jpk 45 yacht for sale

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

JPK 45 boat test: A performance cruiser that provides memorable enjoyment

• Toby Hodges
• September 26, 2019

This quirky French cruiser has the soul of a race yacht and is full of innovations. Toby Hodges sails the JPK 45

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

Pascal and Alexis Loison entered the sailing history books in 2013 for an extraordinary achievement. Not only did the father-and-son team win the Rolex Fastnet Race overall, but they did so double-handed, racing against more than 300 fully crewed yachts. They were sailing a JPK 1010 named Night & Day .

Any racing sailor who hadn’t heard of JPK before then will now know all about these IRC performers, which are built in Brest. In the last few years JPK yachts, and in particular the 1010 and 1080 models, have continued to dominate just about every coastal and offshore race in British and French waters.

They are competent in most conditions, whether sailed short-handed or fully crewed. Now the JPK 45 is the yard’s brilliant take on a cruising yacht.

The optional composite frame is strong enough to stand on, to dive off and to lift and stow a dinghy. It also provides a useful support and position for carrying solar panels and antennae

Cruising sailors may be less familiar with this brand and builder. The JPK 45, one of the 2017  European Yacht of the Year nominees, is only the yard’s second cruising model. We tested number one of this purposeful looking design, which was commissioned by a group of three French owners for global sailing.

We sailed her out of La Rochelle with Monsieur JPK himself, Jean-Pierre Kelbert, just after the boat had returned from a ten-month, 12,000-mile transatlantic circuit. And what we found on board left me in no doubt that the JPK brand’s reputation for building cruising yachts is only going to grow from here.

Hitting it off

It is pretty rare for me to step aboard a new boat and feel totally confident and at ease with its ability. The first word written in my notebook during our sea trial was simply “YES!!” And this was despite what could otherwise have been quite a nerve-racking experience.

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Having just boarded the JPK 45 from a RIB off La Rochelle, Kelbert handed me the helm and set about unfurling the headsail. All around us, however, was a fleet of more than 80 Mini 6.50m race boats, together with a hoard of spectator vessels.

The Minis were racing under spinnaker towards the finish line, but I quickly realised there was little cause for concern. Both the direct control of the JPK 45 and the calm confidence of Kelbert himself put me instantly at ease. With the 110 per cent genoa unfurled we were up to speed in no time. The wind played ball too, picking up to 10 knots – the most we had seen all weekend.

The Dacron sails looked exactly as you would expect from a suit that had done an Atlantic circuit, having lost a little shape. Not that this seemed to affect the performance of the JPK 45. She maintained a handsome 8 knots in 10 knots true at 31-33 ° to the apparent wind (and 7.3 knots in 7.1 knots true).

Toby at the helm of the JPK 45

And it felt wonderful behind the wheels. The helm is relatively neutral, as can be expected from a modern performance yacht with twin rudders, but is light and responsive to the touch. She is a slippery, stiff boat, too.

You can feel the soul of a race boat within her lightweight construction. The JPK 45 has more curve in the bilge turn compared to JPK’s racing models and more volume forward. But beamy aft sections, long, hard hull chines and a high concentration of ballast low down in the fin keel provide oodles of righting moment.

A twin headsail set-up, with genoa and staysail furlers controlled from the cockpit, is a useful cruising solution. It allows you to easily adapt the sailplan to the conditions. Short-tacking through the congested waters proved a little slow under genoa, however. Although there is good clearance between the headsails, you still need to pull the genoa through manually from the foredeck if trying to tack without furling.

This helped produce figures of high 7s in 8.5 knots at 60 ° apparent – and allowed us still to match or exceed the true wind speed when it dropped to 6 knots.

With the kite doused and stowed in the sock, Kelbert was back on deck, hoisting a gennaker on a furler for the long fetch back to La Rochelle. This is a useful sail for a cruiser’s arsenal too, which Kelbert says can be used from 60 ° to the true wind right up to 120 ° .

We typically clocked 7 knots in 8 knots true, close reaching at 35-40 ° to the apparent wind. It was the type of sailing you never want to end. It is gratifying to be able to tune a cruising yacht easily and to be able to take advantage of light breeze conditions so well.

