Talking to Elie Canivenc www.elie-canivenc.com we came out with a discussion about the new Classes, the Open 30 and the Open 40. I thought it would make a nice article about,
What to do after the MiniTransat, and if an Open 60 is way off :)
And a way to show some renderings of Canivenc. And to let you know he is active with; quote"open 60' appendages (rudders, daggerboard, keel, ...) and also removable rudders for proto 6.50, asymmetric daggerboard, keel, ... (everything in carbon on female mould) I've got an economical solution for carbon mast as well.." So Mini sailors have something useful out of this article ;)  As some know, the Open 30 rule was more or less born on the old Mini forum off my site, so I like it :) But
the guys that put more effort into it are now American guys, and more likely the interested parties are European. And interest is very slowly growing. So here are some views on the Open 30. wwwopen30.com
Interview; Me, leoV and Elie Canivenc, sailor of the MT, crewmember of Open 60's and much more. A Naval Architect and has a company producing parts for Mini Transat boats. Q:Why should it be fun to step from a Mini to an Open 30 ?
A:
I think an open 30' is a good step between the Mini and the bigger Open 60'
because it's a good transition for skippers and sponsors. Q:What kind of races do you think an Open 30 is suitable for ?
A:
I think the Ostar, Round Britain, Round Ireland,
Fastnet, The USA to Hawaii races, the Newport Bermuda, Route du Rhum and Transat Jacques Vabre are also opened for small class. And there is as well a new race called "Petit Bateau 2004" (www.petitbateau.org.uk) Q:Why should I buy an Open 30 when there is a Figaro 2 ?
A:
An Open 30' concept and Figaro 2 are radically different and whit out comparison.
An Open 30' would at least be 20% more performance since the hull would be in carbon, using canting keel, wing mast, asymmetric spinnakers, asymmetric daggerboard... It's like the difference between a first 210 (beneteau) and a proto 650.. Q:What is a ballpark building
cost estimate, full blown carbon racer and homebuild more standard construction ?
A:
A carbon Open 30' would cost around 150 000 Euro made by a professional shipyard. Of course it will be largely made by yourself, around 40000 Euro I myself, LeoV think an Open 30 can handle long upwind races better, in that in a Mini that is very very though. In an Open 30, just very tough.
I sailed a 33ft racer solo across the pond, and have to say, that is a handful to work on, and a small boat on the ocean. The Ostar (oops Transat now) and Round Britain etc is a bit off for a Mini designed for surfing, a Mini specially designed for upwind can handle it off course, but will restrict the boat a lot in the other races...
All renderings by Canivenc.
Other designers have drawings on the table too, but I feel that this Class has the best change if
the French are getting in to it ;) Hence my interview with Elie, he knows the French market.... | 
