War does not stop Ukraine. The secret weapon is a sailboat

Remember the 30-foot boat designed by Ukrainian champion Rodion Luka for the Paris Olympics offshore event? A class heralded and pumped up by World Sailing for an event later rejected by the IOC. The reason? The boat chosen, which cost over 100,000 euros to rig, did not guarantee the widest possible access to athletes. If price had been a discriminating factor in making it an Olympic class, out of that world, L30, Luka’s boat, is achieving a fair amount of success.

L30 appeals to Americans

Among the finalists in the sailboat “Oscars” at the Annapolis Boat Show, L30 surprised the judges of the American trade magazines Cruising World and Sailing World for its versatility. A fun, trailerable, livable boat with a racer pedigree. “L30 is an interesting boat with enough interior space for small cruises or a night’s transfer to a regatta and back,” are the impressions of Mark Pillsbury of Cruising World. “The boat we tested was set up for racing, which means there are a lot of adjustments to be made to best handle the sails. But its retractable keel, bayonet rudder, and carbon mast hinged to the deck – which can be easily armed in a couple of hours, ed. – make sailing with a trolley boat a very real possibility. “

L30. Built and designed in Ukraine

Despite the ongoing invasion by Russia, L30, which was initially built in Slovenia, is now manufactured in Ukraine and exported all over the world. The Otis Tarda shipyard is not particularly well known in the boating world, but it is one of the most important suppliers of composite parts for aerospace, automotive, and hi-tech medical customers. The design is also licensed to CODE Yachts shipyard in Hungary.

Easily transportable

It is a 10-meter fast cruising cabin cruiser conceived by Ukrainian Rodion Luka, Olympic silver medalist and 49er class world champion, and designed by Andrej Justin, known for designing and building RC 44 circuit boats that have the prerogative of being able to be “disassembled and reassembled” with ease to be shipped around the world for the stages of the circuit of the same name. The L30 also has this prerogative; it is the largest boat that can be wheeled with an ordinary car. In fact, L30 is a relatively narrow boat by today’s standards, with a maximum beam of 2.54 meters, allowing it to be towed down the highway on a trailer or shipped via container.

L30’s blanket

As might be expected with a sporty daysailer, the cockpit is large and open, providing ample room for a crew of four or five, although the boat is also intended for single or double racing. The two rudder wheels are located well aft near the open transom. The boat is equipped with a double bayonet rudder. There is no seating in the cockpit, so when sailing we sit on the broadside or deck using removable soft seats.

L30. A double soul

In race mode, L30 has a square-top mainsail and a double flying backstay for when it’s windy. Different bow sails are available to better suit different wind conditions, as well as the large and powerful Code0 to run in the stern. In cruise mode, the flaps can be attached to the mast. Sail adjustments, being a racing boat, are quite a lot, but in cruising or training, they can be simplified. The mainsail can be shortened and the headsail is rollable.

Interiors

L30 sports a minimalist and functional interior. Looking through the drum, one immediately notices a small space below deck at head height, offset to starboard. A pair of bunks extends aft, below the cockpit, and a sink and small cooktop are located amidships on the port side. To starboard is a bathroom while forward the space opens to a pleasant V-shaped berth and a seating area.

L30 – Data Sheet

Overall length 9.58 m
Hull length 9.25 m
Length at waterline 9.20 m
Maximum width 2.54 m
Draft 1.80/0.58 m
Standard displacement 1,820 kg
Ballast 790kg
Mainsail 29.8 sqm
J1 22.7 sqm
J2 16 sqm
J3 13.5 sqm
A2 83 sqm
Code0 55 sqm
Oceanvolt electric motor with sail drive hydrogenerator and two-blade folding propeller
Water tank 45 liters
Open space layout with V berth in the bow and 2 double berths in the stern, 1 bathroom and kitchen
Rodion Luka Concept
Designer Justin Yacht Design
Otis Tarda shipyard in Ukraine and CODE Yachts in Hungary
Price starting from 102,000 euros VAT ESC

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James Barbaro