People say the J/22 is the best sailing boat they`ve ever been on, including other J`s. It`s responsive, stable with its fixed lead keel and safe, as much fun to single-hand with main only as it is to plane under spinnaker in 18 knots of wind. At 1800 pounds, the J/22 can be towed behind an SUV and be launched on the local yacht club hoist. With its easy-to-rig, deck-stepped mast, it can be from trailer to sailing in 30 minutes. The key to J/22`s success as a training boat is durability. It`s no wonder Sail Newport, the USCG Academy and College of Charleston love this boat. Hulls and decks are built with Baltek-cored laminates to withstand years of hard use. 12-15 year old boats routinely win major J/22 championships. The newest J/22s are even easier to maintain with stainless handrails and white composite toe-rails. Since its introduction in 1983, the J/22 has blossomed into an International class with 1,450-plus boats sailing in 65 fleets in 18 countries. 92 boats attended the 2000 Worlds in Holland and 65 boats recently competed in the U.S. Midwinters in New Orleans. On the merits of its sailing characteristics, widespread popularity and small crew number (3-4), J/22 was selected for the 2001 Rolex International Women`s Keelboat Championship in Annapolis, MD.