CNN Mainsail, Shirley Robertson - J-Class yacht revival

[@tomwaite4594]

Elizabeth is absolutely the best for all she had done for Yachting...thank you

[@roryforbes5661]

When I was 20 and newly arrived in Marseilles I came upon the J-boat, Cambria in the Vieux Port. She was, I believe, the last completely original J in existence. As it happened her owner, M. Pluvier a Belgian shipping and oil magnate, was in need of a cook with some knowledge of sailing and I was in need of a berth. It was a match made in heaven. I cooked for the owner and our crew of 7 for the next four months while we sailed the Cote d'Azure to Italy then South to Corsica. I had my 21st birthday while aboard and was treated to a wonderful French diner by the owner In the port of Nice (we were moored next to the battleship, Jean Bart). That was over 50 years ago, but the feel of her under full sail ... main, two jibs and an amazing double clewed genoa jib, aloft on its own stay and larger than the main sail, was indescribable. The feeling of unmatched power at the helm topped any sailing experience you've ever had. We came back into Marseilles for a two month refit and I was heartbroken to leave her ... my 1st true love.

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

COOL!!!

[@bicyclist2]

WOW! Great story.

[@donaldmacdonald8249]

I worked on her restoration in Brisbane, changed my life and still influences me today, sculptural beauty beyond words.

[@markturner4219]

Nice story, but Cambria isn't a J class, but a 'Big Class'. But you are right, she is probably one of the most beautiful boats ever built.

[@edwardmclean3781]

The J class was designed under what was called the Universal Rule which created boats that were very narrow, deep with long over hanging bows and sterns as well as low freeboards. Under the same design rule there were P, Q and especially R boats. Many R boats are still sailed on Lake Ontario from both the American and Canadian side. They are generally 38 to 43 feet long with 60 to 75 feet masts. There have also been built new ones in fibreglass from molds taken from an existing boat. Sailing in fresh lake water has helped to preserve them. I sailed on R8 DIANA for a number of years out of Toronto. We spent our winters working on the boat to keep her in competitive trim. It was a real privilege in a very small physical way to sail her.

[@richardharrold4357]

Outstanding video. Thank you. The J's are most definitely the most beautiful sailing boat ever conceived. Wood, aluminum, doesn't matter, beauty in motion even in a slip.

[@davidkennedy7549]

Wow, Shirley I've listened to you many times as a commentator on sail boat races, but this was next level. Superb work, you made the show here.

[@vrrefiner]

The night before xmas eve i had moored in a bay off Nevis, we were the only yacht there, i awoke early and went on deck to find Endevour moored about 150 metrs off my starboard side. The sea was like a millpond a lovely dawn had broken . probably the best xmas present ever

[@en4ce_]

very nice!

[@kingrobbie1793]

Such a beautiful, and iconic boat. And her story is absolutely amazing.

[@jamminjoy]

Goosebumps!

[@yachticus]

absolutely great coverage by Shirley Robertson

[@tompackard7055]

Wonderful to see the revival of the most beautiful sailboat ever built, the J boat.

[@tullochgorum6323]

$20 million to build - $3 million per year to keep on the water. But still only 1/10th of the cost of a 100m superyacht, and far, far more beautiful. I guess there are worse ways for the super-rich to spend their fortunes.

[@brinjoness3386]

I rather the rich spend their money than stack it in tax havens. 30 people needed accommodation for every boat sailing, 40 including on shore crew, that is jobs

[@ericlakota6512]

Their works of art in motion

[@peterlbaldwin511]

To me, like many others, I suspect the "International J Class" racing yachts, are the epitome of nautical design and marine engineering. Good to see that Shirley the commentator, acknowledged the fact that it was Elisabeth Meyer who virtually single-handedly pioneered the restoration of these amazing sailing behemoths. Huge Kudos to Ms. Meyer for that. She may mourn the intrusion of modern technology and production techniques, but if I may say, is this not what the original "J Class" design was all about..? Perhaps(hopefully) that will keep the class alive and even thriving...!

[@jamminjoy]

Elizabeth Meyer is my personal hero for the purity of her vision and her total commitment to the historic restoration of a boat like no other.

