World Sailing has announced that the L30, a 30-foot one design keelboat, has been selected as the supplied equipment for World Sailing's Offshore World Championship from 2020.
The L30 is a light, modern, one-design boat with racing at its core, making it a perfect fit for the Championship. As a one-design boat, every boat is the same length, weight and features the same equipment and rigging to ensure the sailors are competing on an even playing field.
Valletta, Malta will host the inaugural edition of the Offshore World Championship in October 2020 and will be the first time the L30 is showcased on the world stage.
First tested in November 2015, the L30 boat concept was drawn up by Olympic medallist and Volvo Ocean Race competitor Rodion Luka. Andrej Justin, designer of 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 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.
Kim Andersen, President of World Sailing, commented, “The L30 Class share our ambition to grow double handed offshore sailing globally. 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.”
Rodion Luka, CEO of L30 One Design, said, “Our team is proud to be a technical partner of World Sailing’s and to support the Offshore World Championship. 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.
“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.
