LOA | 39.56 m |
LWL | 26.88 m |
Beam | 6.78 m |
Draft | 4.76 m |
Displacement | 178 ton |
Rigtype | Sloop |
Hull | Steel |
Fuel | 5.675 ltr. |
Fresh water | 3.785 ltr. |
BUILDER REFIT | Royal Huisman 1989 |
Yachting Developments 2011 | |
NAVAL ARCHITECT REFITS 1989 & 2011 | Dykstra Naval Architects |
INTERIOR DESIGN | John Munford |
Adam Lay |
In 1984 American yachtswoman Elizabeth Meyer bought JK4
Endeavour and undertook a five year rebuild. Since the hull was too
fragile to be moved and was miles away from any boatyard, Meyer had
a building constructed over the boat and hired welders to restore
the hull. Endeavour's missing keel and ballast were rebuilt, the
steel frames and hull plating repaired and replaced where
necessary, and a new rudder fabricated. The newly seaworthy hull
was launched and towed to Holland where it was put on a barge and
transported to the Royal Huisman Shipyard. There, the mast, boom
and rigging were designed and built, the engine, generator and
mechanical systems installed and the interior joinery completed.
Endeavour sailed again, on June 22, 1989, for the first time in 52
years. Between 1989 and 1999 Endeavour cruised extensively and
competed in numerous races, creating a wonderful spectacle In April
1999, history repeated itself when she was joined by Shamrock V and
Velsheda to compete in the Antigua Classics Regatta, bringing in a
new era of J Class sailing a sight not seen in over 60 years.
Endeavour, Velsheda and Shamrock raced together at the J-Class
Regatta for the first time in UK waters after more than 65 years.
Endeavour won both regattas after close racing between the yachts.
JK4 Endeavour underwent an extensive refit again in 2010/2011.
Dykstra Naval Architects were the Naval Architects responsible for
the construction, sail plan and deck layout on a project that was
carried out by Yachting Developments in Auckland. The refit
included a new deck structure, new rig and sails, a new deck
layout, an engine room upgrade and a new crew interior. Jon
Barrett, who oversaw the yacht's first refit as captain at Royal
Huisman in 1989 (which, incidentally, was also Gerard Dijkstra's
firtst major J-Class refit) was project manager for this
prestigious project that resulted in a "ready for battle"
Endeavour.
Dykstra Naval Architects have gained over 35 years of J-Class
experience and where responsible for the rebuilds of the J-Class
yachts: JK3 Shamrock V, JK7 Velsheda, JK4 Endeavour, performance
refit of J5 Ranger, the new builds JK6 Hanuman and JKZ1 Rainbow and
J Yankee on the drawing board. To keep the J-Class fleet and races
alive and to encourage new build yachts to enter the field, JCA
maximum performance rules have been developed, including allowing
aluminum as building material. The rule is a VPP (Velocity
Prediction Program) based rating system which puts limits to the
performance. This rule has been developed by the Dykstra Naval
Architects office and the Wolfson Unit in Southampton. The aim of
the JCA, the Dykstra team and the rule is to bring fair & close
racing to the fleet and to give all designs a chance of winning (on
a handicap based system). Over the years the Dykstra team gained an
enormous amount of hands-on information by racing on all the
Dykstra J's in the current fleet.
J-Class Association