Offshore One-Design

But first, it's amazing the things you readers pick up on and question. A few months ago, a brochure we were looking at mentioned "effective length to weather" and I compared it to "effective height to weather." I received several letters asking for the formula for effective height to weather (EHW). This is a function of your own height and the heel angle of the boat with a factor added for the type of shoes you wear (SF). The formula is EHW = SH/Cos heel angle + SF, where SH is the sailor's static height. For example, I am 6 feet, 3 inches tall so at a heel angle of 25 degrees with Harken sailing shoes (SF = .63 inches), I am actually 7.04 feet tall, measured parallel with the boat's vertical centerline.

Beiley's new Bravura 30 was designed to fit the Mount Gay 30 Rule (the renamed Whitbread 30 box-style rule) while staying shy of the displacement requirements. Displacement can be adjusted to suit the rule should the owner decide to compete in Mount Gay events. The D/L is 108.4 and beam is moderate. The hull is a beefy development of Beiley's B-32 with very fine waterlines forward and a nearly plumb bow. The exposed forefoot knuckle should help make the boat easy to drive in off-the-wind surfing conditions. There is a narrow BWL, with a firm turn to the bilge that extends to the stem. Note how all rudders are starting to look alike.

One of the keys to the success of this new rule is that it allows water ballast. I can see hairs springing up on the back of racer's necks everywhere. Yes, water ballast or any kind of movable ballast is quite controversial among club racers these days. I look at it this way, I'd like to use my tennis racket for certain golf shots. I'd also like the cup to be 8 inches in diameter. I'd reduce my score. But, it just ain't the game. For years, we have accepted the fact that movable ballast does not belong on our ballasted racing yachts, but it may be time to incorporate rating factors that allow the two different breeds to race against each other, or even better, give them their own start. Beiley's design allows for 660 pounds of water ballast in three bladder tanks per side.

The SA/D works out to 26.55, including the water ballast and basing sail area on I, J, E and P (no roach). The water ballast will help provide the power to hold this boat on its feet. The roach of the main overlaps the backstay by almost 24 inches. A carbon fiber backstay "whip" will be used to spring the backstay clear of the roach during jibes. The spreaders are swept aft and there is a masthead chute. Obviously, this boat will be a rocket upwind in a breeze where its powerful hull form will have an advantage over ULDBs. A mast section has been developed to eliminate jumper struts and their wear and tear on spinnakers. The standard pole length will be 4.5 feet greater than the J measurement.

This design will be built with biaxial E-glass over a .75-inch foam core and vinylester resin. The overall scantlings will be in accordance with the MG-30 and ABS rules. The keel will incorporate a stub of E-glass and epoxy cured at 140 degrees for 15 hours. The lower part of the keel will be lead.

Beiley is currently the executive director of the MG-30 class association, with hopes that this new class will get off the ground in the United States.