The Ultra 30 only made sense if there is a competitive one design racing circuit.  Without one they are a hopelessly impractical and expensive indulgence.  They need about 8? crew and at least one RIB in permament attendance as even when sailed by some of the best UK dinghy sailors capsizes were fairly common.

When the sponsorship and the TV deal fell through (1999ish?) they immediately became worthless white elephants. 

here you are:

and:

Interesting to hear the words "Ultra30" again! and interesting to read some of the comments both true and false!

After a few seasons racing on B&Q/ Virgin ,I was recruited by lawrie to sail on Frontera. The boats were fantastic to sail and we all enjoyed the weekends racing at various venues againts some tough competition.

Each team usually had one support rib, this carried some spares,a bit of sailing kit, water etc. It was also allowed to assist during a capsize(which we did from time to time). Some boats were easier to right as there was an option with keel weights. (eg RM computers had no weight in the keel others had up to 100KG!)  Depending on conditions the rib would either pull the bow into wind to assist or attempt to right the boat with a line from the wings! The boats became more difficult to get up right when the trapeze wires and additional stiffening was fitted to the mast.

It was a professional circuit however many good amateur dinghy sails were drafted in. I believe the event sponsorship money was split between teams to fund the running of the boats and expences for the crews. The racing format was kept  short and simple to make it attractive to TV. By the end the coverage was pretty good with onboard cameras etc.However the BBC turned its attention to match racing and the Olympics....and that was it!

Its true that the fleet only really has a value if kept togther. As far as I know two have been sold , one has gone lake racing in Europe the other to be converted into something else!

I recently visited a friend in Hampshire who has three of them in a field. Sad to say they are covered in green slime and weeds!!

I don't think they will come back, It's a bit like the sad story of  Concorde!!

Nice to see a pic of the black boat again! This was the Frontera re branded  as Star Allience.

Cheers,

Fumes

From what I remember though, all the boats were sponsored and all the helms were professionals. 

All the boats were sponsored! The crews were not getting large amounts of hard cash from them however! We were loaned a vehicle to tow the boat and given our sailing kit! A small team was employed to look after the fleet and move them to each venue. There was a mixture of profesional and amateur crew, most of our team had day jobs except 1 or 2!  Not all helms were pros either! Russel Peters , John Callcut ,Pete Newlands just to name a few were owner drivers and worked for a living!

Interesting....thanks. There is an element of semantics. You are taking "professional" to mean full-time paid sailor. I'm taking it to mean that someone else is paying the bills.

Whichever you accept, the fact remains that there were no non-sponsored owners. In other words, Joe Average sailor, who pays his own way, didn't come out to play. I don't mean crew, I mean owners. When it comes to big expensive boats, you need crew to sail them but first you need owners who can find the money to get to the start line in the first place.

I suspect the Libera is the largest trapeze class around. See http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/photos/libera/2004centomiglia1.jpg - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/photos/libera/2004centomigl ia1.jpg  or http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/photos/libera/2004centomiglia2.jpg - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/photos/libera/2004centomigl ia2.jpg

Hi Phil,

I have a video, taped from the TV, of them sailing at Strathclyde Loch.

Ian.

Well I guess the professional sailor debate is something else to discuss

The boats were all owned by individuals who raised sponsorship to help pay the running costs! I'm sure when the likes of Vauxhall came in things were alittle easier! 

I see plenty of SB3's in the solent which have advertising on them, but it doesn't make them pro sailors.

The answer to "have they been sailed inland "is yes! Strathclyde park, when DBS ended up being washed up on the shore and Datchet where We capsized and snapped the Rig on the bottom.As I mentiond before RM was sold and went lake racing in Europe!

Hi everyone,

As mentioned previously, I taped some of the events in the early 90's, I can't remember when the boats were invented or when the series ended and the boats became defunct.

In 1992 the boats on the circuit were Black Bottle (Lawrie Smith - Rob Cruickshank, Phil Annis and others), Barberry (Ossie Stewart - Justin Eblin, Severine Rees-Jones and others), Research Machines (Pete Newlands - Adrian Stead and others), DBS (Russell Peters and others), Animal (Gordon Maguire and others) and Ultra Virgin (John Caulcutt - Ian Southworth and others).  Andy Beadsworth also helmed one of the boats occasionally. The venues were Hull, Strathclyde Park, Liverpool, Cowes, Torquay and Hartlepool.  At the Hull event, there were 3000 spectators and probably even more at Torquay.

In 1993 the boats were Black Bottle (Lawrie Smith - Richard Parslow, Neil McDonald and others), Rockport (Ossie Stewart - Phil Annis, Tom Hutchinson, Adam Bowers and others), Barberry Team Birmingham (Kevin Sproule and others), Roland Signmaker (Pete Newlands - Adrian Stead and others), BT Marine (Ian Southworth and others) and DBS (Russell Peters - Dick Parker and others). Again, Andy Beadsworth also helmed occasionally.  The venues were Strathclyde Park, Pwllheli, Cowes and Torbay.

