J/80 Sailing

Certified for offshore sailing, designed for mainsail-only cruising

J/80 Sailing: Experience the Thrill

Discover the enduring appeal of the J/80 keelboat, blending family comfort with competitive performance. For two decades, this 8m vessel has set the standard for simplicity, strength, and speed. Its offshore certification and ability to reach 18 knots make it a versatile choice, perfect for leisurely sails or exhilarating races. With easy handling and a welcoming community, it's ideal for both seasoned sailors and newcomers. Explore the vibrant J/80 Class at Royal Lymington Yacht Club, boasting over 20 boats for spirited competition. Whether you seek friendly camaraderie or intense racing, the J/80 offers an unmatched sailing experience. Contact the Fleet Captain for available boats and join the adventure today.

35+

years of excellence

100

sailing events a year

500+

New members annually

10

cruising awards won

Regular racing with RLymYC

The Lymington J/80 fleet race together under One Design Rules in our regular race series and other local regattas. The J/80 has an IRC rating of approximately 0.958 and so can also be raced in keelboat handicap fleets.
A great variety of racing is organised throughout the season, including the Spring Series, and Thursday Night Racing series. Teams from Royal Lymington Yacht Club usually perform well in the annual Round the Isle of Wight race and at Cowes Week. The year is rounded off in December with the Annual Needles Relief race, finishing in Yarmouth where we are hosted by the Royal Solent Yacht Club.
The J/80 National Championships will be hosted by Royal Lymington Yacht Club from Friday 27 to Monday 30 August 2021.

Bar and Restaurant

Our restaurant, bar and sun terraces provide arguably the most picturesque views of the Lymington River and the Solent shore. Our family-friendly restaurant serves locally sourced, high quality nourishing food at affordable prices.

Join our J/80 fleet!

Our J/80 fleet is keen to welcome new members of any age. New recruits to the fleet will be offered a warm welcome and will experience wonderful sailing. If you are interested in crewing on a J/80 or coming out for a sail before you look to acquire one please contact the Fleet Captain. We maintain a crew register and will help you find a boat to come and experience racing the J/80 first-hand.

Led by Fleet Captain, Jim White.

Explore More about Each Fleets

Explore detailed information about each fleet by clicking the links below. Each link will direct you to a dedicated page where you can learn more about the specific fleet, its history, specifications, and more.

Join Our Sailors' Crew Match Group on Telegram!

No boat? No problem! Join our Telegram group to find a boat that needs crew and go racing! Or if you need crew for your boat, join to find crew!

heard what our members says

Great night last night in particular the junior supper was a huge hit. Lots of great feedback on the lasagna, a good-sized portion, tasted delicious and well presented. Please can you pass on to the chef and his team!

On 3rd August we held our Red Fox Annual General Meeting and Annual Dinner at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. The whole event was a great success. Within days of appointing a new chef you produced an excellent menu for the dinner and arranged facilities for our AGM. You and your staff were always very efficient and friendly, and it all made for a very enjoyable evening. We showed our appreciation by doubling the normal gratuity.

We had an excellent Sunday lunch. Please warmly congratulate Darren, your new chef!

On behalf of myself and my family, we just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone involved in my father’s wake on Friday. It was utterly perfect, and I truly think he would have loved it. Please pass on our thanks to the lovely staff and yourself who made it run so smoothly. The weather was simply stunning, and the drinks went down a little too nicely!

The Burns Night was brilliant!  Many thanks to yourself and the team for doing a huge amount of work to make it a great success!  Everything was perfect!

I thought I would drop you a line to say 4 of us had very delicious sandwiches at the Club on Friday lunchtime. They were perfect for what we required – having popped into the Club for a glass of wine and a quick bite to eat.

Our Supporters