Mini skippers waved to Kelbert as we threaded our way through the fleet, which by now was queuing to get into the old port. We furled the gennaker in the channel and gybed into the marina as if we were on a sportsboat.

As the main dropped into a stackpack, I started the engine and eased the JPK 45 into a tight pontoon berth. To do this on a new boat in a seriously congested channel and marina is a testament to the confidence this boat instils.

The inboard winch and clutch layout with rope bin stowage is superb

Deck layout

The winch and clutch layout is superb and particularly well suited to short-handed sailing. The two Harken Performa winches each side are located inboard, within easy reach of the wheels and in a position where it is easy to stand and grind.

It continues to amaze me that so few cruising yachts have primaries mounted inboard like this. Standing over a winch in the cockpit is so much safer than crouching over the coaming. It can also negate the need for powered winches at this size as you can use your body more efficiently when working the handle.

The JPK 45 has eight clutches each side through which the running rigging and sheets are led to the winches. Even the backstay and runners feed to these winches (although spinnaker halyards use a mast base winch), while large boxes directly below swallow the tail ends neatly. The only negative point of the JPK 45’s clutch and winch set-up is the friction caused by the 90 ° turning blocks for the headsail sheets and furling lines.

An optional rigid doghouse provides excellent cockpit protection and keeps the mainsheet clear. The forward window panel opens for ventilation

Keeping the sailing systems in a compact area aft, near the wheels, also helps maximise cockpit space. The rigid doghouse (which is optional) provides all the protection you could wish for in the cockpit without needing to rely on a high coachroof or coamings. The benches are long enough to seat four on each side of the large fixed table, and flat coamings allow a particularly easy step out to the side decks.

The doghouse also helps keep the mainsheet out of the cockpit. Instead of a traveller, a bridle attached to the roof is a practical cruising compromise. The blocks attach to the boom using simple lashing strops and the sheet leads forward to the mast before returning aft to the winches.

The JPK 45 has a safe deck. Non-slip grip is incorporated into the whole deck, a toerail is moulded in and there is a handrail on the foredeck. The swim ladder is a clever design as it doubles to form the central section of the aft guardrail when in raised mode.

A deep chain locker includes space for housing fenders and warps. The composite bowsprit carries the anchor rollers (one or two anchors). Note the foredeck hand rails too

Beneath the aft helm seats is a large gas locker to port and a liferaft locker to starboard. The latter has an aft-facing flap that operates via a pulley hidden under the foot brace. A large central locker aft also provides access to the JP3 Vectran steering gear.

Why no frills works

Modern French performance cruiser builders, such as Pogo, Django and JPK, keep their interiors lightweight, simple yet practical. But they are in danger of feeling spartan. The interior of the JPK 45 is just the right side of utilitarian for an offshore performance cruiser – basic maybe, but seaworthy certainly.

The light, bright and practical interior is finished in bleached oak veneer. After 12,000 miles of non-stop hard use by seven to eight sailors, it still looked new down below (although Kelbert admitted it needed a good scrub after its recent return). The waterproof vinyl used on the soles and hull linings is a smart, wipe-clean solution that is vacuum-glued on for a simple light finish.

The test boat had three double cabins, a Pullman and a single heads. While the central galley/saloon section of the layout cannot be altered, there is the option to remove the Pullman in favour of a second heads. One of the aft cabins can also be replaced with a workshop/utility cabin.

The large, near vertical coachroof windows help provide plenty of natural light without glare. The saloon is slightly raised to allow room for tanks to be kept as central and low as possible below, and it shares the beam with the longitudinal galley.

The fixed table can seat six. A central unit around the mast base, which resembles a keel box (there is an option for a lifting keel), provides both stowage in drawers and support when working at the galley on starboard tack. Otherwise there is little usable stowage space in the saloon, but plenty under the berths.

The modern interior is simple, practical and light – both in terms of weight and natural illumination

The layout is less conventional forward of the mast where there is a chest of drawers-cum-workdesk unit to starboard and a Pullman cabin to port. The forward cabin is simple, with ample natural light, 6ft 1in headroom and a large, high double berth with roomy stowage below.

