In December 2007 Moondance Yachts
in Cape Town, South Africa splashed their first Van Gorkom designed production
Open30 named "OverProof". The boat is presently undergoing a full range of sea trials. Click here for a special report.
Meanwhile, the first Australian kit VG-Open30 is presently under
construction in Australia (follow
the construction process). The owner
is an experienced offshore racer and intends to campaign his boat in
short-handed and single-handed Pacific Ocean events.
The 30 footer has always been a popular and practical racer,
particularly with amateur boat builders. To capitolize on this and
bring more affordable boats into the market, Van Gorkom
Yacht Design have entered the Open30 arena with an exciting new 30
footer developed as a do-it-yourself (and a few good friends)
kit-plan-package. This comprehensive
package makes it possible for the sailor/amateur boat builder to
construct
a high performance one-off racer for a fraction of what a custom design
would cost.
As
with all VGYD's designs, the underlying theme of the VG-Open30 has
been one of meticulous consideration to the sailing criteria of the
boat. VGYD is
predicting a great performance out of this boat with the VPPs
indicating a speed of 19 knots in 25 knots of wind at 120 degrees true
wind
angle. At about 14 knots of true wind speed, the VG-Open30 will start
breaking loose and the boat should start planing by 17 to 18 knots of
wind at an
estimated boat speed of between 16 and 20 knots. She has a sailing
displacement/length
ratio of 128 and a sail area/displacement ratio of 34 upwind and a
massive
downwind SA/DSPL ratio of 82.
The fractional rig is
carbon fiber
with 20 degree swept-back spreaders and
carries non-overlapping
jibs, reachers and generous asymmetric spinnakers. Due to the
highly roached/square top main there is no backstay to hang up on. The
rig incorporates a user-friendly
runner/check stay system to compensate for
the fore and aft loads from headsails.
The deck arrangement has been well thought out to create the
perfect working platform for offshore
racing. All the halyards and control lines have been lead back to the
cockpit to banks of neatly organized jammers. The deck-mounted, carbon
fiber bow sprit is both retractable and can articulate. The mainsheet
traveler is on a curved track bridging the aft end of the cockpit. The
aft end of the cabin house forms a protective cowl that a sailor can
shelter behind in rough conditions.
The
VG-Open30's deep fin keel and dolphin-bulb configuration generates
plenty of powerful righting moment. The foils used on the keel
are our state-of-the-art, high-lift, laminar flow sections. The
twin, kick-up rudders have the same high-lift sections
with elliptical trailing edges, which maximize efficiency and
minimizes drag. This keel and rudder combination contributes
to a remarkably well balanced boat, needing only a flex of the fingers
to steer her through the chop.
The
interior erganomics of an offshore racing machine play an important
role in the boat's overall success by providing a functional and
relatively comfortable enviroment for the crew. The VG-Open30 has a
swing berth port and starboard, a sit-down navigation station with a
curved seating surface to port, ample stowage volume, and a water tight
bulkhead. The auxiliary engine is an inboard Yanmar 9.5 hp diesel with
Saildrive.
Although
this boat will be sailed shorthanded, a full range of dynamic stability
is still available using the water ballast tanks. The system operates
via an electric pump with a hand pump backup. The flow controls are
located in the cockpit, providing quick and convenient
access. The total capacity of the port and starboard wing
tanks is 264 gallons (507 liters), or the weight of 6½ crew
members per side.
VGYD
is selling the basic VG-Open30 kit-plan-package for US$2,950(price
reduced to $2500).
See Kit-Plans
for
details. Several add-on options available:
- high-tech composite
construction for
$500
- canting keel and dagger board
for $1500
- sail/rig plan for a carbon
fiber rotating wing mast for US$1500
NEWS FLASH:
The VG-Open30 can be also purchased as a pre-assembled kit, complete
with hull, deck, keel and rudders or as a fully completed boat
(excluding sails and electronics). Please contact
usfor
more
information on this exciting design.
