Z30

[huey 2]

B&R 38​

Own photo
Bergström & Ridder are best known (or unknown?) for their invention Windex, which sits in the mast of most sailboats. They also designed a number of boats with the B&R 38 being one of the funniest. Unfortunately, it is only built in one copy, which also seems to have found the right owner.

The boat has a drop keel to be able to enter archipelago bays despite its large normal draft and water ballast to be able to carry its sails well in stronger winds. In recent years, many have been overtaken by Pac-Man on half-wind sails when they sailed 5-10 knots faster than the competition.

The mast is a carbon fiber construction with B&R's special bracing with braces in a cross from the deck to the lower spreaders and the same one floor up.. The mast becomes very dumb and this places extra high demands on the design of the mainsail, which the new mast lives up to.

The boat is from 1993 and can be seen as very advanced for that time!

Length: 11.75 m
Width: 3.85 m
Depth: 1.15 - 2.77 m
Weight: 3,020 kg
Keel: 1,000 kg
Size: 49,14 m2
Jib: 26,50 m2
Gennaker: 123,50 m2

re Gotland 2015

In the big SRS class with 150 boats the little strange boat Pac-Man won. The skipper Jimmy Hellberg has been very close to winning many times.

“I have sailed at least ten times. I have done five really serious attempts and I have been second once. I have dreamt of winning since the first time I participated at the age of 18 – 19 years,” says 41 years old Jimmy and continues: “The boat is not beautiful but well built and weighs only three tons – in sailing outfit. That is what gives it its fantastic sailing performances. Her weight is less than half of a modern 38 footer.

“But I can never sell her. It just is not possible. She is too ugly. If I want to get rid of her I must give her away…”

ORC DH WC: Martin Strömberg on Z30 + Zeus22 June 2022​

The countdown to the Gotland Runt start has begun and we are looking into the super-interesting ORC double-handed Worlds class. Following the Linnea Floser article, we have now met with Martin Strömberg, who barely needs any further presentation. Martin is one of Swedish sailing's most seasoned offshore sailors with four Volvo Ocean Race campaigns with the projects Ericsson 3 (2008-2009), Groupama (2011-2012), Dongfeng (2014-2015) and Turn the Tide on Plastic (2017-2018). Add to that lots of other sailing projects and we understand that Martin is a sailor of high international rank.

The corona years have not been great for those who make a living from sailing, but Martin now chooses to look ahead to future endeavors on the oceans. There is the The Ocean Race that starts in January 2023 and then he does not want to give up hope that mixed double-handed will become an Olympic class to Los Angeles 2028.

Martin sails with Anders Dahlsjö on the brand new Z30 +, Zeus. Martin and Anders have both sailed the Volvo Ocean Race together (Ericsson 3), but also a number of double-handed races on the west coast, so they know each other well.

Martin has no in-depth knowledge of the competitors, but there is no doubt that it will be tough. Zeus has won both Raymarine2star and KSSS Offshore regatta as a tune up for the Worlds, so it obvious that they are definitely among the favorites.

Martin and Anders sail a Z30+, which is a further development of a 20-year-old design (Z31) that Jimmy Hellberg, among others, put his teeth into. Jimmy has contributed with technical development such as modernizing the bow and stern and a new sailing plan to make it easier to sail. The boat has also got a new keel and rudder. Zeus is built at Vaxholm Komposit entirely in carbon and is an exciting concept where short-handed racing has been in focus. The sails consist of a mainsail and a jib that can be reefed. On downwind, they have a Code and an A2. For the WC, they also complement the sailing wardrobe with a stay sail to optimize the downwind sailing. So far, they have only raced in the SRS rule, but Martin sees no issues in getting a strong ORC certificate.

- Even though the boat is brand new, we think we have got a good idea on how to set the sail and rig in different conditions. Sure, there are boats that can beat us in certain specific conditions, but Zeus feels very all-round, which should be positive for a race that spans several days.

Martin concludes by saying that he has lots of nice Gotland Runt memories, so it is difficult to choose one. He is very much looking forward to the World Cup and promises that they will fight hard to take home a World championship title to Sweden!

We wish you great luck from KSSS!

