. But the "J’s" are more in demand than ever. With "Hanuman" the fifth of the breathtakingly slim 40-meter yachts is already sailing - more replicas will follow.
It is a bit as if history is repeating itself: the world economy is down again, as it was in 1929 and in the years that followed. And again there is a launching of J-Class yachts after the others.
With "Hanuman" at Royal Huisman in Holland a few months ago the youngest J was craned and rigged - an adaptation of the "Endeavor II" from 1937. It belongs to the IT entrepreneur Jim Clark.
Two more replicas are already in the works, "Lionheart" and "Atlantis"; for a further three there are at least construction drawings. If all are built, the fleet will be as big as it was when it was married in the 1930s.
In a large report on this class, which is so important in terms of boatbuilding history, YACHT author Erdmann Braschos describes what distinguishes the new ships and explores the attraction of the 160-tonne cruising engines.
In addition: data and cracks of all currently existing J's, which include the three restored originals "Endeavor", "Velsheda" and "Shamrock V", as well as drawings of all replicas.