Video

Thank you, it is a bit overcomplicated but it was my first attempt. It is such a lovely boat to sail so I have started another one using the lessons learned from Topaz. I have come up with another mad idea for the running rigging and if it all works out I will do an updated video of my new boat.

They really are the most beautiful boats aren't they. My boat "Topaz" with the translucent sails does have a slightly different sail plan to Rick's "Velsheda" and does suffer a little bit from a Lee helm, Rick's doesn't so you are probably spot on. I have overcome most of the lee helm by raking the mast back and can open/close the leech of the Genoa remotely to depower it enough to get everything fairly neutral. Unfortunately I need both hands on the transmitter to carry out all the available functions but only have one hand free as the other is holding the phone to take video. The biggest bonus is that the foot of my Genoa keeps the foredeck dry😁

Right next to the railway station in Westbury, Wiltshire.

@@WestburyDF65races-fb1bf Thank you for the reply, from Auckland, New-Zealand here.

@@brendonnz1964 Blimey, probably a little bit too far away for you to come and share the water I think😁

Hello Simon, thank you. I am still learning, I think I made a bit of a mistake with the sail plan.😬 On Topaz I do have remote moveable cars for the Genoa but if I close the leech up I get quite a strong Lee helm (I think the mainsail is a bit too small) so I open the leech on the Genoa to get a better balance. I am experimenting with the foot depth and twist on the mainsail plus mast rake and hopefully will be able to find a better balance eventually or will have to get a new main. It is all a bit experimental as this is the first boat I have built. I have started another J and will take the lessons learned with Topaz for my new build, "Lionheart" and will hopefully do a better job. Funnily enough I have just tried her with a smaller jib and get a REALLY strong weather helm......it is all sending me a little bit mad but I will get there in the end.

Try more main sheet and less Genoa. Ie load back of boat and open slot That’s what we do on full size boats

The flags (red duster) are made from cotton and they are 75mm long. I got them from "Alwayshobbies" an eBay shop.

@@WestburyDF65races-fb1bf Thank you a lot.

Thank you. The mast is a lightweight but very stiff 14mm carbon tube up to the hounds and steps down to 12mm for the remaining piece at the top. I got the tubes and sails from PJ.Sails. The spreaders I cut from a 2mm sheet of carbon fibre......a filthy horrible job that took ages but the result is not too bad.

My background too : ) this is my first boat and she's very forgiving.

"Like sharks amongst the sardines" love it! Even at this diminutive size they are a pleasure to sail and so are good on the eyes.

Thank you! Cheers!

A whole lot further than I can see....I believe it is "line of sight" up to 2 km

So "J Class " is majestic, because of Genoa, does the job beauty.

Happy you like these little J s, they are so nice to sail even when its this calm.

Thank you, loads of "boat" and camera problems robbed me of loads of good stuff : ( However this young lad below did take some drone footage and is going to edit more. Morning Martin Here is a short clip will send the longer version later when it’s finished Neil czcams.com/video/xW9N595xb3g/video.htmlsi=a4i7I5MvY87lbiDw

Gary on the channel "sail tails" shows how to build similar boats👍

Contact Alan Horne at www.jclasshulls.co.uk as it is one of his boats and he is very helpful.

Thanks, definitely has some potential for something : )

Thank you, I agree, not too shabby for a first attempt. Looking forwards to playing some more at some stage

Hello, great idea to keep it simple which is what I will do on my next one, lessons learned. In my opinion the movable backstay is a huge help when rigging and on the water as I can flatten the mainsail while tightening up the forestay and seems it to work well on a beat while slackening off seems to help when on a run. The Actuonix servo is more than powerful enough to fold the boat in half and locks in position with no electrical load.....once locked it will NOT move. I raised the lead out for the backstay about 25mm above the deck and could not say if water gets in there or not but the hatches lead to the biggest ingress of water as I don't think I did a particularly good job on the seals. The actuator I used is the "Actuonix L16 actuator 50mm 150:1 6V rc control linear actuator"

@@chinachile Thanks - very helpful. nb, on a 48" I built a couple of years ago I used silicone bath seal on the rear hatch - can access by cutting the sealant with a sharp nife, but rare that I need to. On the front hatch I placed a thin pieve of ply (1/64th) right over the hole, under the hatch. This is sealed again with silicone bath seal. Inset into this ply is a IOM type access lid (sailsetc2). I can access the battery through this, and leavce it open to air. But the whole thing is just about 100% watertight.

@@chinachile I actually love the systems you have built into the boat. But on th ebackstay in particular, I found an excellent review of the Actuonix L16 series on You tube called "Test of Actuonix L16 linear actuator". It did show one possible issue - which may have related to the individual unit having a fault. The test unit tended to oscillate around the 'set' position. This did settle down after a while in most instances. But on the plus side it had very good 'hold' once settled. I've asked for other experience with it (Facebook). Did you experiment with any alternative servos?

A footnote. Excellent service from Acturonix. Answered my question on this in 30 minutes. Put simply, the hold force (Backforce in their terminology) is about 50% of the power of the servo. So if the pull on the backstay exceeds the Backforce but is within the capability of the servo's power. Each time it reaches the set position power goes off and it moves. Power comes on to correct - and so on. Oscillation. Martin overcame this with a simple one pulley mechanism inside. I'm thinking of two pulleys outside, one fixed to the deck and another to the backstay. Should look good, reduce the strain on the servo to 25% and also fascillitate a through deck water resistant pulley because the force is minimised. Still Martins brainchild, just my variation on a theme.

This is where I got my hull and basic kit from: www.jclasshulls.co.uk/model-range/nottingham-60 The hull moulding is a work of "lightweight art" and the results on the water speak for itself.

I have to agree, she might be a bit heavy but goes really well with a bit of wind in her sails.......... eats up our little lake in no time.

All joking aside, I was recovering from a pretty serious head injury when I strung the boat up but had enough nous to record my madness. It sort of makes sense to me but I will do it differently and a bit more orderly next time : )

@@WestburyDF65races-fb1bf funny you should say that…….. I’m recovering from a pretty serious head injury too !!! Just got my first two rc yachts as part of my therapy! I’m planning on building a J class once things are a bit more settled, head wise…. Hope your feeling better after the tbi……

Thanks, Alan's Horne's hull kits are lovely and sail really nicely, I am a very happy customer.

Old school Graupner an old mate from about 15 years ago, love it👌

Sorry only GoPro footage...its too easy...just set and forget and get on with racing.

The camera never lies😉