Sail Newport announced Thursday at the Newport International Boat Show that it has purchased 14 new J/7 sailboats to replace its aging fleet and expand capacity for the nonprofit’s public sailing programs, according to a press release.
The 23-foot daysailers feature enlarged cockpits that can accommodate up to six adults, nearly double the capacity of traditional training boats. The upgrade represents a significant investment in the organization’s mission to provide accessible sailing opportunities for Rhode Island residents and visitors.
“This is a significant upgrade to our keelboat fleet. We loved the J/22, and it served as a wonderful teaching and club racing platform. The J/7 allows for more room for instructors and students as well as a five or even six-person group to sail in our rental or ‘Try Sailing’ program,” Brad Read, Sail Newport executive director, said in the announcement.
The new boats will debut in April 2026 with Newport Public School fourth-graders participating in Sail Newport’s Pell Elementary School Science & Sailing Program. The nine-year-old program integrates science curriculum with hands-on sailing instruction during the school day.
Each J/7 features a roller-furling jib, optimized deck layout and bulb keel with lead ballast for stability. The boats come equipped with symmetrical spinnakers for racing programs, with cockpits designed to seat four crew members side-by-side for better weight distribution.
Sail Newport worked closely with Newport-based J/Boats throughout the past season to test and refine the design. The collaboration ensured the boats meet the demanding requirements of programs that operate seven months annually.
“The Sail Newport keelboats sail nearly nonstop seven months a year with daily rentals, instruction, weeknight racing, regattas, and special events. It’s a lot to expect of just one boat, which is why we’re thrilled Sail Newport has selected the J/7 for their new fleet. It’s been great working with Brad Read, Kim Hapgood, and the Sail Newport team to develop an exceptional training boat that’s also great fun to sail,” Jeff Johnstone, president of J/Boats, said in the release.
The timing allowed Sail Newport to sell its current fleet of 14 J/22 sailboats while they remain in excellent condition. Fellow nonprofit Sail Maine purchased the entire existing fleet.
“We are incredibly grateful to Jeff and Al Johnstone and the entire team at J/Boats for reaching out to Kim Hapgood and me to help offer ideas and insights for this new design. We certainly felt part of the development team,” Read said.
Sail Newport will work with Rhode Island marine hardware companies and sail lofts to customize the new boats for its diverse programming, which includes youth and adult instruction, racing series, team building, sailboat rentals and educational programs for schools and community groups.
The rental program operates from early spring through October each year.