 

[The Dark Knight]

Jimmy Hellberg has some pretty amazing racers that he developed like Pacman with its B&R rig
Then the z31 and then z30
Hes never been into shitboxs....

Every time I look I see a "broken boom"

 

[Jono]

We keep getting our asses handed to us by a very well sailed E7 with a staggering sail wardrobe . It’s our bench mark boat to beat in coastal races , slippery little bastard who’s crew are in a league of their own .

Geez - don't let Tony read this!

The Z30 looks quite good. There's certainly some choice appearing around the 9m mark. Maybe I was 20 years too soon in this space?

 

[Ex Machina]

We keep getting our asses handed to us by a very well sailed E7 with a staggering sail wardrobe . It’s our bench mark boat to beat in coastal races , slippery little bastard who’s crew are in a league of their own .

Geez - don't let Tony read this!

The Z30 looks quite good. There's certainly some choice appearing around the 9m mark. Maybe I was 20 years too soon in this space?

Yeah the boats are coming full circle ….the Europeans are copying the best kiwi boat concepts of the 90s 😂 obviously with better appendages and gear though

 

[Crash]

Black, Shaggy, et al...

There's no rhyme nor reason to try to compare Pretty Penny or her sister to a boat like the new Z30. Its like trying to compare a D type Jag to a Ferrari 499P. Yeah both were built to race at Le Mans, but car racing circles, the D-type races in vintage events, and the 499P current events.

Unfortunately, we neither have "vintage" race classes, nor to vintage boats have near the scene that vintage cars have. Most vintage sports cars can be easily out run on a back country road today by a modern compact car...you have to decide you like Pretty Penny and her sister for what they are (great vintage boats) and be happy to get to sail them. That you can still race them is great too...

Nothing wrong with today's new race boats in my mind either. They'd be a blast to race, sure they are more "technical" and less "cruiser friendly" than a custom 1/2 tonner from back in the early days of the IOR, but so is that Ferrari 499P.

If we all liked the same boats, sailing would be pretty boring...when I first saw the interior photo, I thought, like Black, what a pain that high raised structure would be. But Shaggy made a great point about being able to store gear and not have it slide around. I've spent years trying to arrange interior storage near the mast/over the keel, and not have the stored gear slide all over, yet still have an easy way to get to something forward....

 

[Roleur]

You are the one that said that. I just called this Z30 chit as a racer cruiser. I find the flooring atrocious without the forethought of the boat demographics of who will buy it and use it as it was designed and built. Sure a young buck will not be bothered by it but sales data in general tells me that simply is not the buyers. Your calls of dickheadness suggests you got nothing to add to this more than that. PokIng me on my preferences without revealing your own boat makes this read like a personal attack than interest on the subject or where you want to go in a logical step from where you are in your own boat ownership expereince.

This is pretty sad, BJ. Shaggy started a thread about his new build Pogo 12.50 on the main SA page. It has 1200 posts. It is one of the most popular new boat threads ever.

 

[Black Jack]

This is pretty sad, BJ. Shaggy started a thread about his new build Pogo 12.50 on the main SA page. It has 1200 posts. It is one of the most popular new boat threads ever.

What is sad - i did not put his thread together with his boat or very likely forgot he had a Pogo 12.50.

I was focused on the Z30 and why is not optimal or does what they claim in marketing true. Not everyone wants a sled that you ride on and can not move easily when underway. Both are valid points. Choosing to play them off is a personal choice. there is an interesting thread in the main sailing forum about old boats, their usefulness and ultimate disregard by hotshots and trust fund babies.

I sail for the joy of sailing, i like to sail with friends, I like regattas that are inclusive - more like a family. I like traditional boats with great lines. Go on and pile on me for wanting what i want. currently making an offer on a retro racer many can admire but clearly not for them do to the lack of planning speed. Yeah it is a short handed boat for shit i like to do. It still won't make it as fun or as inclusive to my goals than my old 6KSb that is timeless and forgiving. I can't say I feel that way with most modern race boat designs - but i can admire them for what they capable of doing.

 

[Black Jack]

Crash - you are spot on.

I do lament my own boat on its short comings. Got my ass handed to me with new crew on the only regatta that matters to me - being outclassed by 8 feet of deck space and 3 feet of waterline. I didn't like it. Every time it happens - i am forced to recognize that the world is filled with new and old boats. What once was fast is slow, what is fast today often is out of reach.

