The Next Generation of J/22 Performance:
Designed by sailors. Refined with sailors. Proven by sailors.

For many sailors, the J/22 is where a lifelong passion for one-design racing begins. More than 40 years after the first boats launched, the class continues to attract everyone from club racers looking to sharpen their skills to world champions chasing another title.

So what is it that has kept the J/22 relevant for so long?

To answer that, we caught up with long-time sailor, coach and Ullman team member

Greg Koski, whose connection to the class stretches back to some of its most competitive years. After racing Mumm 30s, Melges 32s, Farr 40s and other high-performance one-designs, Greg joined Ullman Sails alongside Dave Ullman and Max Skelly. Not long afterwards, Max—fresh from winning the 2004 J/22 World Championship—invited Greg to join the team preparing for the following Worlds.

"It was the proving ground," Greg recalls. "Every regatta had 60 to 80 boats with some of the world's top talent. It was the place to be to work on your skills and help you get to the next level."

That spirit is exactly what has kept the class alive for decades.

The J/22 has never been about having the biggest budget or the latest technology. It's about preparation, teamwork and sailing the boat well. With active fleets around the world, it remains one of the most accessible and rewarding one-design classes on the water.

"It's still a great boat for the money," says Greg. "The people are great, the fleet is well run, and there are regattas all over the world. It's still about the people, the boat and the talent of the fleet."

Although every boat is built to the same rules, development never stands still. Sail design evolves. Materials improve. Hardware changes. The challenge is understanding how those small refinements come together to make a difference on the racecourse.

"You're always looking for something to up your speed—to get you to the next level," Greg explains. "You have to keep chasing something and find the advantage."

Before searching for that advantage, however, Greg believes every team should focus on getting the basics right.

"Make sure you're prepared to be on the starting line," he says. "Have the boat ready, the crew work solid, be equal to the fleet—and have fun."

Over the coming months, we'll be following the continued development of the Ullman J/22, sharing insights into sail design, tuning, boat setup and the countless small details that make one-design racing so rewarding. Whether you've been sailing J/22s for years or are simply curious about what makes the class so enduring, we hope you'll enjoy coming along for the ride.

As Greg puts it best: