Design and Construction
Lapworth's 3-30 stretches 30.07 feet overall on a 26.31-foot waterline, with a 10.17-foot beam and a displacement of 10,500 pounds carried on a fixed fin keel and spade rudder. The solid fiberglass hull and solid fiberglass deck speak to the straightforward Cal construction approach, and the 5,000-pound lead ballast gives the 3-30 a firm footing for a 30-footer of her length. She was purpose-built as a three-quarter-ton IOR racer, yet the same Lapworth lines that earned her champion status also preserved her coastal cruising credentials.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop the 3-30 carries an I-dimension of 41.50 feet and J of 13.50 feet, with a P of 34.14 and E of 11.38, producing a 198.54-square-foot mainsail and a 270.92-square-foot working jib. Owners could rig her with genoas up to 150 percent LP (419.81 square feet) or spinnakers reaching 856 square feet for downwind work, and her sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.81 reflects the performance bias. Sailboat Data & Sail Specifications found her emphasis on performance for club racing under PHRF with a typical rating near 180 to 192, and credited her with responsive handling and seaworthiness suitable for small crews or families. The boat named EL TIGRE II was raced completely stock with no modifications, underscoring that the standard Lapworth package was already competitive.
Accommodations
Below, the Cal 3-30 featured a luxurious hand-finished teak cruising interior, a deliberate counterpoint to her race-ready deck plan. The teak joinery and finished cabin details distinguish the 3-30 from the bare-bones racer stereotype, letting her serve both the starting line and the anchorage without a refit.
The Verdict
The Cal 3-30 is a compact Lapworth cruiser-racer that punches above her size in club competition yet remains a usable coastal cruiser. Her solid fiberglass structure, lead-ballasted fin-keel hull, and responsive helm make her a credible used-classic candidate, though scarcity means patience is required to find one. The hand-finished teak interior is a genuine upgrade over many peers of the early 1970s.
Pros
- IOR 3/4-ton Lapworth design, race-proven stock (EL TIGRE II)
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with lead fin-keel ballast
- Responsive handling with PHRF focus and family seaworthiness
- Hand-finished teak cruising interior
Cons
- Only about 100-200 built (1973-74), so relatively rare
- Gasoline Atomic 4 power limits modern diesel expectations
