450 replies to this topic

[zzrider]

Sorry but, yuck. This is a girl who is fantastic in bed once you shut off the lights and imagine Nicole Kidman. and doesn't even cook or clean either.

[jkdubs808]

I think she lpols sexy as hell. Can't wait to see the footage of her goin downhill in 20+.

[GybeSet®]

Want to see it going down the mine, in 25 knots.

Stunning effort. Looks awesome.

agree, looks 'right' sailing and looks like it will go like shit off a shiny shovel


to all that question the aesthetics i invite them to have a look at the current benchmarks,
Bene First 30 and F400,
they won't be described as 'she' unless in the context of a tranny or Borg

you'd rather have a poster of above shovel on your wall

[LongTim]

First race for the boat was mid fleet finish on handicap. Beat a few of the 40s over the line but hard to give away 10+ feet of WL in a sloppy sea (up to 20 knots of wind). It's a curious game where the Soto 30 just tries to hang in there up hill and then blast off downhill where it is faster than most of the yachts in the group. But, we all know the boat wasn't designed to make the IRC gods happy. Second race started with a 10nm beat and the bigger boats just got too far in front in the choppy seas. The Red Sailing Team are enjoying the Top of the Gulf, the hot weather and some hot competition from all the larger boats in their division. Top speed for the day - 19 knots. Nothing broke but gotta solve the problem of water coming through the pole... seems it's just something every sportsboat has to cope with. K40 had a good day. Is it only a year old? Pics from Joaquin Moreno and Bradut Florescu.

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[Obsessed]

Those lifelines don't look legal??

[LongTim]

They've been tightened up. Well noted. Then again, it was a tad obvious.

Those lifelines don't look legal??

[haggers]

Looks like an outboard hobble for the jib would help.

[richiec]

I wondered if the pushpit/pullpit set up will satisfy any anal aus safety regs. They look feeble and very breakable.

[Polaris]

Looks like an outboard hobble for the jib would help.

6 knots of wind and a light chop would have helped. Mid fleet IRC on a 20 knot W/L, the boat finished well considering only six onboard (8 hiking hard would have been better in 20).

First race should not have been an IRC event, but that's all you guys have over there. Have to send a fruit basket to the the rating gods like the J's.

[LongTim]

Neither feeble or breakable. Please come and swing off them anytime.

I wondered if the pushpit/pullpit set up will satisfy any anal aus safety regs. They look feeble and very breakable.

[LongTim]

We're happy to mix it with the IRC fleets or anything else around. With one jib for 0 -20 knots and sailing in pure OD spec we're at a bit of a disadvantage but we want to show the world the boat and it matters not which particular handicap system we sail under. Will be good when there's a few playmates to sail against.

Looks like an outboard hobble for the jib would help.

6 knots of wind and a light chop would have helped. Mid fleet IRC on a 20 knot W/L, the boat finished well considering only six onboard (8 hiking hard would have been better in 20).

First race should not have been an IRC event, but that's all you guys have over there. Have to send a fruit basket to the the rating gods like the J's.

[LongTim]

'Soto 30 - The Evolution'

http://youtu.be/d__2v5tfreI

[MSA]

[LongTim]

That's what we like to see

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[steveromagnino]

Soto 30 looked HOT at Top of the Gulf Regatta held over the last weekend; I know it's a proper keelboat that can be raced/daysailed with hot keelers, it's not an 'off the beach' type sportsboat, but man it was nice to look up and see such a nice piece of kit getting around the course with the big boys; we were a bit jealous not to be able to mix it up with them sometimes!

They were always going to get a bit buried at the starts against the 40s and HiFi (Welbourne 52), and in Pattaya the left usually pays to avoid the tide, so makes it doubly hard to get a lane out there, they were always going to struggle on the upwinds, and then downwinds sailed with the tide just aren't enough runway to make it back under IRC. But you would (guessing) buy this boat to do IRC w/Ls from time to time, and just blast around the rest.

