PassageBoats
offshore

J/42

J/Boats · 1995–2006 · Sloop rig

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J/42 profile drawing
LOA42'
Beam12.2'
Draft6.6'
Displ.9.8t
Rigsloop
HullFiberglass

Bluewater Evidence · Ocean Proven

95% confidence
Doc.CapableProven

15 named J/42s have finished ocean races in the official results: Dolphin (Newport Bermuda Race 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008), Finesse (Newport Bermuda Race 2002, 2006, 2008), Althea (Newport Bermuda Race 2002, 2004, 2006), Tiki J (Pacific Cup 2010, 2012), and 11 more.

Overview

The J/42 is a Rod Johnstone performance cruiser from J/Boats’ cruising line, built from 1995 to 2006, with 77 built according to sailboatdata.com. Its place in this catalog rests on its ocean racing record: 15 different boats of the design have finished the Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii or the Newport Bermuda Race in the official results.

Design and Construction

sailboatdata.com lists the underbody as fin with bulb and spade rudder, 42 ft overall on a 35.1 ft waterline, with 12.2 ft of beam and 6.6 ft of draft. Displacement is about 19,700 lb with 7,000 lb of ballast, and the masthead sloop carries about 790 sq ft.

Ocean Racing Record

Dolphin (Henry S. Morgan) finished the Newport Bermuda Race (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008). Finesse (Newton P.S. Merrill) finished the Newport Bermuda Race (2002, 2006, 2008). Althea (William Ewing III) finished the Newport Bermuda Race (2002, 2004, 2006). Tiki J (Scott Dickinson) finished the Pacific Cup (2010, 2012). Other finishers include True, Affinity, Upbeat, Amigo VI, Schematic, Ceol Mor.

Passage records

Dolphin· Henry S. Morgan2008

Newport Bermuda Race (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)

Finished 4 times in the official results.

Source: Newport Bermuda Race official results

Finesse· Newton P.S. Merrill2008

Newport Bermuda Race (2002, 2006, 2008)

Finished 3 times in the official results.

Source: Newport Bermuda Race official results

Althea· William Ewing III2006

Newport Bermuda Race (2002, 2004, 2006)

Finished 3 times in the official results.

Source: Newport Bermuda Race official results

Tiki J· Scott Dickinson2012

Pacific Cup (2010, 2012)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Pacific Cup official results archive, 1980-2012

Arrowhead· Steve Berlack2018

Newport Bermuda Race (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)

Finished 4 times in the official results.

Source: 2018 Newport-Bermuda Race final results (ORR)

SHAZAAM!· Roger Gatewood2018

Newport Bermuda Race (2016, 2018)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: 2018 Newport-Bermuda Race final results (ORR)

Io2002

Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (2000, 2002)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race 2002 results

Falcon· Don Clemens2000

Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (2000)

Finished.

Source: Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race 2000 results

Allegiant2026

Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (2022, 2024, 2026)

Finished 3 times in the official results.

Source: Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race official results (Yachtscoring) 2026 results

Schematic2016

Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (2016)

Finished.

Source: Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race official results (Yachtscoring) 2016 results

Sky Hunter2005

ARC (2001, 2005)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2005 results

Jezebel2005

ARC (2005)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2005 results

Starlight· John Bell2001

Marion-Bermuda Race (2001)

Finished.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2001 results

Scout· Kenneth Maloney2001

Marion-Bermuda Race (2001)

Finished.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2001 results

Keep It Simple2013

ARC Europe (2013)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club ARC Europe 2013 results

Keep It Simple2013

Caribbean 1500 (2012, 2013)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Caribbean 1500 2013 results

Strider2002

Caribbean 1500 (2002)

Finished.

Source: Caribbean 1500 2002 results

Gone Again· Alex Schmid & Tina Hogan2005

Baja Ha-Ha (2005)

Finished.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 2005 results

Merry J· Robert Moore2009

Baja Ha-Ha (2009)

Finished.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 2009 results

Allegiant2025

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (2023, 2025)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2025 results

Finesse· Eliot Merrill2019

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (2019)

Finished.

Source: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2019 results

Castanea· Paul Conrod2019

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (2019)

Finished.

Source: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2019 results

Atalanta· Kurt Locher2023

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (2023)

Finished.

Source: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2023 results

Dolphin2001

Annapolis to Newport Race (2001)

Finished.

Source: Annapolis Yacht Club Annapolis to Newport Race 2001 results

Falcon2001

Annapolis to Newport Race (2001)

Finished.

Source: Annapolis Yacht Club Annapolis to Newport Race 2001 results

True2007

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (2007)

Finished.

Source: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2007 results

Ceol Mor2007

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (2007)

Finished.

Source: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2007 results

Shazaam!2022

Regata del Sol al Sol, St. Petersburg to Isla Mujeres (2012, 2022)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: St. Petersburg Yacht Club: Regata del Sol al Sol 2022 results

Jakaranda2006

RORC Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race (2006)

Finished.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club: Cowes-Dinard-St Malo 2006 results

What sailing channels say about the J/42, quoted from video transcripts with a link to the exact moment. Opinions belong to the speakers; the written review above stays independent of them.

discusses

"There's a lot to grab onto as you move around the boat... it's not spacious like a lot of the newer boats... there's not a lot of huge open space for you to get thrown across." Contrasted with boats where "you had to run from one spot to another" underway.

Sailing Triteia

SV THYLACINE - A J42 BOAT TOUR with Captain Noah Peffer

▶ watch at 4:03
warns⚙ deck hardware

"This hatch is tiny, there's not a chance you're getting a spinnaker [through it]... it's strange how small that is for a boat this size, for anybody that has to handle a spinnaker." The owner agrees ("it's true") and says it has come up many times.

discusses

The owner says the carbon-fiber mast gives a weight advantage on this boat but is "not incredibly light": the PHRF rating is 69 with the aluminum mast and 66 with the carbon-fiber version.

discusses

Race log of a 20 nautical mile Chesapeake race aboard a J/42 in winds over 20 knots, gusting to 27. The crew held on in gusts over 25 and saw 10 and a half knots of boat speed. They chose not to gybe in the gusty conditions, dropped early and sailed the last leg under jib, finishing fourth.

  1. [1]SpecificationsJ/42 - SailboatData.com- Dimensions, displacement, ballast, sail area, keel, rig, designer and production.
  2. [2]EditorialNewport Bermuda Race official results- Official results; J/42 finishes.
  3. [3]EditorialNewport Bermuda Race official results- Official results; J/42 finishes.
  4. [4]EditorialPacific Cup official results archive, 1980-2012- Official results; J/42 finishes.
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Corrections need evidence: a link or citation we can check. Sourced suggestions get reviewed and credited in the entry's change notes if applied.

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