1929

The NYYC adopted the Universal Rule for rating yachts in 1903. The Rule featured many classes denoted by an alphabet. Class “J” signified single-masted yachts with a rating of between 65 feet to 76 feet. The rating is not the length of the yacht. Instead it is the solution to the Universal Rule’s formula:

L is the boat length [a number itself derived from a formula that includes Load Waterline Length (LWL) in feet]
S is sail area
D is displacement

In 1929 Sir Thomas Lipton, the famous grocery and tea magnate, issued his fifth challenge to the New York Yacht Club for the America’s Cup. The Royal Ulster Yacht Club (Lipton’s club that made the challenge) and the New York YC agreed to race the 1930 America’s Cup match with boats rated under the Universal Class J. They also agreed to having no handicapping for the yachts (thus no time allowances). This was major break from the past matches which all featured handicapping since the first match in 1870.

Given the abolition of handicapping, the designers of the J Class yachts built them to a rating of 76 feet—the maximum permissible in the J Class rule.