J121 – Darkwood
DARKWOOD, a J/121 of exceptional pedigree, is now on the market.
Professionally maintained by her one owner since new, DARKWOOD was built with a clear brief: a boat fast and competitive enough to campaign inshore and offshore, yet genuinely capable of being sailed short-handed without giving up performance under the rating rules. The J/121 platform delivered exactly that. Her specification reflects the level of that ambition. An optimised racing IRC keel sits alongside the boat's water ballast system and an extensive suite of smart sail-handling systems — together making DARKWOOD one of the highest-specified J/Boats we have seen. The investment of owner and crew since launch has carried her performance to another level, and her results list stands out even among serious racing yachts.
Now stored ashore in Malta, DARKWOOD is offered turn-key and ready for her next owner.
Factory/distributor options:
• IRC keel;
• Carbon fibre boom (Axxon);
• 2 x folding steps on base of Axxon mast;
• Antal RC290 mooring cleats;
• Black powder coated stanchions and pulpit/pushpit;
• Jefa auto-pilot direct drive kit;
• Arrow slit portlights in aft face of cockpit bulkhead;
• Boom cover, pig outs, wheel covers, 3 x block fenders, 5 x cockpit bags, 3 x lee clothes, 10 interior storage pockets, life raft papousse (all by Pig Bags);
• Storm dodger sprayhood over companionway (Dolphin Sails);
• Eno Grand Large cooker 2 x burner and large oven;
• Additional deck reinforcing at time of original build for staysail padeye;
• Underbody finished in Durepox; and
• Emergency steering fittings.
RIGGING
Darkwood is fitted with an Axxon, all carbon mast that has a two spreader configuration and importantly is a single piece, which has kept weight down compared to sisterships. Carbon racing boom that offers two reef ability and a sprung loaded vang setup, with controls from cabin tops. The mast is setup with an eye on offshore racing and also short handed sailing, with an Antal track fitted, using slider systems on the mainsails. Standing Rod rigging all round and a hanked system on the jibs, again reduces crew input while a detachable inner forestay allows further options to “toggle” between headsails.
Both mast and standing rigging have fresh 2025 NDT survey report, with clean bill of health.
Darkwood is also fitted with a carbon bowsprit that incorporates a 2:1 tackline system, single tackline and bobstay. This is retractable system.
Running rigging:
• 2 x spin halyards;
• 1 x jib halyard, new August 2025 (plus 2 x spares);
• 1 x staysail halyard;
• 1 x main halyard (plus 1 x spare);
• 2 x tack lines (one of which is 2:1);
• 1 x pole outhaul;
• 1 x inner forestay and downhaul;
• 2 x Jib sheets;
• 6 x spin sheets;
• 1 x mainsheet (plus 1x spare);
• 2 x tweakers;
• 2 x ascenders with dyneema strops;
• 2 x handy billys;
• 4 x winch handles, 1 x backstay handle; and
• Various spare lines and tylaskas
- Construction
-
Infused E-glass with a balsa core
- Electronics / Navigation Equipment
-
B&G:
• H5000 hydra base pack;
• 2 x Zeus 3-9 MFD;
• 2 x H5000 graphic displays;
• 4 x 20/20 on mast;
• V20 VHF.
• H5000 auto-pilot;
• On board computer with Expedition software;
• Fusion RA55 stereo;
• Mastervolt battery monitor (new 2022); and
• Shorepower system with Master Volt charger, 2 x UK double sockets - Sail Wardrobe
-
All North (except for one Sanders A2):
• 2025 J1 3Di,
• 2025 J2.5 3Di (Endurance).
• 2024 Mainsail 3Di double reef (Endurance)
• 2023 A2 by Sanders
• 2022 A1.5, A4, J1 3Di
• 2020 mainsail 3Di single reef (Endurance)
• 2020 blast reacher (with furler)
• 2020 genoa staysail (with furler)
• 2020 spinnaker staysail (with furler)
• 2019 mainsail 3Di double reef (Endurance),
• 2019 J1 3Di (now re-cycled), J2.5 3Di (Endurance), J3.5 3Di (Endurance);
• 2019 code zero (with furler);
• 2019 A2 (Damaged), A3;
• 2019 storm jib (with furler) and storm trysail;Additionally, there is a North Sails snuffer system for spinnaker use when short-handed.
- Accommodation
- 6 Berths in 2 Cabins + Saloon
- Results
-
2025: 1st IRC 1 in the Cherbourg Race,
3rd IRC1 in the Cervantes Cup,
4th in class Rolex Middle Sea Race
5th IRC1 in the Myth of Malham, - Safety Equipment
-
OSR CAT 2 compliant
• Ocean Safety 6 man liferaft (service due March 2028) with >24hr grab bag (with manual water maker)
• Additional grab bag with GPS, torch, reserve nav lights, flares (valid until Dec 2026/Feb 2027), radar reflector, fog horn, emergency VHF antenna
• first aid kit and first aid book;
• 7 Kru lifejackets with AIS and tethers. 8 x spare cylinders/re-arming kits, 3 x additional inshore lifejackets;
• Jonbuoy with AIS;
• emergency tiller;
• emergency steering oar and rowlock;
• angle grinder and saw with spare blades;
• 406 MHz EPIRB;
• 2 x anchors, 10m chain, 90m anchoring line on reel;
• 3 x jackstays;
• sail numbers;
• 2 x strong buckets with lanyards;
• Second radio receiver (LW);
• 2 x fire extinguishers (new Mar 2024);
• Wooden plugs adjacent to all thru hulls;
• Lifebuoy with light, whistle and drogue;
• Heaving line;
• Engine and water ballast pump spares;
• Stanley tool bag with tools and spares; and
• Gas certificate (June 2024) - Other Equipment
-
Optimizations / additions:
• Extended Harken jib tracks and Harken big boat cars;
• Additional pad-eyes for outboard sheeting;
• Cam cleats for spinnaker/code zero sheets;
• Upgraded mainsheet system;
• Spinlock XCS (6) and XX (5) clutches (replacing Antal);
• Holding tank removed (but still available);
• Fuel tank moved from aft cabin to under port saloon berth;
• Upgraded water ballast intakes and 2 x pumps;
• Retro-fitted flush fitting Forespar sea-cocks;
• Gori 2 blade racing propellor;
• Cyclops 5/8 Smart-tune, forestay load sensor;
• Cockpit VHF speaker;
• Saloon table (and cover);
• Fabric door to fore-cabin;
• Curtain for lifejacket storage area;
• Additional dedicated engine starter battery;
• Additional emergency bilge pumps via engine water intake and water ballast pumps;
• Spectra hanging rails for oilskins and life jackets; and
• Support straps for galley and chart table.Other equipment:
• 2 gas cylinders.
• Sail repair kit.
• Custom carbon ensign staff and carbon burgee staff (and burgee line with masthead fitting).
• Cradle with custom splashes and separate ladder.
• Over-boom deck and cockpit cover.
• RT-11 Loos gauge.
• 2 x reef nappies.
• Bean bag (new Oct 2025), 2 x sleeping bags, 2 x blankets and pillows.
• 8 x 10L solid water containers, 1 x 7L collapsible water container.
• Boat hook.
• Bin
• 2x thru hulls for endoscope. Endoscope available to purchase separately
- Builder
- CCF Composites
- Designer
- J/Boats
- Built
- 2019
- LOA
- 12.19 m
- Beam
- 3.78 m
- Draft
- 2.52 m
- Displacement
- 6,457 kg
- IRC Rating
- 1.116
- Region
- Western Mediterranean
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