Tomorrow marks the start of the annual Monaco Yacht Show. While approximately 40 percent of the more than 100 megayachts on display are global premieres, several notable brokerage builds are in the water, too. Arguably one of the most famous, and sure to attract strong attention, is the J-Class Rainbow. She’s the only J-Class sailing superyacht in the show, and one of just a handful in existence.
Launched at Holland Jachtbouw in 2012, the yacht is a faithful replica of the 1934 America’s Cup victor, also named Rainbow. Well, to be more accurate, she’s both a faithful replica and a modernized version of the original. The 131-foot (40-meter) Rainbow follows the original specifications and plans created by William Starling Burgess. However, the sailing and racing enthusiast who commissioned her approached Dykstra Naval Architects to incorporate the latest engineering, too. Among his requests: optimize her for the JCA (J-Class Association) racing rules. The studio helped develop those rules, plus was quite involved with the modern history of the Js, including the restoration of Endeavour, Shamrock V, and Velsheda.
Among Rainbow’s contemporary tech features, she has a Southern Spars carbon fiber mast and boom, hydraulic winches. Her owner also wanted her to be quiet when he pursued personal time onboard, outside of racing. Therefore, she has a hybrid propulsion system wherein batteries handle air conditioning and other creature comforts overnight. The system is further reportedly 30-percent more fuel efficient.
In 2016, the J-Class Rainbow underwent a refit backed by “considerable investment,” according to YPI, which has her for sale and on display at the show. You’ll find her Art Deco interior, with abundant reddish-stained mahogany, suitable for her nod to history. DeVossdeVries Design created a semi-open layout to make it easy for her to convert from racing to cruising. Six to eight guests can enjoy the ambiance, in three staterooms. A daybed in the saloon can take the additional guests.
If you go aboard, do note the small details, too, like the period-faithful wood embellishments and door handles. Overall, here’s some of what you can expect to see.
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