Sun Odyssey 51 was the first of three sailboat designs J&J delivered to Jeanneau in 1988, at the time the largest sailboat builder worldwide, and a faithful client of the office for many years to come, later as a part of Beneteau Group.

J&J’s goals for the Sun Odyssey 51 as the new Jeanneau flagship boat were set very high: to show the supremacy of their yard in sailing yacht design and innovation, and bring to the market a remarkable bestseller. J&J was responsible for the concept, deck and interior arrangement design. Bruce Farr’s office, the fastest racing yacht designer of the time, designed the slippery hull. Olivier Lafourcade of CNB fame and the father of light, airy yacht interiors created the interior design. 

Presented in summer 1989, the Sun Odyssey 51 represented the ultimate holiday sailing cruiser. The deck was clean, unobstructed, and clutter-free, with ropes led aft in under-deck channels. There were flat sun-bed areas with optional mattresses on the central and bow parts of the deck. The cockpit of the boat, which was easily sailed by two people, was divided in three areas: helmsman in the aft, guests in the main middle area, and the sailing maneuvers at the front. Access to the sea at the stern was convenient and simple, with toy and gear storage easily at hand. The companionway was wide and gave easy, safe access to the interior with a comfortable stairway that covered a very small vertical distance, to facilitate the interior-exterior communication. 

The interior was again based on a modular system offering a range of interior programs:  two cabin/two bathroom, three cabin/three bathroom, or four cabin/four bathroom. All were ensuite, giving comfort and privacy. The salon was open and visually enlarged by semicircular washroom geometries. Separate access to the crew quarters forward (with included toilet and washbasin) opened the possibilities for crewed charter program. A keel fin in stainless steel housed the diesel tank and featured a lead keel bulb with low draft and excellent sailing performance. 

More than 170 of the original Sun Odyssey 51 were sold—and gave the name to the Jeanneau sailboat cruising range, still used today.