Results are here: race 1 was a w/L, race 2 distance, race 3/4 w/L race 5 long distance.

Seeing one in person, they are just a really really well thought out 30 footer; and photos really don't do them justice how sexy they look on the water.

[LongTim]

Thanks In retrospect (ah life in the rear view mirror) we should have come and played with the sportsboats. Was fun chasing all the 40s but would have had a lot more competition beating off the Shaws and other sporties. Was a great regatta to shake down the yacht and, despite having a bit of engine trouble, the boat behaved beautifully and did what the designer said it would do. So we're happy chappies. Will we see you at Samui? Can we get a Sporty class going there? I won't around for the regatta so if there are any suitable crews who are interested in chartering 'Longitude' contact me and we'll make it happen.

Soto 30 looked HOT at Top of the Gulf Regatta held over the last weekend; I know it's a proper keelboat that can be raced/daysailed with hot keelers, it's not an 'off the beach' type sportsboat, but man it was nice to look up and see such a nice piece of kit getting around the course with the big boys; we were a bit jealous not to be able to mix it up with them sometimes!

They were always going to get a bit buried at the starts against the 40s and HiFi (Welbourne 52), and in Pattaya the left usually pays to avoid the tide, so makes it doubly hard to get a lane out there, they were always going to struggle on the upwinds, and then downwinds sailed with the tide just aren't enough runway to make it back under IRC. But you would (guessing) buy this boat to do IRC w/Ls from time to time, and just blast around the rest.

Results are here: race 1 was a w/L, race 2 distance, race 3/4 w/L race 5 long distance.

Seeing one in person, they are just a really really well thought out 30 footer; and photos really don't do them justice how sexy they look on the water.

[steveromagnino]

Dear Longtim

Hadn't planned to head down to Samui, but I can certainly think of a few people who would love to step on board such a hot boat.

I believe the Phuket 8 and Brace!brace!brace! the Welbourne 25 will be there though, so you would have some excellent competition probably both head to head and possibly on handicap as the P8 rates similarly; B!B!B! rates shockingly badly under IRC from that daggerboard out the side which counts as a canting keel in the IRC world.

I'd guess the Shaw 650s are about 2 - 6 min slower per hour.....We know our IRC rating and know the races (1,3,4) that both IRC 1 boats & sportsboats were sailing the same courses when the breeze was pretty constant and so we would have been trading places the whole time; I think you would have found it to be very close sailing with us on corrected time, but as you say, you gotta at least try mixing if with the big boys....no doubt the boat will be even quicker with a bit more time on the water.

That Southern Spars rig is a sweet set up too....

[Mojounwin]

Congrats LT on the launch and racing.
I like your idea of designing a boat with minimal crew needed.
What sort of money are we looking at these days ready to race?

Cheers
Mojo

[LongTim]

Almost impossible to answer easily as each country will have different shipping/import/tax issues. And you can pick your own sailmaker and instruments. But, ex factory, China, the yacht is US124,000... in standard spec. A year ago it was hoped we'd achieve the 99,000 mark but the improvements and specifications have now forced the price to the current level. But you get a lot of gucci racing yacht for your money. An inspection and test sail will tell the full story.

Congrats LT on the launch and racing.
I like your idea of designing a boat with minimal crew needed.
What sort of money are we looking at these days ready to race?

Cheers
Mojo

[LongTim]

A few comments, from my side of the fence, following the launch and first sails of the Soto 30 in a variety of conditions....

1) 5 sails for OD racing. Think we nailed it. The #1 will go up to 20 knots with the main blading but not flapping. Didn't get to see the smaller jib. 2 spinnakers were just the right size and cut. Main, out of the bag, was a good fit to the mast. Inside gybes for sure. You could drive a truck between the bow and the end of the pole. For non-OD racing you'd pack a J2 for sure, cause everyone else will have one.