The compromise to the layout of the test boat is that there is only one heads (which is relatively compact). But this still has the practical inclusion of a large wet-hanging locker within the shower area.

The secret to JPK ’ s success?

What makes JPK’s race boats win so consistently and its cruising yachts slip along so well? Smart design and resin-infused foam sandwich construction. The whole hull is infused in one shot for rigidity.

JPK uses a labour intensive method: virtually all the parts that go into the boat are moulded and all the interior furniture is foam sandwich, laminated into the hull to contribute to the structure. But this method is expensive – the JPK 45 is around twice the price of a series production Beneteau/Hanse of similar size and more comparable in price to an X-Yacht or Solaris.

Light floods the modest longitudinal galley. Note the French racing-style bucket seat (far right) and large chart table

Jacques Valer, who has designed all the JPKs, calculates the weight of every single component that goes into the boat. There is only around 200kg of wood in total on the JPK 45 – even the doors have foam inside.

The JPK 45 is designed to be efficient to sail upwind – and strong. It is reinforced in key areas with high-density foam, which Kelbert likes using as, unlike balsa, it accepts some water and deformation. In fact, the build technique sounds like a similar approach to that of Pogo.

But Kelbert says JPK uses more lead ballast. “JPKs are not as fast in a crosswind, but are faster and more comfortable at other angles,” he says. “If the wind is on the nose, it has to be comfortable.”

From windsurfers to Fastnet winners

Jean-Pierre Kelbert (pictured right), who founded JPK, is a former professional windsurfer and European champion in 1988 and 1989. He founded his own board manufacturing company in 1992, but by the late 1990s windsurfer production had moved to Thailand so he started moulding parts for other shipyards.

Kelbert is also a successful short-handed sailor and it was while racing his JOD35 one-design in 2003 that he saw (and lost to) his first Jacques Valer design. He asked Valer to design a 960, which quickly found success (a JPK 960 won its class in the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race).

But it was the launch of the 1010 in 2010 that really put JPK on the racing yacht map. Together with the subsequent 1080 (2014), the 1010 ‘has won everything,’ says Kelbert – referring to IRC crewed races, double-handed, the transatlantic Transquadra etc. “The 2013 Fasnet Race win created a lot of international recognition – since then we’ve always been full of orders.”

Kelbert says he still tries to train as much as he can, including lots of double-handed racing in Brittany. “It’s because I practise a lot that I know where everything should go on deck and know the height everything should be.”

For the JPK 45 cruising yacht design, Kelbert was thinking of the boat he’s always wanted to have. “I love racing but equally want to spend time cruising with my family. It’s all about having fun – maximum pleasure.”

A boat can be all about the feeling it gives you. And the enjoyment the JPK 45 gave me on the helm is a memory that stayed with me. The proven record of Kelbert’s boats and his faith in their build quality combines to put you instantly at ease. The JPK 45 is not your typical performance cruiser. She is fast, stiff and seaworthy, but she looks more like a workboat for speedy ocean cruising. The aesthetics, inside and out, will be too stark for many. The doghouse is an option, but one you would surely take unless prioritising looks over comfort. So this is a niche yacht for those who want to get places at a good pace and actively enjoy sailing while doing so. By the time you read this, the boat tested will be on her way to Brazil and then on into the Pacific. The JPK 45 is a clever culmination of Valer’s slippery designs and the yard’s weight-obsessive builds. It has a layout born of thousands of short-handed offshore sailing miles, which makes it as practical and as enjoyable to sail and trim as possible. I predict that the first seven owners who have already ordered this boat will log minimal engine hours – this yacht is one that just makes you want to keep sailing.

© Team Kahuna , © Lancelot Tintignies

Fast Cruising

The JPK 38 FC, nominated Boat of the Year 2013, has validated the concept of a gentle seaworthy cruising boat, planing and spacious, stable and safe.  The JPK 45 FC takes up its spirit and benefits from a larger hull volume to accept more load for the "long voyage" and bring even more comfort, at sea and at the harbour.

