User:Stuj24/J-Boats/1979

(tag removed) article issues|article=October 2009|coi=October 2009|introrewrite=October 2009|notability=October 2009|unreferenced=October 2009|date=October 2009}} (tag removed) mergeto|J/24|date=October 2009}} By 1979, J/Boats had introduced a larger 30 foot sailboat. The J/30 was the "big brother" to the J/24, with standing headroom and a complete cruising interior.

In spring 1979, the J/30 #1 WARWHOOP (pictured below) finishes 3rd in SORC Class, skippered by John Kolius of Houston, Texas.



During this year, the first J/24 Worlds were hosted in Newport with 78 boats...the fleet survived an enormous low-pressure system blowing up to 50 knots on the last day of racing. Prophetically, it later grew into fiercest storm in recorded sailboat racing history- the infamous Fastnet Race Storm of 1979 that killed ten sailors. Ted Turner's TENACIOUS, the famous Sparkman Stephens 63 footer won that race. And, more importantly, two J/30's sailed into the teeth of the famous Fastnet gale and survived with all hands on deck.