2) Boat is stiff and carries its rag. In lighter airs it felt like it wanted more sail (you know what I mean). Maybe a bigger square head? Mast rake is already at max for the mast base but feels like it needs more helm in the lighter winds.

3) Everything is strong and works... nothing broken on the sailing side. Running rigging and systems were perfect. Just stepping on the yacht.... it feels solid belying it's light weight.

4) Red Sailing Team were six people. We expected to race with five. Think it's going to be a struggle for five in anything over 15 knots - just need 6 pairs of hands to achieve some tasks. Maybe raise the 450 Kg crew limit a bit to allow six?

5) Boat was hitting its numbers and there seems nothing untoward about the speed. Will sit on 7 uphill in medium conditions. Give us few more weeks to really get a hold on the target speeds. Planes a bit earlier than expected and was really nice to steer when up in the high teens. Like some more breeze to really get it honking and see how it handles then

6) Looks better sailing than it does in the renders and plans. Probably a bit too 'angular' for some and the gentle curves on the renders seem to have made way for a sharp looking boat in real life. But, hey, totally subjective so leave that one to individual opinion.

7) Engine launch system has good bones but will be more friendly after a few mods.

8) The working space and systems are just great. It's all about racing and getting down to business.

9) We LOVE the B&G Triton system (which we call B&G lite). Perfect for this size boat, numbers you can easily read and just neat and the right price. Excellent decision.

10) Main and jib halyard locks. First day... hated them. By the end of the series... loved them. There's just a bit of finesse and twitching your eye the right way involved. But they work, the main more easily than the jib. A little tickle to that system and it's a big improvement to dragging halyard winches around the course. We just leave the jib up all the time anyway.

All in all it's a good start for a really nice little boat and was a pleasure to get behind the tiller and sail the boat. Yep, I'm biased but I've been as frank as I can be and truly think it's nice evolution of the 30 foot racer.

[Obsessed]

Can you post some pictures or description about the halyard locks?

[LongTim]

The mast halyard is inside the mast so no pics. Here's one of the jib lock system. Trying to explain the way it works is sorta hard without waving my arms around a lot.

Can you post some pictures or description about the halyard locks?

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[Polaris]

Tim,

Can you post the Soto 30's IRC certificate? I would like to see it's numbers compared to other sportboats. Also, do you have the boat's SA/D number yet? Looks like 6 is light for that boat upwind.

[LongTim]

Tim,

Can you post the Soto 30's IRC certificate?
No, but happy to send you a copy if you email me. Just log onto www.longitudeyachts.com and click the contact button.

I would like to see it's numbers compared to other sportboats.
I wouldn't consider it a sportsboat in the Shaw650/Thompson sort of way. But a bit more sporty than other 30s of recent times. It's a displacement keelboat with 50% ballast ratio. Hard to define...

Also, do you have the boat's SA/D number yet?
I don't have an 'official' SA/D from the designer. Can you work it out from the published specs?

Looks like 6 is light for that boat upwind.
Ummm, not sure what you mean.

[supine]

Looks like 6 is light for that boat upwind.

Ummm, not sure what you mean.

I think he means "6 crew might not have enough rail meat".

[Polaris]

Tim,

Can you post the Soto 30's IRC certificate?
No, but happy to send you a copy if you email me. Just log onto www.longitudeyachts.com and click the contact button.

I would like to see it's numbers compared to other sportboats.
I wouldn't consider it a sportsboat in the Shaw650/Thompson sort of way. But a bit more sporty than other 30s of recent times. It's a displacement keelboat with 50% ballast ratio. Hard to define...

Also, do you have the boat's SA/D number yet?
I don't have an 'official' SA/D from the designer. Can you work it out from the published specs?

Looks like 6 is light for that boat upwind.
Ummm, not sure what you mean.

Tim,

I figured the Soto 30 SA/D of 42 and it is close to that of a Melges 32 at 45. Suggest the need for more than 6 crew for their weight, Melges 32 in moderate winds goes with 8. I will send my e-mail to that address. One more question, Stability Index?

