Sailing hall inducts J Boats founders

NEWPORT – Brothers and J Boats Inc. founders Robert and Rodney Johnstone were two of nine members of the latest class inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

Born in Glen Ridge, N.J., the brothers grew up racing out of Wadawanuck Yacht Club in Stonington, Conn.

Both brothers graduated from Princeton University before founding J Boats in Newport in 1977, and eventually producing the J/24, the most popular recreational keelboat in the world, according to NSHOF, which announced the inductions on Oct. 31.

Robert Johnstone, of Newport, is the founder of the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship and the Illinois community-boating program SAIL Wilmette.

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“What brings me joy in life is sharing that love of sailing and the sea with others,” he said in a statement. •

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