The three J-Class boats that were due to race during Skanida Life Cowes Week have informed the organisers that they will now not be able to attend. Their race, due to take place at 10:00 on Tuesday 7th August, has therefore been cancelled.

The J-Class has its roots in the oldest sporting race in the world, The America’s Cup. In 1928 the America’s Cup Committee announced that they were selecting the J-Class for future events. The Class was designed using the new Universal Rule. Although they were recognised as the most beautiful yacht design in the world, only 10 J-Class yachts were ever built, 6 in the USA and 4 in the UK. Most of these competed in trials for the America’s Cup or competed in the Cup itself. Other yachts (pre J-Class) were converted to meet the rule requirements. These included the King’s yacht Britannia, Candida and Astra. In recent years each of the three remaining yachts, Endeavour, Velsheda and Shamrock V, have undergone comprehensive reconstruction to keep them in full racing order. Now all three of these magnificent craft are again racing together – but sadly not at this year’s Skandia Life Cowes Week.