Thanks

[Philc]

Tim,

When could we see one in Sydney Australia?

Philc

[LongTim]

You can see one in Sydney when one is ordered there We seem to be speaking to many people there and in HK. Early days.

[LongTim]

Tim,

I figured the Soto 30 SA/D of 42 and it is close to that of a Melges 32 at 45. Suggest the need for more than 6 crew for their weight, Melges 32 in moderate winds goes with 8. I will send my e-mail to that address. One more question, Stability Index?

Thanks
[/quote]


Gotcha... as an OD class it doesn't really matter where we finalise the crew number. The boat was designed to be sailed by 5. To achieve this the hull has a lot more form stability and we were happy to see all that worked at the regatta with the large jib and main carrying up to 20 knots apparent without the main flapping in the breeze. The crew of 6 were just over the 450Kg crew weight limit. The general feeling was that you needed six pairs of hands for a few occasions. When racing non-OD you can put the entire Collingwood football team on the rail for all I care... you will certainly fit a few more along the rail, the cockpit is huge. The end result we wanted was a stiffer boat than the M32, a larger cockpit, less crew and basically more room to swing the cat - we achieved all those things.

[Polaris]

I figured the Soto 30 SA/D of 42 and it is close to that of a Melges 32 at 45. Suggest the need for more than 6 crew for their weight, Melges 32 in moderate winds goes with 8. I will send my e-mail to that address. One more question, Stability Index?

Thanks
[/quote]


Gotcha... as an OD class it doesn't really matter where we finalise the crew number. The boat was designed to be sailed by 5. To achieve this the hull has a lot more form stability and we were happy to see all that worked at the regatta with the large jib and main carrying up to 20 knots apparent without the main flapping in the breeze. The crew of 6 were just over the 450Kg crew weight limit. The general feeling was that you needed six pairs of hands for a few occasions. When racing non-OD you can put the entire Collingwood football team on the rail for all I care... you will certainly fit a few more along the rail, the cockpit is huge. The end result we wanted was a stiffer boat than the M32, a larger cockpit, less crew and basically more room to swing the cat - we achieved all those things.
[/quote]

________________

Well done.

[steveromagnino]

.... the cockpit is huge. The end result we wanted was a stiffer boat than the M32, a larger cockpit, less crew and basically more room to swing the cat - we achieved all those things.

You really have to see one in person heeled to weather; the boat looks to have a fair bit of form stability as the first day in TOG was 20 gusting 25, and they didn't look like they were on their ear at all; while you could sail it with more or less crew, the modern square top helps to depower off and the rig was set up pretty well I think and looks to be pretty easy to tune from race to race (not surprising as it is ex southern spars). No doubt more horsepower always helps upwind, but class rules fixing at the number we saw on it the first day wouldn't look out of place, especially once the sail programs get going - was that the number one jib you were running on day 1 Tim?

However, I have been told by the RSPCA and the team on the Hello Kitty that swinging cats in Thailand is completely unacceptable so perhaps just 'swinging' down below is ok;-)

The below deck area space is also surprising, I think a few people might be surprised at how much space there is down there, you could definitely consider to do coastal races like the coastal classic in NZ and so on or deliveries up in Asia from Pattaya to Samui or Phuket etc....something that isn't obvious at all from the renderings. You just need to be willing not to stand up too much, or be very short.

What is the best category you can get the boat to? Cat 3? Cat 4? (back to felines again). There's definitely not an issue with space to store everything or to control the boat with a decent sized crew.

Pics now starting to come up on the PR site, here's one of the Soto 30 downwind, breeze built a fair bit more after this guessing this pic is heading into the bottom mark.

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[Jono]

Careful Steve,
Otherwise all us 40 somethings who love the Shaw 6.5 but got lazy and heavy will save up for one of these. (Rob will kill me for this!)
Long Tim. I'm oooh soo close to a PM for the charter you hinted at.

