Andi Robertson

A new 30ft one design is on the cards that could bring unity to the offshore scene, with backing from both sides of the Channel

It is encouraging to hear plans for the new Class 30, an entry level, fast, fun and simple offshore one design which is quickly gaining traction. It’s thanks to a certain for six water bottles of the crew, so as not to mix them up. Secondly there was very clearly a real reflection on the industrial production dimension with Multiplast.” synchronicity between RORC and My understanding from its French counterpart UNCL, colleagues in France is both realising they needed an that after a pre-production accessible, equally matched one run of three to five boats, design that would take the next which should be launched generation of sailors offshore. at the beginning of 2023,

My minor concern initially the objective is to be able to is that there will be a ‘not produce one boat per week. invented here’ mentality UNCL’s Ginoux is looking emanating from the production to generate “hundreds of boats builders who have, they will around the world, but there contend, similar better boats and from nations where the ‘BOTH NEEDED A DESIGN is interest also from sailors who are going to do the Mini boat is not going to be built. But I am sure that as soon as an international competition THAT WOULD TAKE THE NEXT GENERATION OFFSHORE’ Transat and believe that the Class 30 One Design can be a very good intermediate circuit can be drawn up, step before moving on to the blue touchpaper will the Figaro or the Class be lit. More and more young sailors want to be representing their country or their club. ABOVE Early visuals of the Class 30, an affordable 40. It is a target that I had not identified given the dynamism of the Mini class but it is very interesting.”

The international design competition for a new 30fter was won by the French partnership of VPLP one design racer for 5 or 6 crew The objective is to have attractive financing solutions and I understand there are already “advanced

Design and Multiplast, led by RORC, UNCL, and discussions” with potential partners to finance the Storm Trysail Club. Yves Ginoux, UNCL’s the class and/or a racing circuit to be set up. vice-president explains: “When (organisers) ASO Multiplast will manage the build and by that I announced that there would be no Tour Voile in understand some of the work will be sub-contracted 2021 we contacted them to offer them a different out. “It’s something different from what we usually solution closer to the original spirit. In the end they do, we are generally more developing and building chose to work with Normandie Evénement (as the prototypes,” explains Yann Penfornis, Multiplast’s new organisers of Tour Voile), but we continued to managing director. “But we still have experience in think about the ideal boat for getting into offshore series production - we have manufactured 95 pairs racing. Talking with our friends from RORC, we of Figaro Beneteau 3 foils - and we know how to realised that at the very same time they were thinking manage ambitious projects. All this in addition to the about exactly the same subject, so we worked mutual respect which we share with our friends and together to launch a call for projects in April.” neighbours at VPLP who encouraged us to embark

The specifications for the Class 30 One Design on this adventure together. We still have to move are simple: a 30ft one design monohull to be forward in defining and specification of the boat with actively sailed by up to 5 to 6 crew members. It VPLP, then we will have to select the yards with which is to be affordable at less than €100,000, with a we will work with because though the construction IMAGE GIORGIO VECCHIO/VPLP DESIGN regatta version also available with a carbon mast, a galley and a chart table, as well as ballast. Explaining what appealed most about the VPLP offering Ginoux reveals: “First of all there is was a real basic architectural strength. But there is a level of detail in that, for example, VPLP were the only one to take into account post-Covid elements, in particular by incorporating a moulding in the cockpit ANDI ROBERTSON An offshore sailing expert, few people can match Andi’s insight into the big boat world, both in the UK and globally will be supervised by Multiplast, the Class 30 One Design will not be manufactured only by us; we will outsource to meet the requirements for mass production and the economies of scale,” he concludes. It would be great to consider some aspect of the build might come to this side of the Channel, but in any case, I hope that this could be the catalyst to unify the offshore aspirations and objectives towards some common goals.