JS Yachts Designer

John Swarbrick – Founder JS Yachts talks about the artistry of yacht design and provides a glimpse into his new dinghy designs.

About JS Yachts

John Swarbrick comes from a family of yacht builders, who, under his father, Harley Swarbrick’s management, Swarbrick Bros became the largest builder of production yachts in Australia. The company was known for building seaworthy yachts that are easy to sail short handed which is why so many of their yachts made records for single-handed sailing.

The company built the first yacht to be sailed single-handed twice round the world (skipper Jon Sanders) and single-handed round the world by the two youngest skippers (David Dicks and Jessie Martin).

Current Focus

John’s focus in the last few years has been to draw upon his 50 years experience across a wide design palette to develop a range of smaller dinghies that are accessible and fun for all.

His expertise has resulted in the development of the signatory JS Yachts dinghy designs that marry the highest technology and well-engineered and ergonomically designed boats that can be sailed single handed by all age groups and levels of ability. His unique timeless design is minimalistic in its intelligent use of interchangeable sail plan configurations.

John Swarbrick

Designer of the America’s Cup Kookaburra series and the legendary JS-9000

John Swarbrick has been designing yachts since the age of 16. He lives in Albany, Western Australia, where he designs and tests his boats in Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound.

John is notably known for his America’s Cup designs of the Kookaburra series, the Whitbread 60 series and his signatory design style seen in the JS‑9000.

Major Milestones

1984 – 1987

1984 – 1987

Principal designer and Designer of Record for “Taskforce” America’s Cup defence. Designed Kookaburra I, Kookaburra II and Kookaburra III.

1984 – 1987

1987

1987

Kookaburra III wins the right to defend the America’s Cup.

Kookaburra II wins World 12 Metre Fleet Racing Championship, Sardinia.

1987

1988

1988

Kookaburra III wins World 12 Metre Fleet Racing Championship and World 12 Metre Match Racing Championship, Sweden.

1988

1991

1991

Consultant for Nippon America’s Cup challenge.

Designed Tokio, a Whitbread 60 for Chris Dixon in his Volvo “Round the World” campaign.

1991

2002

2002

JS-9000 – the design and release of the legendary yacht, which fast became popular with its distinctive style for which John’s designs have come to be known.

2002

2019

2019

Kookaburra II wins the 175th Anniversary Regatta New York Yacht Club – continuing to turn heads!

Kookaburra III wins the Barcelona Classic Race – another great success!

2019
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