Keep up the good work.

[LongTim]

The boat is certainly available for Koh Samui. I just have to be in Sydney that weekend (uuurrgghh) and would be happy to charter the boat out to a willing, skilled and cashed up team Anyway, PM me for a chat if you are interested. Always good to have the boat out there.

Careful Steve,
Otherwise all us 40 somethings who love the Shaw 6.5 but got lazy and heavy will save up for one of these. (Rob will kill me for this!)
Long Tim. I'm oooh soo close to a PM for the charter you hinted at.

Keep up the good work.

[LongTim]

.... the cockpit is huge. The end result we wanted was a stiffer boat than the M32, a larger cockpit, less crew and basically more room to swing the cat - we achieved all those things.

You really have to see one in person heeled to weather; the boat looks to have a fair bit of form stability as the first day in TOG was 20 gusting 25, and they didn't look like they were on their ear at all; while you could sail it with more or less crew, the modern square top helps to depower off and the rig was set up pretty well I think and looks to be pretty easy to tune from race to race (not surprising as it is ex southern spars). No doubt more horsepower always helps upwind, but class rules fixing at the number we saw on it the first day wouldn't look out of place, especially once the sail programs get going - was that the number one jib you were running on day 1 Tim?

However, I have been told by the RSPCA and the team on the Hello Kitty that swinging cats in Thailand is completely unacceptable so perhaps just 'swinging' down below is ok;-)

The below deck area space is also surprising, I think a few people might be surprised at how much space there is down there, you could definitely consider to do coastal races like the coastal classic in NZ and so on or deliveries up in Asia from Pattaya to Samui or Phuket etc....something that isn't obvious at all from the renderings. You just need to be willing not to stand up too much, or be very short.

What is the best category you can get the boat to? Cat 3? Cat 4? (back to felines again). There's definitely not an issue with space to store everything or to control the boat with a decent sized crew.

Pics now starting to come up on the PR site, here's one of the Soto 30 downwind, breeze built a fair bit more after this guessing this pic is heading into the bottom mark.

Good to hear feedback. We promise not to swing any cats, particularly downstairs. Yes, we had the one and only J#1 up for the entire regatta. Seemed to hold it fine up to 20 apparent. A #2 would have been better at that stage I suppose but the boat's about trying to reduce costs not add to them. We really appreciate any feedback or observation, good and bad.

[richiec]

Tim,

The Team Red boys you had on for the TOG - same as the Melges32 Red programme right? (And the same blokes that campaigned the Farr400 at Key West?)

I'd be interested to hear what they had to say about the Soto30 - after sailing at the fairly pointy end of the Melges32 fleet for a few years now.

They would have been excellent to have have around to critique the new boat and set up - and without wanting to start one of those 'this boat vs that boat' threads (ie Mac38 vs F400) - I'd be really interested to know what they thought - and how they think the 30 would line up against a 32.

[LongTim]

Tim,

The Team Red boys you had on for the TOG - same as the Melges32 Red programme right? (And the same blokes that campaigned the Farr400 at Key West?)

I'd be interested to hear what they had to say about the Soto30 - after sailing at the fairly pointy end of the Melges32 fleet for a few years now.

They would have been excellent to have have around to critique the new boat and set up - and without wanting to start one of those 'this boat vs that boat' threads (ie Mac38 vs F400) - I'd be really interested to know what they thought - and how they think the 30 would line up against a 32.

