9.14 m
30' 0"

Ocean racing sailboat
(open 30) Moondance Yachts
OPEN 30

The Open 30 Class was conceived in 2000 to fill the gap in the market for short handed offshore racing boats between the Open 6.5 and the Open 40. The class is thriving across the Atlantic in South America (the head office of the Open 30 Class Association is in Argentina) and in North America and Europe. Some of the most innovative designers have applied their magic to this class which is designed according to a "box rule".

The rules of the Open 30 Class are open; anything not specifically prohibited, limited or imposed, is permitted. The rules are administered by the Open30 Class Association. Measuring is self administering. The owner of the boat shall be responsible for submitting the correct information to the Open30 Class Association. The basic class rules are:

LOA not to exceed 30 ft (9.14m) This measurement excludes all appendices and all items of fittings.

In light procedure, the draught is limited to 2.5m from the flotation plane
Maximum beam, including all deck fittings shall be no more than 3.5m
The measurement of the bottom of the keel to the top of the highest sail shall to be more than 17.5m

Freeboard average to be not less than 0.90m

Cabin top is mandatory with a minimum volume specified.
The structure of the boat to withstand the forces of races classified by ORC in category 1. Structural calculations to ISO 9000 norms.

The total flotation reserve not to be less than 2sqm. Core material to be included in calculation.

Escape hatch in the transom is required.

Water ballast tanks and adjustable keel arrangements are allowed.
AVS not less than 125 degrees.

Materials with a greater density than lead are prohibited.
The VG Open30 was designed by Van Gorkom Yacht Design based in Newport, RI. Van Gorkom predicts a speed of 19 knots in 25 knots of wind at 120 degrees true wind angle in his VPP analysis of his Open 30 design.

At about 14 knots of true wind speed, the Van Gorkom design will start breaking loose and the boat should start planing by 20 knots of wind at an estimated boat speed of between 16 and 18 knots. She has a displacement/length ratio of 128 and a sail area/displacement ratio of 34 upwind and a massive downwind SA/DSPL ratio of 82.