J/Boats J/45

The J/45 is J/Boats' flagship performance cruiser, introduced in 2022 after roughly three years of collaborative development between the American J/Boats design team led by Alan Johnstone and French builder J/Composites, based in Les Sables d'Olonne. The interior was shaped by Berret-Racoupeau, a French design studio with a strong offshore racing pedigree. The result is a 45-foot racer-cruiser aimed squarely at owners who want the speed and precision of a dedicated race boat without giving up the comfort and range expected of a bluewater passagemaker.

The J/45 earned immediate recognition from the sailing press, winning Sailing World's 2023 Boat of the Year in the Best Crossover category and Cruising World's 2023 Best Performance Cruiser award. It carries a CE Category A offshore rating, confirming its suitability for open-ocean passages.

The hull and deck are cored with Corecell foam and infused with vinylester resin using a closed-mould process — the same basic technology J/Boats has long used under the SCRIMP system — producing a structure described as stiffer and more impact-resistant than conventional hand-laminated fiberglass. Composite grid floors and structural bulkheads are bonded to the hull and deck, contributing to overall rigidity. The keel is an external lead fin bolted to the hull, available in a standard 7'7" draft or a shoal 6'0" cruise version designed for the Intracoastal Waterway and shallower cruising grounds.

The hull form is deliberately moderate by contemporary standards: low freeboard, restrained beam, and fine ends with a single rudder. The mast is keel-stepped rather than deck-stepped, an uncommon choice among modern performance cruisers that allows the use of a smaller, lighter mast section. A hydraulic backstay and vang are fitted as standard. Interior woodwork is available in white oak, mahogany, or walnut, with layouts offering either two or three cabins and two heads.

Sea trials in moderate breeze reported speeds of around 7.5 knots upwind in 8 knots of true wind, rising to over 8 knots in 13 knots of breeze — notably quick for a 22,900 lb cruiser. Reviewers consistently praised the helm feel, describing precise and responsive feedback across a broad range of conditions. The boat's fine ends and moderate proportions give it an advantage in light air, a domain where many high-volume cruising yachts struggle.

The standard upwind sail plan of 1,303 sq ft pairs with a 1,938 sq ft asymmetric spinnaker for downwind passages. The Volvo-Penta 75 hp saildrive provides ample power under engine and good range from the 50-gallon fuel tankage. The J/45 was designed to be manageable for a shorthanded crew on offshore passages such as the Newport Bermuda Race while also being comfortable enough for extended family cruising.

Below decks, the J/45 offers two distinct layout options: a two-cabin, two-head arrangement or a three-cabin, two-head configuration. In the three-cabin version tested by Cruising World, the owner's stateroom occupies the forward section with an en suite head, while two aft staterooms with pipe berths are separated from the saloon by the main structural bulkhead. The saloon features a U-shaped dining settee, a full navigation station to port, and a well-equipped galley.

Throughout the interior, the Berret-Racoupeau team opted for light colours and white panels complemented by the chosen wood trim species, keeping the below-decks feeling open and bright. Water tankage of 95 gallons supports extended passages, and two 20-gallon holding tanks are fitted as standard. The attention to ergonomics — wide companionway, thoughtfully placed handholds, cockpit layout oriented to shorthanded sailing — reflects the offshore DNA running through the design.