J-Class Yacht Rainbow
J-Class yachts are considered racing royalty among sailors, dominating the America’s Cup during a golden era of the competition. Commissioned by enthusiasts from some of America’s richest families, they pushed the very boundaries of yacht design.
Many of those stunning, steel-hulled leviathans of the 1930s were later scrapped to provide materials for the American war effort. Thankfully, a second generation of faithful reproductions has recently helped bolster the J fleet.
Among them is Rainbow, launched in 2012 by Holland Jachtbouw in the Netherlands. Based on the 1934 America’s Cup winner of the same name, she is defined by svelte and elegant lines topped by acres of sail, making her ideal for exciting racing.
Owned by an anonymous American, Rainbow has now come up for sale with Y.CO brokers, priced at $7.3 million. The 131-foot superyacht is also available for weekly charter, starting at around $58,000 at her base in Mallorca, where I traveled to take the helm.
Owning a J-Class is like joining the world’s most exclusive sailing club. The technology on Rainbow’s deck would have been pure science fiction a century ago, with carbon rigging and massive winches taking the strain. Down below, up to eight guests and seven crew can live in mahogany-paneled, air-conditioned luxury.
Rainbow is also the first J-Class to feature an innovative, hybrid propulsion and power system, not dissimilar to a hybrid car. The design not only reduces emissions but also provides exceptionally quiet cruising, without the usual waft of diesel fumes.
As we sail out from Palma, past the city’s great Gothic cathedral and ogling vacationers, Rainbow’s slim hull keels over in the breeze. It’s a thrilling experience, as ropes and mast gently creak under the pressure from 20 knots of wind.
At the helm, Rainbow feels comfortable and balanced at 13 knots. That’s less than 15 mph, but I doubt I’ve ever experienced such enormous pleasure traveling at such a leisurely pace. jclassyachts.com