The boat

The J80 is a small, fast and simple boat. A two metre long bowsprit made from carbon fibre and 65 square metres of genacker makes the boat planing at the speed of 7 m/s. J80 has been sailed one design in Gotland Runt and is proven to be a great boat for off shore races. Taking the step from sailing Gotland Runt to master the Atlantic Ocean was not easy. The latter requires higher safety measures, more drinking water, “self steering system”, and better stowage. All these issues must be solved. When it comes to the complete lack of comfort on board we just have to adapt.

 

Length 8 m
Beam 2,5 m
Depl. 1350 kg
Ballast 650 kg
Sail area 31 kvm
Assymetric spinnaker 65 kvm

 

Safety

While sailing Gotland Runt the boats are in sight from land most of the time. In case something happens they are not more than one hour away from the Coast Guard. But sailing over the Atlantic, you are on your own. That is the big difference. Assistance might take several days and crews have spent more than a month in a life raft.

During Gotland Runt the boats are equipped in line with ISAF category 3 for ocean racing. When crossing the Atlantic Ocean the boat will be equipped as close as possible to category 1. Good information is to be found in the rules for the Mini 650-boats. Our Navy Pharmacy follows the same guidance. Among other things on our list of safety equipment that we will have: a life raft, a VHF, an Epirb, flare gun and life vests with safety harness and lights. We will also be equipped with an Iridium Satellite telephone so that we can keep in contact with family and friends.

We will leave the Canary Islands together with the more than 300 boats participating in the ARC-rally. To be in VHF-distance from all these boats during the main part of the crossing is a great comfort for us.

 

Self steering

Steering of the boat has been a great challenge since there is no electricity for an autopilot and a wind vane is heavy, bulky and expensive. Haphazardly we found a web page with instructions on how to build a sheet-to-tiller-system. We built a prototype from two wood blocks and a meter of latex tube. The cost for it was 200 SEK and it steered us through a wonderful trip from Saltsjöbaden to Bornholm and back last summer.

 

Stowage

Boxes for food, clothes and things have been designed and built ourselves using plywood and Epoxi which makes the boxes light and strong. A J80 cannot carry the same load as a traditional cruising boat and that limits the amount of equipment we can bring with us. The goal for the boat’s weight is to not be more than 100 kg heavier than was during the Gotland Runt.

 

Kitchen

Well, there is no room for a real kitchen in a J80. The food will be cooked on a simple gimbaled LPG stove which has been used for over 1000 nautic miles of sailing.