The core of the JPK 45 FC :

• A perfectly balanced hull design;
• A "strong box" construction;
• A short keel or long keel version depending on the project (same stability value);
• A modern, bright and warm interior concept adapted to the sea as well as to the harbour, to sunny latitudes as well as to Austral destinations;
• Reliable peripheral equipment (engine, deckware, pumps, fridge, etc.);
• And finally, a beautiful look, because it doesn't cost more to make it "pretty"!

Naval architect J. Valer

• LOA 13,80 m
• LWL 12,90 m
• Displacement 9,5 t
• Volvo engine 60 cv
• Standard draft 2,25 m
• Short draft 1,90 m
• Genoa 60 m²
• Asy spinnaker 205 m²
• Symetric spinnaker 125 m²

For those who are passionate about the sea, boats and travel, designing your ideal boat is an exciting exercise. The JPK 45 is for me this perfect boat, the result of many years of cruising and ocean racing. Performant, seaworthy and solid, the JPK 45 is designed as a real "work boat" ... the work being the great cruising! Jean-Pierre Kelbert

A fast cruiser in all conditions

Key point of the project: the draw of the hull.  It was of course assigned to the yard's original architect, Jacques Valer.  All of Jacques' boats, whether they are racing or cruising oriented, have the "seaworthy" spirit in common. They are comfortable at sea, stable and perfectly balanced.

When travelling, even if you want to sail downwind, it is still essential to have a boat that can sail comfortably and efficiently upwind. A return across the Atlantic, for example, is usually done with the breeze upwind and the cruise can  quickly become a nightmare if the design is too "open" or if the construction does not allow a good ratio of weight.

Downwind or reaching, the boat is required to be balanced, stable and planing, capable of high average speeds without putting too much stress on the pilot or helmsman, who can also enjoy the experience.

Infused sandwich construction allows many possibilities. The choice of the number of layers and the type of fibre, the choice of the quality and density of the core of the sandwich... The infusion process makes it possible to laminate the entire hull and its structure under vacuum in a single operation, which guarantees total homogeneity. This technique produces a truly "safe" construction.

The JPK 45 is highly reinforced in the high stressed areas forward keel, hull bottom structure, mast and chainplate support, and keel base. The core of the sandwich in these areas is a high density foam with high impact absorption properties.

Weight savings are achieved in areas of low stress such as the topsides and some superstructures. The lower parts of the interior, as well as all the bulkheads, are also made of infused sandwich with an attachment to the hull and deck by lamination.

This meticulous construction results in an overall light hull that has nothing to do with the standard constructions of big shipyards, while being very resistant.

Two options :

• The standard fixed keel (mix of cast iron and lead) with bulb, 2.20 m TE ;
• Optional fixed keel (mix of cast iron and lead) "elephant" type, 1.90 m TE.
• Bright and beautiful, it is carefully treated as a real living space, modern but warm, as pleasant and clear at the harbour as it is functional and safe at sea.
• The front of the roof is equipped with a sunshade, which has the advantages of a good view forward without the disadvantages of direct sunlight.
• There is also a raised saloon over the water (800 litres) and GO (300 litres) tanks, and a long galley with a central cabinet for cooking when the boat is heeling.
• The many handrails and non-slip floors add comfort to the sea.
• A large WC/shower room at the foot of the companionway, two double aft cabins, one of which can be converted into a workshop, a forward owner's cabin with an intercom or transitional cabin between saloon and forward cabin including 2 bunk beds and large storage modules.
• As an option, the entire area forward of the saloon is a large owner's cabin with bathroom/WC/shower.
• A "large format" card table with a comfortable watch seat.
• Dog house (optional) with watch seat and door.
• The dog house, is available on the boat, although a standard sprayhood version is also available. The dog house, a closed version of the sprayhood, allows you to sail under cover whatever the weather and offers an ideal watch position.
• Inherited from ocean racing, the ergonomics of the manoeuvres and the quality of the deckware are well thought out. All manoeuvres (mainsail halyard, mainsheet, reefing, tacking, etc.) are carried out from the cockpit on the winch consoles, which are mounted in front of the double wheel, freeing up 100% of the forward cockpit space for friends and family. Only the fixed halyards (genoa & staysail) and gennaker halyard remain on the mast winch.
• Cockpit table with sink and flaps adaptable to the heeling.
• Access from the cockpit to the foredeck is secured by a side access step and handrails on top of the sprayhood and roof.
• At the rear of the windlass, a large anchor box with a handrail can be used as a large warp and fender box.
• The long bowsprit accepts 1 or 2 anchors and is used to attach the asymmetric spinnaker or the gennaker.
• Double steering wheel with seat box, remote mainsail track behind the cockpit, large rear storage locker accessible from the deck, water launching step.
• As an option, a composite gantry for the tender can hold solar panels, a wind turbine, radar and antennas. Everything is designed for the best combination of safety and ergonomics when sailing, space, functionality and user-friendliness at stopovers.
• Yachting World. Test du JPK 45 FC
• Voile Mag. Essai 100 milles à bord du JPK 45 FC : le bel oiseau du large
• (Vidéo). Découverte du JPK 45 FC

