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Jean-Pierre Kelbert, the founder needs no introduction
Jean-Pierre Kelbert, the founder needs no introduction. He gave his initials to the JPK Composites shipyard, whose various models have won everything there is to win in IRC races over the past twenty years, both in France and abroad.
Competition of the French shipyards
The busy owner of an SME with 50 employees, the 62-year-old shipbuilder, has retained his undiminished hunger for competition and returns solo to the race in the third edition of the Cap Martinique, which departs from La Trinité-sur-Mer on Sunday, heading for Fort-de-France, with a strong fleet of 32 two-person crews and 14 solo sailors. This race also feels like a battle between the shipyards.
No promotion needed
Given the number of JPKs (18) at the start in Cap Martinique, you don’t even need to promote the shipyard anymore? Are you just going for fun?
Jean-Pierre Kelbert:
“Exactly, I am going without any pressure. Actually, I wasn’t planning to do the race again, and it is the boat (the JPK 10.50) that made me decide to come back. It is probably my last one, and I thought it would be a bit strange to miss it. So I made arrangements with a customer who lent me her boat, the boat with which we won the Spi Ouest-France. The three of us will be sailing 10.50s, with Alex Ozon, who won in 2022 [on a Sun Fast 3300, ahead of Jean-Pierre Kelbert, ed.] and who will pilot Léon, the shipyard’s boat, and Jean-François Hamon, who is also a good customer.”
Single handed sailing
"We have pushed the boundaries and at the same time retained a certain versatility."
Fierce competition
In your report on the Spi Ouest-France regatta, you mention that the competition is very fierce between the Pogo RC, designed by Sam Manuard (the architect is sailing the Cap Martinique two-handed with Erwan Le Méné, and a Pogo RC is competing solo, with Pascal Coret as skipper), and the Sun Fast 3300. Could you outline the strengths and weaknesses of both?
Jeaneau Sun Fast and Pogo
Jean-Pierre Kelbert
Pushing the boundaries of design
“With the JPK 10.50, together with our own naval architect Jacques Valer, we have pushed the boundaries while maintaining a certain degree of versatility. We often perform slightly better upwind than the Pogo, but they sail very comfortably downwind, especially since they adjusted their sail plan with a larger main gaff and larger spinnakers. Logically, they should be sailing ahead, but it remains to be seen whether they can maintain their rating gains. They still owe us 30 minutes a day…”
The JPK 1050 has a high-quality standard version.
You mentioned improved performance, but the price of the boats has also increased significantly: €280,000 for a JPK 10.50. How do you explain that?
Jean-Pierre Kelbert:
“It is true that the price has increased by more than €70,000 compared to the JPK 10.30. The boats are technically slightly more advanced. The sandwich foam is from Core Cell instead of Herex, because less resin is needed for that; the standard mast is made of carbon fiber; the rudders are retractable with JP3 bearings… But the biggest difference lies in the finish, because the composite material is more refined. We have gone back to vacuum lamination instead of infusion for many parts to reduce the resin content; there are no structural connection lips. All connections are made by hand. The construction is now close to that of the Class40s. Ultimately, we were able to save more than 200 kg on the platform, but the total labor time increased from 1,100 to 1,400 hours.”
"Since the JPK 1010, we have made nothing but good choices."
Economy
At the start of the Cap Martinique race in 2024, 60 boats stood; this year, 48. Can this decrease be explained by the price and the technical level of the boats?
Jean-Pierre Kelbert:
“Honestly, I don’t think so. We are still launching a JPK 10.50 every month; the demand is there, and this race is a dream for many experienced sailors. Last year there were 65 pre-registrations, but the organization has seen quite a few cancellations. Some for medical reasons, because there are many requirements that must be met; others, I think, due to the current economic climate. There are many owners of small and medium-sized businesses among the spectators of this race, and the current period is not easy, with a lot of uncertainty. When things get more stressful at work, that is not necessarily the best time to go sailing.”
"We have pushed the boundaries and at the same time retained a certain versatility."
Transfer of JPK Composites
The success of JPK Composites
When you launched the first JPK in 2003 (the 9.60), you came from the windsurfing world, without any experience as a boat builder or sailor, and with an unknown and unconventional naval architect. What is the secret to JPK’s success story?
Jean-Pierre Kelbert:
“I probably got lucky, and I always believed in it. I came out of nowhere, as you say, but I already had considerable expertise at the time, because besides boards, the JPK brand also produced many parts for offshore racing. I knew the qualities of Jacques’ hulls, and from that moment on, there were no limits to our imagination. They weren’t always easy years, either. We experimented with a few models that didn’t work, but starting with the JPK 1010, we made nothing but good choices and entered a positive spiral. We were able to diversify, with IRC boats but also fast touring boats and a few motorboats.”
Jean-Pierre Kelbert retired?
Jean-Pierre Kelbert:
“When I retire, I think I will find it difficult to stop designing, because it is truly fantastic. I will continue to do my bit!”
- Published on 19/04/2026.
- By Sailorz, the media platform for competitive sailing.
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