One of the biggest stories in this year's NOOD is the incredible growth of the J-105 class. Last summer there were three J-105s in the metro Detroit area. This year's NOOD has 18 J-105s registered, and about the same number are expected for the Mackinac race. The factory has increased production to keep up with the demand, said Jim Best of Beverly Hills, whose J-105 Phantom is new for this year's season. There are a number of reasons for the surge.
Sailors also like the way it handles.
Downwind, the boats are incredibly fast. In last year's Mackinac, the J-105 Perversion sustained speeds of 14 knots for three hours in 24 knots of wind, said owner Dennis Dettmer of Grosse Pointe Park. Everybody was in the back, holding on and having a great time. At the same time, Dettmer said the boats are very stable. But the biggest reason for the rise of the J-105 is the competition.