[@dap777754]

Meyer followed a template established by Bob Tiedemann 10 years earlier; Tiedemann found and restored a rotting 12 Meter named Gleam and brought her back to racing glory in Newport (in about 1979), and was quickly followed by a succession of 12 Meter enthusiasts (Weatherly, American Eagle, Columbia, Nefertiti, etc...) Ms. Meyer had the gumption, and the money, to take Tiedemann's restoration template to the next level. I imagine she would admit the inspiration.

[@kingrobbie1793]

I just purchased a 1929 J-Class 12m, just getting ready to update the rigging etc for shorthand solo sailing…beyond excited,

[@NeonsStyleHD]

I think the whole essence of the Jays was the most modern design and equipment of it's day in the 30's. As much as the originals are gorgeous, to stay true to the class, you have to do the same as the original designers did. The most modern materials.

[@forward_ever_ever2595]

I am a newbee to this whole thing. My son & daughter got involved in rowing so i had to make these 5/5:30 AM treks...COVID...bloody COVID has brought this to halt unfortunately! But i loved every bit of it. The owners of these boats are millionaire businessmen who do it for the love, as they said early on in the documentary. If i were a millionaire i sure would indulge myself. That feeling, plus learning a critical skill has got to be memorable.

[@MrDoctorbudo]

The perfect harmony of Yachting, Innovation, and most of all fun... firmly on my bucket list to Stephen:)

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

Elizabeth Meyer is a Sailing Goddess

[@jamminjoy]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@duc696monster6]

I worked 5 years on the support vessel for velsheda, sailed and raced multiple times in velsheda, that where the days...

[@hanslindquist4183]

Shirley!I´m not jealous!Not at all ;-) That ride on a J-class is a dream!

[@TomKirkman1]

The original boats that have been restored may be a bit slower than the replicas, but they are the ones that have a direct connection to the Americas Cup races of the 1930's. Otherwise, the only boat I can think of that matches, or perhaps even exceeds their majesty, would be the 2010 BMW/Oracle Trimaran cup boat. It was almost certainly the last boat of this size and stature that will ever race for the Cup.

[@poly_hexamethyl]

6:00 It's nice to see that old guy so happy when the crew won the race on his boat. I guess owning boats like this gives old billionaires a second chance at feeling young... :-)

[@swsmbc]

While I have sailed on 12 Meters I've never been on a Jboat, certainly "bucket list" stuff :)

[@Sugarsail1]

Probably the only thing worth watching that CNN ever produced.

[@pieterlanser1784]

Hello Shirley, I also raced in Palma. In 1975. In a Europe. Like you!

[@jimnickles2347]

The PERFECT Country and Western Song...

[@junito1957]

J-CLASS = EPIC AND Majestic RACING

[@2011Matz]

Ideally, there is no shouting on deck. Go Go Go does not make a drill happen faster. A well run crew uses hand signals. This requires planned and practiced delegation of duties.

[@terranceadams7710]

Peter, you could not ask for more. You wake up and there was history in Nevis lovely Nevis. Endeavour, I am from the Island. Terry

[@David-hm9ic]

These are among the most beautiful of boats to ever ply the oceans. The trophy is known as "America's Cup" because the schooner "America" was the first to win it. The Deed of Gift specified that the cup should in in perpetuity be named after the first winner. The yacht was not named "The America" therefore the trophy should be referred to as "America's Cup" and not "The America's Cup."

[@seasmurf1878]

J-class A REAL MEAN RACING MACHINE!!!! LET'S SAIL!!!!

[@dreoneful]

Love the j class

[@fredvanderg]

Nice name, the owner at 1.49 ;-) Grtzzz Fred Gonggrijp

[@TogaManGuitarViols]

My uncle (Prescott Wilson) designed the original sails in his Newport/NYC lofts back in the day :)

[@ericlakota6512]

Elisabeth i understand how she felt ive never saled a boat but look at them

[@wrightgregson9761]

Elizabeth Meyer also is influential in the Concordia Yawl circles.

[@charlesdaspermont]

what do the letters mean under the J ? H1? K5, or just 2 ?

[@christiangeiselmann]

I once built one of these... even without knowing.

[@thinman4648]

what is the fastest one off these yachts can go?

[@jamesaron1967]

12-13 knots give or take.

[@philipb2134]

desire

[@MichaelEdmund]

Big crew.

