Moore 30 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Moore 30's journey began in 1985, emerging from the Watsonville, California, workshops of Moore Sailboats, a company synonymous with innovative ULDBs. Ron Moore, alongside designer George Olson, spearheaded a movement that revolutionized yacht design by emphasizing minimal displacement and generous sail area for blistering speed. The Moore 30 was intended to further this legacy, serving as a successor to the wildly successful Moore 24 in the realm of high-performance racing.

True to the Moore Sailboats ethos, the Moore 30 was built with a solid fiberglass hull and deck, ensuring a light yet robust structure essential for its performance goals. A distinctive feature of its design, explicitly noted in its specifications, is the incorporation of 14-foot hiking "wings." These extend the effective beam and are crucial for providing additional righting moment and stability, allowing the boat to carry its impressive sail plan effectively. While Moore Sailboats continued to innovate, only five units of the Moore 30 were ultimately built, making it a rare and specialized vessel.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Moore 30's design brief was unequivocally focused on speed, and its specifications reflect this. With a displacement of just 2,000 pounds and a waterline length of 26.25 feet, it boasts an exceptionally low displacement-to-length ratio, marking it as an extreme ultralight displacement boat. This translates to a vessel that is incredibly agile and quick to accelerate, particularly in light wind conditions. The sail area to displacement ratio of approximately 46.7 further underscores its potent sail plan, suggesting excellent performance in minimal breeze and a lively character when the wind picks up.

The ballast-to-displacement ratio of 0.40 indicates a solid foundation of stability, which is significantly enhanced by the innovative hiking wings. These wings are not just for crew comfort but are an integral part of its stability system, allowing the relatively light hull to stand up to its powerful rig. Owners and sailors describe the Moore 30 as a "screamer downwind" and a boat that "ghosts in light air," capable of planing and delivering exhilarating speeds. Its deep fin keel, drawing 6.5 feet, further contributes to its upwind performance and directional stability. While exceptionally fast, the ULDB nature suggests that effective trim and crew weight management are critical for optimal performance and control, especially in heavier air where it can be "nervous" if not well-managed.

Accommodations and Layout

Befitting its role as a purebred racing machine, the Moore 30 offers functional rather than luxurious accommodations. The interior is generally described as "very simple" and "pretty basic," prioritizing weight savings and sailing performance over extensive creature comforts. Typically, the layout includes a V-berth forward, providing sleeping quarters for two. A pair of settees in the main cabin offers additional seating and potentially more berths for a racing crew. A small galley area is present, likely equipped with only the most essential amenities, reflecting the boat's primary use for competitive sailing or short-term cruising. Given the focus on performance and minimal displacement, the interior offers limited headroom, with most individuals unable to stand upright within the cabin. Storage is adequate for racing gear and essentials, but not abundant. The overall finish is practical, emphasizing durability and light weight over elaborate joinery.