Layout plan (2 versions)

© Team Kahuna

Our lastest news about the JPK 45 FC

JPK expose au Cannes Yachting Festival

JPK sera présent au salon de Cannes avec le JPK 45 FC « Ella », visible Au Port Canto Place 059 jusqu’au 11 Septembre. Bienvenue à bord

Last adventures of "Kahuna" before coming back to France [ep. 11]

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JPK 45 FC 'Kahuna' crosses 80° North [ep. 10]

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Jean-Pierre Kelbert and his fabulous JPK 45 Fast Cruiser

• May 19th, 2018
• On Location

The French Atlantic coast is undeniably the epicentre of French sailing culture, there can´t be any doubts. Down from Bordeaux with CNB up all over to La Rochelle with Dufour , Alubat or RM-Yachts , Beneteau in and around St. Gilles Croix de Vie all along with Jeanneau Yachts and to the North with some smaller workshops like Pogo Structures and – you guessed it – JPK Yachts, the French Atlantic Coast is the Mecca for yacht aficionados for sure. JPK Yachts may not be the biggest name in this ballet of brands, but for sure a very selected one with a very, very special sound to it.

I must be honest that I´ve never had the brand on my radar up until I saw one JPK 10.80 fast cruiser mooring next to a friend´s boat and I was stunned by her aggressive lines and above all by the beauty of her simple cleanliness. There was nothing attached to the boat that didn´t had a function. No frills – as I said – this is really a no frills sailing yacht. Now, being here at Lorient not far from the world´s renown “La Base” (the former Nazi U-Boat bunker of Lorient, now being the base for the top-notch French sailing elite) I found the halls where the JPK yacht is born. And yes, I´ve found so much more …

Meeting Monsieur Jean-Pierre Kelbert

After securing an appointment via E-Mail with Mr. Kelbert I arrived – sadly enough one full hour too late due to the heavy traffic. I had to search the two big halls to find him, when a man, kneeling down on his knees, being covered in white dust under a breathing mask was looking at me when I asked him where I could find Mr. Kelbert. He nodded, smiled, took off his dust mask and said: “That´s me. Welcome!” A strong handshake later Mr. Kelbert pulled himself out of the overall and smiled: “This is JPK Yachts. I´m sorry, we are very busy at the moment …”, he pointed to his dust covered hands and face and smiled: “Lots of boats …”

Jean Pierre Kelbert is a hell of a personality. This man embodies like nobody else I´ve ever visited the realization of his dreams. He is a self-made man, a maker. An aura surrounds him, he is radiating confidence and competence. By that, he is a very, very friendly man who instantly gets your attention and affection. All he says is interesting, I´ve rarely met a man who was so kind and strong at the same time. He is so kind, so welcoming and seemingly proud of his yard, I am allowed to ask every question I can think of, I can look behind every corner and open every door I want.

Jean-Pierre Kelbert is a former windsurfing champion. He is a child of the Sea as to say and has been out on the waves ever since. European Champion in windsurfing back in 1988 and 1999, he has produced his own windsurfing boards and equipment every since. Working with Epoxy, GRP, infusion techniques and lightweight yet stiff materials was a matter of course for Jean-Pierre all through his life as a top sportsman. When he grew older his interest in monohull sailing awoke and when he finally paired with Jaques Valer, still the principal naval architect of every JPK yacht, the exciting story of JPK boats began.

