The renowned J Class yacht Hanuman is currently en route to her new home in Europe after being sold to well-known Italian yachtsman Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. Hanuman is expected to compete at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez in October, joining two other J Class yachts at the regatta.
Stronati, a passionate racer, won the International Maxi Association Maxi Grand Prix World Championship last year and is set to compete in the Sardinia Cup shortly. Following her sale, Hanuman will initially head to Palma, where she is expected to arrive around the time of the Superyacht Cup Palma, although she will not participate in that event.
Hanuman was originally launched in 2009 and has been owned by Jim Clark throughout her successful history. The yacht is a modern recreation of the 1937 ‘Super J’ Endeavour II, designed by Tommy Sopwith. Under her previous ownership, Hanuman achieved notable successes, including winning the Saint Barths Bucket regatta in 2013 and 2017, as well as finishing as runner-up at the J Class Worlds in Newport in 2017.
Michael Cate, Hanuman’s Captain, expressed mixed feelings about the change in ownership, stating, “Obviously I am sad to not be working for Mr Clark anymore. I’ve worked for him for seven years… It’s quite a change. The boat officially sold on the 11th of May and myself and all the crew are going with the boat to the new owner. It is a big change for us but something that’s really exciting for the J Class and for the boat and for the crew.”
Looking ahead, the new crew aims to participate in training sessions in Palma over the summer, with the first competitive outing planned for Saint-Tropez. Cate noted, “It’s going to be fantastic. With two changes of ownership of J Class Yachts within a few months, there’s some new energy in the class, which is nice and hopefully that’ll bring in maybe some different regattas that the boats haven’t done before.”
The J Class has a rich history tied to the America’s Cup and continues to thrive with an active racing calendar, showcasing these magnificent yachts in stunning locations.
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