Design
A remarkable creation
When Ukrainian Olympic medallist Rodion Luka went looking for an eye-catching new design to help him promote sailing in his home country he found a kindred spirit in Russell Coutts’s co-designer on the RC44 project, Andrej Justin
The L-30
It is a very rare privilege to have the opportunity to work on a project with as streamlined and ‘no compromise’ a philosophy as was the case when Russell Coutts and I worked on the original RC44 design. The majority of our studio’s day-to-day work, designing racers and cruiser-racers takes place in an arena where design features are constantly traded off with each other as the designer chases the best compromise to fit within externally specified parameters. So when we started talking to Rodion Luka about his latest requirements – and ideas – for a new boat, I first tried to figure out where this great sailing champion was getting his inspiration… or did he just operate in a parallel reality?
Rodion’s requests could not have been more contradictory. So you really do mean a boat that is trailable, light and narrow, 1.80m draft, lifting keel, standing headroom, large ‘bathroom’, cosy accommodation, fast, generous cockpit, a family boat that is also suitable for one-design racing and ideal for corporate sailing… In short, we were talking about a minivan that must perform like a GT car and fit in a motorbike shed. OK, why not?
Hull: we worked a lot on the balance between form stability and wetted surface area, trying to preserve a fine bow entry but with well-balanced volume distribution when heeled. Due to the moderate beam this boat is not a reaching beast, but she is fast, responsive and forgiving on a windward-leeward course even in big breeze. The combination of a small profile bulb and high-aspect ratio keel fin aid all-round performance, while twin rudders reduce drag and enhance control. The chined hull selected delivers good dynamic
46 SEAHORSE
lift increasing with speed, keeping spray low and the wake flat. Construction: to meet quality demands and future one-design requirements, vacuum bag infused vinylester resin, unidirectional and biaxial glass fabrics and various densities of PVC core are used for all of the composite elements. To minimise weight we designed a light structural interior built around the keel box, using the same light and cost-effective materials as in the hull and deck. Once it is all structurally bonded, the hull, interior structure and deck combine to create a rigid and easy-to-maintain composite structure. Internals: for corporate use with mixed crews, a standing headroom bathroom with fixed shower, washbasin and marine head is a must in Rodion’s view, so we (somehow) slipped one in to starboard of the keel box. Thanks to a reverse sheer and chined hull, our little boat actually offers a lot of volume despite limited beam – in fact, the result really is impressive for a boat of this length. A forward V-berth/dinette, a mini-galley amidships to port and two symmetric aft berths round out the accommodation. Deck: a minimalist streamlined coachroof, big racing cockpit with twin wheels (honestly) and an ergonomic layout using match racing- sized hardware make for a purposeful and thought-provoking appear- ance. These days a TP52 has tiller steering while a 30ft cruiser typically features a wheel… so does this choice take us too far away from the racing world? Take a first look at the boat and the initial answer would seem to be ‘yes’, but then ask the helmsman about the feel he gets from the rudders and the answer is a resound- ing ‘no’. The direct transmission ratio of the helm system, plus the unbalanced (lifting not pivoting) high-aspect rudder foils produce just the right amount of steering torque to deliver all the information on boat balance that you require, even in light airs. Rig: the deck-stepped carbon rig with hinged mast foot and rod
standing rigging can easily be stepped without a crane. The 25° backswept spreaders allow you to sail without runners or backstay
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