What makes a sailing yacht by JPK so special?

Jean-Pierre started JPK Yachts back in 2002 and his boats are since then known as being among the best “small” boats you can possibly acquire: There is seldom a race where a JPK isn´t among the first if not the it itself: Transatlantic races, Fastnet, Middle Sea race and so on. Being on a JPK seems to be the recipe for winning, no matter under which conditions and where the boat is raced, a JPK seems to be faster arriving at the finish than others. But why is that?

Jean-Pierre, as with every yard visit, starts to show us around at the moulds where the hulls are made. Currently the yard is busy in producing the bigger boats of the line, the all-new JPK 45 fast cruiser and 10.80, 11.80 for the fast daysailers. All hulls are vacuum infused with foam core sandwich. Stringers and longitudinal stiffeners are laminated to the hull (there is no inner shell) and as far as I could observe from looking at a brand new JPK 45 hull in the mould, the utilize different types of foam core materials at different locations in the hull itself.

There is the secret: The yard is calles “JPK Composites” for a purpose, not “JPK Yachts” or alike: He sees himself as a specialist for utilizing composite materials for achieving light and stiff products. Jean-Pierre of course doesn´t reveal too many of his “secrets” but he tells me that the main objective of his work and his company is the constant search for the best formula to creating light, stiff, durable and strong compositions of then different materials to get out the best product possible. The success of JPK yachts out in the racing course prove he´s doing right.

At JPK they are making everything by themselves if possible. Saving weight by achieving the best outcome in strength is main objective. I can observe two workers who are making the tillers for the steering system of another new JPK boat. One is preparing multiple layers of different woven glass fibre garments by putting them diligently into a mould, the other is preparing the mixture of resin and hardener. A working station further on another worker is putting the bright protective tape all over a readily finished (carbon made?) tiller that is going to be mounted to one of the boats in build soon. Incredible!

Some 25 people people are working at JPK Composites, as Jean-Pierre tells me, and every single one I meet during my yard visit is briefly interrupting his or her work and smiles at me: “Bonjour Monsieur!”, they are all greeting me and stand in pride before their work. Every single man and woman working here seems to invite me to step on and take a look at his work: No one has a problem in getting photographed. Pride for what they do – that´s the common feeling I can sense amongst the people at JPK. And this is instilling such a vast amount of confidence in the product!

Boats are built only on request here at JPK Yachts and as Jean-Pierre tells me, currently there is a waiting time for one to two years (!) if you choose to getting a boat from Lorient. This small yard is working in shifts to ensure that clients receive their boats but there is virtually no crisis feasible here. The high quality and the best performance of JPK yachts has created a very comfortable economic situation for the yard, so comfortable that Jean-Pierre tells me that they do not even have to attend boat shows nor run any advertising campaigns to market their products. It´s just word of mouth and the best reputation imaginable.

JPK offers fast sailing boats starting at just under 10 metres length over all, followed by the fabulous JPK 10.80 (that has won the Sydney-Hobart Race in it´s class in 2016 and 2017), the 11.80 and the JPK 38 cruiser. And now there is the all new JPK 45, first introduced in 2016 and launched in 2017, which I am interested to see the most. No matter which boat, all of them are made with the same care and love for detail, of this a client of Jean-Pierre can be sure.

Introducing: The JPK 45 Fast Cruiser

I have read much about the JPK 45 and seen some videos of this new cruiser and naturally this was the boat I was interested in to see the most. As we enter the big workshop where the boats are fitted after seeing the infusion-department and the workshop where the decks are made, I can spot the big boat among several smaller hulls at an instant: What a beauty!

The JPK 45 is a big boat made for long distance – yet fast – cruising. With a length over all of 13.80 metres and a maximum beam of 4.50 this boat sports a wide aft stern planning capable hull. The bow is sharply edged but the bow section seems to be a bit more voluminous than the purely race-oriented boats of the JPK-line pointing towards a better upwind-sailing ability. Like all JPK-designs, the 45 is a no-frills-boat in every angle looking at it: It´s not a show-off by design (I guess, she will be a show off by performance). Clean lines, almost no decorative elements, just (in this particular case) a coloured stripe on the hull. I love the reduced and therefore confidence-instilling lines.

