JS9000: Entry-Priced Sportsboat

John Swarbrick hails from Western Australia, and comes from a family that's built boats, particularly raceboats, for three generations. His resume includes the famous Kookaburra series of 12 metre yachts, and Tokio, the Chris Dickson-skippered Whitbread 60. His latest design is a far cry from the multi-million dollar sleds for the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race, but only in price, not in concept or the fast-factor.

His new JS9000 Sportsboat makes its world debut this week at Boote Dusseldorf, where it will be on sale for 28,200 Euros. At today's exchange rate that's about £17,500, or just over $24,000 US.

That price includes a completed boat (to class rules), spars and rigging, mainsail, self tacking jib (the spinnaker is extra) and shipping costs from Australia. This pricing is subject to exchange rate changes, which at this point are favorable to those outside Australia and make this extraordinary price possible.

The hull shape is a high prismatic design whereby the center of lateral resistance moves aft with an increase in the heel/leeway angles. The effect will be to maintain balance and control under all heel and leeway angles.

Designed to be sailed with minimal crew, the JS900 could be easily single-handed, as the deck layout is engineered to allow access to all control lines by any crew member. All control lines can be led to a single central winch if loads become greater than crews' personal strength.

Rigging is at a minimum for ease of use: no backstay, a self-tacking jib, and an asymmetrical spinnaker with no bowsprit. You won't need a lot of railmeat to hold the JS9000 down either -- of it's 730 kg, nearly 500 of it is in the keel.

At this price and setup, it's easy to see how the JS9000 could become a popular boat in college and youth programs as well as on the race course. The JS900 has CE certified construction.

For more information, call + 61 412 557 884, email [email protected] or visit www.sportzboat.com

Specifications