In a class of their own

During one of the Rolex races I sailed with Charles Dunstone, chief executive and co-founder of Carphone Warehouse. From the back of his yacht, Hamilton II there was a grandstand view of two J-class yachts, Velsheda and Ranger competing head-to-head just to our rear.

It made for some stunning pictures, two of which I have featured here. I'm keen to write a feature on the J-class yachts which must still be the classiest sail boats on the water all those years after they first appeared. There are four new ones in build right now so the class is going to have an injection of some real competition. We ain't seen nothing yet.


On the water, at least, there is no love lost between Ronald de Waal, owner of Velsheda and John Williams, the owner of Ranger (the two boats collided at the Rolex even) but the rivalry may be coming to an end if Williams decides to sell Ranger as some reports have suggested.