[@billbogg3857]

It's fatal if you cannot race these boats together. If you want to build your boat in aluminium that 's fine. You just have to carry a better wine cellar than anyone else and have better parties. They work so far because they have managed to make massive savings in the weight of the rig which they have offset by greater comfort and added weight down below as well as more freeboard. But you can't get into some sort of technical race that is just ridiculous in these boats.

[@rennkoop7317]

❤

[@ratroddiesels1981]

if you have to ask you cant afford it !!!!

[@ronaldsutton2726]

said J. P. Morgan.

[@ratroddiesels1981]

very deep pockets

[@martinavaslovik3433]

I want to know why Endeavour is not being raced! Goddamnit, why not?

[@RT-np5ws]

The oldest trophy in the world is THE CANFOR D CUP

[@user-ik3zh5fr4c]

Богатым снятся сны - бедные воплощают их в жизнь.

[@etienhoogcarspel8919]

but it was the admirals-cup and not the america's cup

[@1mikesship]

J boat racing is awesome it's more better

[@ericlakota6512]

The owners i must say most racing is waist of money this isent this is Awsome great boats and as for owners their awsome

[@CHMichael]

No electric rams required.

[@davidwilson2394]

Okay why has no one built Reliance.

[@alphasxsignal]

Netscape OLD OLD stuff

[@conniefontenot2793]

Turning the wheel 15 times and not responding ? I would not brag about that. Boat is not responsive

[@billbogg3857]

Yes these days it does not count for much with autopilots etc. But back then it was a great thing if you did not have to be at the helm 24 hours a day but could fasten the tiller with a line and it would plough on in the same direction.. I have an old Maurice Griffiths design with a long keel renowned for their lack of speed but I have noticed I arrive at my destination fresh as a daisy . It sails itself.

[@martijnheil8825]

Why are so many of these owners Dutch? lol

[@z.weertje7209]

Why am I Dutch and not a owner???? Damn!

[@reynaldneron9012]

Not not J boat, but J class ... no clue these people...

[@petermartin9494]

They could have eradicated disease and hunger in a third world country but instead they decided to restore, build and race J class yachts.

[@Shrouded_reaper]

You're a moron

[@RedStretchLimo]

Beautiful and magnificent as they are is there a more blatant example of excess wealth going for the most frivolous reason? Isn't this just another example of how the inequality of wealth in this world wastes our resources in favor of the amusement of the few as against the needs of the many?

[@zoepaulastrassfield2664]

True, and also true. Perhaps the ideal state would be for the boats to be operated by museums as historical artifacts but also works of art (I would call the J Class art), the crews treated as museum employees/performers/educators, and the boats more available for public visitation.

[@KlingonCaptain]

Amusement of the few? I've never had enough money for even a dinghy, and yet I am highly amused by these beautiful boats racing in this very video. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[@arthurpowers8175]

No, not so, in my view, and I am a bona-fide radical, heavily invested in intellectual concepts of "equality of opportunity for all," and the societal achievement thereof.

[@jamesaron1967]

These boats wouldn't exist in your ideal version of the world, which begs the question why watch this video if it's the epitome of wasted resources? The world isn't perfect, never will be.

[@RedStretchLimo]

@@jamesaron1967 And is that a reason to not speak truth to power or to point out the wrongs that can be seen. Fatalism and complacency are the children of a shrunken spirit and a comatose mind.

[@matteostocchero1488]

A bit sad, you're a billionaire but you're overweight and someone else is sailing your beautiful boat. Chances are someone else is also sailing your beautiful wife

[@__d_k__5300]

Shirley beeping who go away it's a mans sport.

[@zoepaulastrassfield2664]

Shirley won two Olympic medals in this sport, how many do you have, Mr. Man?

[@willardchi2571]

Raise taxes on the rich.

[@petermatthews2387]

millions of man hours paid to craftsman

[@jcsanches13721]

try to be rich ...

[@KlingonCaptain]

You spelled "kill" wrong. I can't say that I sympathize but I understand where you're coming from.

[@RobertJackson-hk9dj]

You all jealous folk just give it a rest and enjoy the film. These people probably pay more in taxes every month than most others will in a lifetime. They are the givers who support the takers. Don’t begrudge them their hobby.

[@willardchi2571]

@@RobertJackson-hk9dj - Nope. They are the takers and exploiters of those who do the real work.