I have no doubt that the Z30 is fast and capable. That's what makes it exciting.

 

[Crash]

Black, I get it...though I think back to all the racing I've done in my own boats, which is almost entirely PHRF racing. From the C fleet to the A fleet, from a used J-24 (where there was no OD) to a new J/109, and a some 30 footers (2 MORC, 1 prod IOR 1/2 ton). The higher in class you go, the more winning seems to matter to owners, and the more money it takes to be competitive. In many ways, the racing in the C Fleet was the most fun. Not the most competitive, not always with the "best" racers, but if winning outright regardless is not your priority (I've learned to not make it mine), then certainly the most fun.

As a young sailor at Navy, I was very, aggressively, competitive. So much that I drove one of my best friends off my crew...as I've gotten older, I've moderated that competitiveness, and learned to scale my goals in a more appropriate way...An example is about 10 years ago, I was racing my S2 9.1 in the B Fleet in Hampton Roads. It was a great fleet, with many similarly rated/sized boats. There was no "arms" race in the fleet so from a gear and prep standpoint, we were all pretty equal. We won overall on occasion, was on the podium 30-40% of the time, but raced with a crew of friends, and everyone got a chance to do everything. The last series we did with that boat was the Frostbite Series, and I could only round up 3 other guys to crew each race. But we wanted to race in the spin fleet, and so went out just trying have fun, knowing we would be outpaced by most of the fleet of fully crewed boats. Each of the 4 races, we rotated positions, so everyone got to drive a race, be foredeck, etc. Being under-crewed, we were pretty conservative with our starts and roundings. We got lucky with 2 light air races. We ended up 3rd overall, and it may be one of my most valued racing memories.

I also learned, over the years, that venue plays a part too. As an example, racing (in general) in Annapolis is much more cut throat and competitive (esp in the A Fleets) then racing in Hampton Roads was. There were just more guys with more money and big egos in Annapolis. I fear you face some of the same issues and conditions in SF.

You've got a great boat...I'd love to come up to SF to race her with you one day...

 

[Black Jack]

Black, I get it...though I think back to all the racing I've done in my own boats, which is almost entirely PHRF racing. From the C fleet to the A fleet, from a used J-24 (where there was no OD) to a new J/109, and a some 30 footers (2 MORC, 1 prod IOR 1/2 ton). The higher in class you go, the more winning seems to matter to owners, and the more money it takes to be competitive. In many ways, the racing in the C Fleet was the most fun. Not the most competitive, not always with the "best" racers, but if winning outright regardless is not your priority (I've learned to not make it mine), then certainly the most fun.

As a young sailor at Navy, I was very, aggressively, competitive. So much that I drove one of my best friends off my crew...as I've gotten older, I've moderated that competitiveness, and learned to scale my goals in a more appropriate way...An example is about 10 years ago, I was racing my S2 9.1 in the B Fleet in Hampton Roads. It was a great fleet, with many similarly rated/sized boats. There was no "arms" race in the fleet so from a gear and prep standpoint, we were all pretty equal. We won overall on occasion, was on the podium 30-40% of the time, but raced with a crew of friends, and everyone got a chance to do everything. The last series we did with that boat was the Frostbite Series, and I could only round up 3 other guys to crew each race. But we wanted to race in the spin fleet, and so went out just trying have fun, knowing we would be outpaced by most of the fleet of fully crewed boats. Each of the 4 races, we rotated positions, so everyone got to drive a race, be foredeck, etc. Being under-crewed, we were pretty conservative with our starts and roundings. We got lucky with 2 light air races. We ended up 3rd overall, and it may be one of my most valued racing memories.

I also learned, over the years, that venue plays a part too. As an example, racing (in general) in Annapolis is much more cut throat and competitive (esp in the A Fleets) then racing in Hampton Roads was. There were just more guys with more money and big egos in Annapolis. I fear you face some of the same issues and conditions in SF.

You've got a great boat...I'd love to come up to SF to race her with you one day...

We are very like minded and have come to very similar places and conclusions over our sailing lifetime. You would be welcome any time to join me here in the bay or any other place I can get my boat to recreationally compete with and among friends.