There is a distinct chine running aft which I am sure will help this hull to plane with ease and make her fast. She sports a double rudder configuration steered by two wheels abaft. Lines are running covered all the way back in front of the wheels to two winches to either side of the boat. Arriving at the winch, the lines run through the clamps and right into a big, deep line-locker to prevent the cockpit from being flooded with endless burls of the lines. The layout of the cockpit is of such cleverness that this 45 footer is easily sailed by a single hand sailor.

Walking over her deck to the bow I notice wide enough gangboards to either sides of the cabin coachroof. Even with the inner shrouds going up to the first pair of spreaders at the mast being ran inwards there won´t be any artistical bending all around them when sporting to the bow for the wide gangboard, which adds to safety for sure. I can count no less than five opening hatches which will make for sufficient ventilation and fresh air inside I think.

The JPK 45 is a true blue water cruiser and therefore has a comparatively big deck superstructure which sets her apart from her sister boats at JPK. The large windows will make for a magnificent view of almost 300 degrees from inside and boost a light suffused interior – which is a major aspect of cruising for sure. I simple love the large dodger! As I am no friend of sprayhoods (either have protection or not!) at all, this solution is not only making a solid impression on me – it too has a very nice design that really adds to the overall look rather than interrupting or destroying it.

As it is customary for a yacht this size meant to be cruising the oceans a rock solid aft equipment rack has to be mounted. With a JPK 45 this comes as a part of the basic installation and it too looks awesome. The upper part can be utilized to have solar panels mounted and of course all other stuff like antennae, GPS-receiver, Radar or other stuff. The rack is of such strength that it also functions as davits for a dinghy, which is a most important item for cruising people. I love this boat!

A yacht for the long haul

Let´s have a more detailed look at the dodger again. It is nicely curved to provide for cover against waves, spray and cold winds for most part of the large cockpit. Two seats may be mounted directly on the seating benches under the dodger so that a watch in heavy weather is completely covered by the security of this dodger. Large and rock solid windows provide for a full view to the bow, two LED-lights are installed in the ceiling of the dodger which I think is a great thing.

I notice no less than four grab handles mounted at the dodger´s edge which will provide for a safe standing position of skipper and crew in bad weather and heavy movements of the boats. Also additionally two thick stainless handles directly next to the entryway down will make the passage between cabin and cockpit way more safer. Jean-Pierre is seemingly proud of his new boat as he is showing me around and – a bit shy – answers “six”, right away when I asked how many boats of this tape had been built so far. That´s an amazing success for a yacht just recently launched and for a yard that small.

As we enter downwards into the salon of the JPK 45 I am first of all stunned by the sheer light this yacht is suffused with. Indeed, the large windows in the coachroof are excellent in bringing lots of natural light to this area. For a 45-footer the internal layout of the salon is pleasantly NOT en-vogue with current design trends in yachting. Most boats sport large oversized salons with loads and loads of free space. Which is nice of course in ports but indeed is a waste of space (mostly at the expense of performance of the hull) and of course safety problem because large free room means no place to grab for a hold. That´s different with the JPK 45.

To port side directly next to the entryway is the aft head. A large U-settee on the port side is adjoining, providing for a first safe grab upon entering salon. A nice dining table will be mounted here along with a central housing for the lifted swing keel. Starboard side sports a nice longitudinal galley, a configuration I normally do not like because I hate to be looking at the dishes when sitting in a salon, but I also see the point in having one: Large stowage, free movement all along the kitchen front, less space-consuming.

I love the fact that the boat´s internals (as well for the outside) is over and over thoughtfully equipped with grab handles. And I am not talking of alibi-mounted stuff but of solid, thick, stainless steel handles which I trust can hold a full adult´s weight if needed when the boat suddenly may heel over in a gust. Everything about the JPK 45 is thoughtful and optimized for cruising. Have I mentioned that I find that these boats are refreshingly NOT aligned with current trends in yacht building?

The JPK 45 has just one single bathroom. Isn´t that cool? For the first time in so many years my prayers had been heard and here we are, finally, with a boat that does not waste it´s precious internal volume in having heads all over the place. Isn´t that a mess with large voluminous charter-optimized boats? Four cabins, four heads? You simply do not need it when family cruising! You need one bathroom – equipped with a toilet, a tap and a nice big shower. That´s it. Finally, upon seeing this, JPK had me!

