L30 picked for inaugural Offshore Worlds

World Sailing has confirmed that the L30, a 30-foot one design keelboat, has been selected as the supplied equipment for World Sailing’s inaugural Offshore World Championship to be held October 2020 in Valletta, Malta.

The L30 is a light, modern one design boat with racing at its core. First tested in November 2015, the L30 boat concept was drawn up by Ukrainian Olympic silver medalist and Volvo Ocean Race competitor Rodion Luka and designed by Andrej Justin.

Justin, best known for collaborating with Russell Coutts on the RC44, brought the L30 to life, combining all-round offshore performance, ease of logistics, a strict one-design model and global, ready to race, affordability.

The Championship will be a two-person mixed competition (one man, one woman) between nations, featuring 20 boats. The boats will be chartered by the national teams and allocated to sailors one week ahead of the Championship via a boat draw before sailors have time to test and prepare for the challenge that lays ahead of them.

Held alongside the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the competitors may be required to sail the full 606 nm course or a reduced course depending on the weather conditions.

The Offshore World Championship will engage countries new to double-handed offshore sailing by providing a full fleet of L30s that are ready to use at the event venue. L30s will also be available to charter in Europe for training from the summer of 2019.

“The L30 Class share our ambition to grow double handed offshore sailing globally,” said Kim Andersen, President of World Sailing. “The boat is well designed to cater for the demands of offshore sailing and will provide the sailors competing in Malta next year with a stern challenge.

“The boat has been trialled by some of the world’s leading sailors including Charles Caudrelier (FRA), Ian Walker (GBR), Abby Ehler (GBR), and Torben Grael (BRA). Their feedback has been crucial in the development and progression of the boat following the first concept.

“When the boat becomes available for charter this summer, I am sure the sailors are going to enjoy the challenge and thrill of sailing it as their preparation for the Offshore World Championship commences.”

“I have no doubt that this event will bring our sport to a new level, engaging a wider audience and opening new horizons for offshore sailors around the globe,” notes Rodion Luka, CEO of L30 One Design. “I am glad that sailors will have a good chance to sail the L30 and feel its outstanding technical performance as well as versatility and affordability.”

Further information on the qualification system and race format will be announced in due course.

Editor’s note: Online trolling refers to the L30 as the equipment for the keelboat event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but there is no connection at this time. However, not everyone loves the L30 choice with boat reviewer Paulo Pernão venting on his Interesting Sailboats blog.

About the Offshore World Championship
Announced in 2017, the Offshore Sailing World Championship will be a powerful platform to accelerate the interest and growth of offshore one-design mixed double-handed sailing within the sailing community.

The 2020 Offshore Sailing World Championship will be organised in collaboration with the Royal Malta Yacht Club and World Sailing.

Originally earmarked to be held in 2019, World Sailing postponed the hosting to 2020 to allow a full qualification system to be developed, allowing ample opportunity for Member National Authorities to qualify and prepare for the event.

The Championship is designed to cater to the fast-growing double-handed offshore community worldwide. An important goal is to engage countries new to double-handed offshore sailing by providing turnkey equipment ready to use at the event venue as well as boats being available to charter in Europe for training from the summer of 2019.

About the L30 Class
The L30 was first tested in November 2015 and is designed to perform in strong and light wind. The boat is equipped with Trim Tab that adds more performance sailing upwind and facilitates downwind sailing in strong breeze. Two lifting rudders provides safety at sea in extreme conditions and decline the foil resistance in light wind.

The L30 was featured at several international events including the 2018 Vegvisir Race in Denmark, where it won the open doublehanded division, the 2017 Barcolana Race and at its 2018 Class Championship in Lake Balaton, Hungary. Four nations, including Germany, Hungary, Ukraine and Hong Kong competed on Lake Balaton. www.L30class.org.

About the Rolex Middle Sea Race
The Rolex Middle Sea Race takes place in the heart of the Mediterranean and comprises one of the most beautiful courses in the world. Starting and finishing in Malta, the 606 nautical mile route includes the deep azure waters of Sicily and the Strait of Messina, the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, and even features Stromboli’s active volcano as a course mark. Organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, 2019 marks the 40th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

606 nautical mile course

Source: World Sailing