Claasen Jachtbouw, Zaandam, ordered the hull of the largest J-Class yacht ever to be built by Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw, Makkum. The impressive ship Lionheart, that is being finished by Claasen Jachtbouw, was transported last week on a pontoon from Makkum to Zaandam.
Lionheart is being built after an original design of Ranger which was made for the Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens series. Harold Vander Bilt ordered Ranger in 1936. Hoek Design Naval Architects, Edam, has further developed the design.
J-Class yachts were built between 1930 and 1937 to race for the America’s Cup. Class “J” is determined by sail area, displacement, length and mast height. These rules have been laid down and governed by the J-Class Association.
The renewed interest in these famous J-Class yachts has everything to do with the new rules recently set. For instance it is now allowed to build these yachts in aluminium instead of steel. A new handicap system was developed to correct the performance differences between these yachts.
Lionheart was designed and built in accordance with the new classification rules. With a length of 43.40 metres, a width of 6.55 metres, a draught of 4.58 metres, a mast height of 53 metres and a maximum waterline length, Lionheart is the largest J-Class yacht. With its tremendous 17-metre overhang and a maximum waterline length, Lionheart is absolutely top of the bill for every sail-lover.
Hoek Design has analysed 5 different J-Class designs, using the so called CFD software, enabling comparison of water resistance of the different yachts. In order to optimise the sailing capacities, Hoek Design and Piet van Oossanen developed a new computer programme over the past few years with which existing and newly built J-Class yachts can be compared with each other. With this programme the speed of the different hull structures can be predicted.
Hoek Design extensively optimised Lionheart’s original design. Apart from the line honours, Hoek Design elaborated all construction drawings, took care of the exterior and interior styling and optimised the sailing qualities.
Claasen Jachtbouw specialised in building yachts designed by Hoek Design under the brand name Truly Classic. The yard builds the following yachts of the Truly Classic series: TC78, TC90 and TC114.
Lionheart is the first J-Class yacht designed by Hoek Design realised by Claasen Jachtbouw. After Lionheart probably two more Hoek Design J-Class yachts will be built by Claasen during the coming years.