Uncompromisingly charming French Sailing Style

You see, I love the classic yachts of the Seventies and Eighties, like my own King´s Cruiser I am refitting right now. Lately my fore cabin has entered the final refit stage with all the Teak battens mounted , which looks awesome but, honestly, is a thing of the past. With JPK there can be no better antipode: The owner´s cabin (just as the other two aft cabins and the pullman cabin/stowage area) is a fine example of reduced design, of a form-follows-function-approach and the uncompromising charm of a JPK yacht.

Here we simply have no mumbo-jumbo. Just a big bed and a shelf at the bulkhead (behind it is a large stowage area for sails, fenders and stuff, by the way). There are no decorative panels, no design-stuff and no bells-and-whistles. Just a different colour at the wall, that´s all. I think this is brilliant because – let´s be honest – who needs all this stuff? You will enter the cabin most of the time … tired. You want to undress and slip into your linens or sleeping bag to … sleep. Indeed, it might be proving right to having nothing installed in the cabins because by having no double walls and ceiling all the condensed water can dry faster and can be removed faster.

I like this no-frills-approach as it likewise forces you to focus on the things that really matter when being out to cruise: The cruising itself. Being out on the seas, experiencing weather, wind and waves. Even down below the focus it being reflected back onto you, onto the crew: It´s you, the humans who are sitting together at the dining table. It´s you that is counting, not a fancy interior with precious materials. I am sure that this boat will instill a certain behaviour into her crew when underway.

In the end, as I leave this fantastic JPK 45 I am really enthused and enthralled by this boat. She is radiating the wide world from every angle and I am sure she is a hell of a companion in bringing a couple or a number of friends safely and fast around. But there is more to her. I like Oysters too, for sure, but this boat is exactly the opposite of what the English counterpart may be: She is focused on sailing and on sailing alone. The comfort and the luxury of the JPK 45 lies in her true compassion for sailing and on immediately experiencing what sailing is about. She is not made for hosting nice sundowner-parties but for anchoring in remote bays and having a straight, honest evening dinner with your best friends who are keen sailors. No frills.

As I leave the yard compound and shake Jean-Pierre´s hands for a Goodbye I am stunned and excited. When the guy who owns the JPK 10.80 back in my home marina was recommending to meet him here he was having this knowing smile in his face and said: “I cannot describe it, but go there, meet him …” Now I know what he meant and I can hardly hold back my enthusiasm and admiration for what Jean-Pierre and his dedicated, pleasant team are achieving day by day here in Lorient. It must be a true joy for an owner-in-being to come here, talk to Jean-Pierre and plan his new boat. For sure, the two years waiting time for a JPK 45 will be a most exciting time because as we know it: Pleasant anticipation is the best of them all. And with a JPK yacht, for sure, everything that follows after receiving it will be even more exciting.

Thanks Jean-Pierre for showing me around, it was a true exciting occasion!

Fast French-style Yachts? You may also like:

Charly Fernbach of Pogo Structures and Marc Lombard on French Sailing Style

Fast cruisers made of plywood: At RM-Yachts of La Rochelle

A new Class 40 racing yacht by Marc Lombard

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Boat Listings

JPK 11.80 2024 (JPKP BoatShare)

The JPK 11.80 yacht is a true marvel in terms of versatility as it showcases its cruising attractiveness in the video & pictures below. It is designed with a perfect balance between performance and comfort, this yacht caters to a wide range of sailing enthusiasts. All gain, the without the pain, the JPKP BoatShare. Quality time on the water, sharing the cost, not having to worry or deal with maintenance and servicing. Hassle free enjoyment of a great performance cruiser.

Shares from $165,000

Atomic Blonde (private sale)

WA Offshore Champion 2021 and in optimal race condition with a 2021 endorsed IRC rating of 1.042. Atomic Blonde will appear as a tested, but new 10.80. That is how well it has been maintained plus it has had a range of post delivery upgrades and a full racing wardrobe ready to hit the start line.