Right on and exactly why we invited them to do the first races on the boat. They stepped on one day before the regatta and just went hard. The video 'Soto 30 - the journey' was shot on their only practice day in bugger all wind. I will let them do the talking about the boat but I can tell you they liked the boat a lot and, yes, there was the inevitable comparison with the M32. After 8 years it probably comes as no surprise that there is a newer design bringing together all the latest thinking from boats like the Soto 40 and TP 52, etc, etc. The M32 was never used as a benchmark - they don't really exist in South America - but it will be compared and we are up for the challenge. Was interesting to chat to them about their experiences on the F400 but there are enough threads about that one. They are a great bunch of guys and had some excellent ideas to improve on a few things, just fiddly things, but ideas we are now discussing and, in most cases, going to implement. The first boat was always going to be a test bed of all the things that sounded cool in the design room. They came a long way for four days of racing but loved Thailand, the regatta and most importantly, the boat. I will post their comments, with their permission, as soon as I receive their debrief. If the Red Sailing Team ever approach you to race your boat, don't hesitate to say yes and enjoy their wealth of experience.

[Holdmycourse!]

Bump

Tim,

The Team Red boys you had on for the TOG - same as the Melges32 Red programme right? (And the same blokes that campaigned the Farr400 at Key West?)

I'd be interested to hear what they had to say about the Soto30 - after sailing at the fairly pointy end of the Melges32 fleet for a few years now.

They would have been excellent to have have around to critique the new boat and set up - and without wanting to start one of those 'this boat vs that boat' threads (ie Mac38 vs F400) - I'd be really interested to know what they thought - and how they think the 30 would line up against a 32.

Right on and exactly why we invited them to do the first races on the boat. They stepped on one day before the regatta and just went hard. The video 'Soto 30 - the journey' was shot on their only practice day in bugger all wind. I will let them do the talking about the boat but I can tell you they liked the boat a lot and, yes, there was the inevitable comparison with the M32. After 8 years it probably comes as no surprise that there is a newer design bringing together all the latest thinking from boats like the Soto 40 and TP 52, etc, etc. The M32 was never used as a benchmark - they don't really exist in South America - but it will be compared and we are up for the challenge. Was interesting to chat to them about their experiences on the F400 but there are enough threads about that one. They are a great bunch of guys and had some excellent ideas to improve on a few things, just fiddly things, but ideas we are now discussing and, in most cases, going to implement. The first boat was always going to be a test bed of all the things that sounded cool in the design room. They came a long way for four days of racing but loved Thailand, the regatta and most importantly, the boat. I will post their comments, with their permission, as soon as I receive their debrief. If the Red Sailing Team ever approach you to race your boat, don't hesitate to say yes and enjoy their wealth of experience.

[richiec]

Epic bump - four months or so. But yes, has gone very quiet otherwise.

[Mojounwin]

Haven't heard of the soto 30 for awhile. They still in business?

Cheers
Mojo

[tuf-luf]

The Soto30 doing Raja Muda Regatta or King's Cup this year Tim?

[us7070]

how many built?

[punter]

The facebook page has this:

SOTO 30 - KINGS CUP

One Soto 30 available for Asia's premier regatta in beautiful Phuket. Private accommodation and transport within Phuket provided, complete racing yacht, new sails - everything ready and raring to go. Just step aboard and be the fastest 30 footer in the fleet.

[Loco.]

I get the impression there was not a #2 Hull?

[AVID]

Tim,


so whats the difference between the S30 and the S33? (and not say 3 feet ) The Photos of the S33 look like a bitchen boat

[scrivan2]

Tim,


so whats the difference between the S30 and the S33? (and not say 3 feet ) The Photos of the S33 look like a bitchen boat

Great question. The follow up would be why did they build both if they are so similar. Why did Soto change course from the 33 to the 30?

I agree that the 33 looks like a fantastic machine.

[TBone]

...so whats the difference between the S30 and the S33? (and not say 3 feet :blink:/> )

They appear to be made on different continents by unaffiliated business concerns.

[huey 2]

where is tim?

[williwaw]

That new C30 is looking nice too and allready 8 sailing

[Loco.]

where is tim?

I suspect Tim has found out how hard it is to sell boats / toys in the mid range market.

[williwaw]

It appears that their website is down also, out of business?
That would be sad as Tim was one of the guys with a good sense of humor in the business.

[Gingerbread]

where is tim?

Live 89.5