In 1994 the boats were Frontera (Lawrie Smith and others), DBS  (Russell Peters and others), Roland Signmaker (Pete Newlands and others), BT Marine (Glyn Charles and others), Barberry Team Birmingham (Roger Yeoman and others) and Rockport (Ossie Stewart and others).  The venues were Southampton, Portsmouth, Hull and Cardiff.

I obtained the names from the commentaries which were mainly by Bob Fisher.  The courses were 800m. windward/leeward courses with a mid course gate, the races were about 30 to 40 minutes long.

It can be seen that many of the sailors were top dinghy sailors in their former days. I can't remember how many years the events ran for but it must have been for more than the three years that I have mentioned.  I also seem to remember Jim Hunt and possibly Mike McIntyre helming in some of the events.

Without checking on Google and other sailing sites, I wonder what all of these people are doing now? Although one or two may occasionally be sailing dinghies, most will have, no doubt, gone on to mainly yacht racing to earn a salary from their sailing.

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

The funniest bit of film involving boats (IMHO) was from an on-board stern camera when the boats were hiking only. After rounding the leward mark and starting to hike the last guy to sit down missed the toe-straps and flung himself backwards off the rack. The whole team turned arround to watch him disappearing into the distance for a good few seconds before they thought of going back for him.

I had a similar incedent when crewing a Hornet when the helm did the same leaving me to sail back downwind on my own in a good F4.

You want to try walking off your own International Canoe and watching it sail off with the seat acting as a perfect counter balance. It was the first boat over the line, shame I wasn't on it.

What would be quite funny in these like 8 man trapeeze boats is if when you tack and everyone sprints to the other side and dives for their wire, you do this only to find yours has been taken ny the guy next to you, andyour momentum carries you over the side!

Nice one Harry44981! reading the above makes me chuckle

There must be some total howlers when it come to 8 people crew each of which has a trapeeze, I would love to be a fly on the wall when you start with a complete new crew! It would be great if there was a dvd of such event, or even photos!

Very true and you see this on quite a few racing yachts. However in a lot of cases the owner/helms are advertising their own companies. There can be tax savings in doing this, but it is a different situation from attracting genuinely external sponsorship.

There were a number of interesting moments when the trap wires were introduced!

If the first person to cross the boat grabbed the wrong wire, the last person across would probally find the spare wire to be at the opposite end of the boat. It caused some embarassment as they would have to resort to hiking again. It was a little easier for the guys at the front as the bowman spent most of his time packing the chute whilst going upwind , so his wire was usually un-occupied and a handy spare when required. Depending on the calibre of the Helmsman , they also didn't spend much time on the wire !

To help the crew each wire was colour coded. This made it a little easier to find and generally solved some of the issues.

I do remember being swept off and trawled behind the boat during a pre-start at Portsmouth.I guess I was about 30ft away from the boat as the windward wing lifted out of the water and the boat began to accelerate again . I was reunited with the crew pretty dam quick. I only managed to wipe out 3 of them on the way through. It did end in tears as I was stopped in my tracks by the boom!

I didn't fall off again!

I do......

and i really want a go if anyone will take me!

Afraid i dont know how much the boats were purchased for but rumors are that they were a "bargain" price.  DBS is not in too bad a nick but i am yet to see the other one.  The photos are from the 1st relaunch of DBS was really good fun.  As can be seen a boat of this calibre did not go without teething problems.  Some of the 11 (only 9 normally) on board had little or not dinghy experience and few had trapezed regularly so falling off was an issue for some (as photos show).  The boats are, from what i hear, being sailed regularly(ish). 

Cheers Ryan

I can remember going to watch these at strathclyde loch on one of the occasions that they were there what a sight. I also seem to remember that the Scottish venue was changed to the Tay or somewhere like that for one of the last events.

I always wondered what happened to them.

AFAIK they were an OD and much the same from the beginning. Unlike the USA "Ultimate 30s" from which they were derived, which was a development class but only lasted a couple of years.

They were OD - not sure who built them, but I seem to remember the traps - appropriate name for them, I would have thought! - were added when TV started to lose interest, in an attempt to make them more exciting! I'd have thought keeping one sailing would be a good way of keeping your club poor!

Neil

Rob Humphreys was the designer. My recollection is of them always of them having trapezes but a sketch in  http://www.humphreysdesign.com/Pages/Design%20Archive/Ultra%2030%20Class.html - http://www.humphreysdesign.com/Pages/Design%20Archive/Ultra% 2030%20Class.html  does suggest otherwise.

It was interesting looking at the Humphries website design archive as there is a design for an Ultimate 30 on there. 

http://www.humphreysdesign.com/Pages/design%20archive_2.html - http://www.humphreysdesign.com/Pages/design%20archive_2.html  

Design number 73

If I recollect correctly, the Ultimate 30's were a box rule development class with a Pro circuit in the US.  I remember seeing some footage of the racing which looked absolutely wild.  I believe the Ultra 30 was a tamed down one design version of these.

Can anyone else remember these boats?

Ian

I believe that Hoya and DBS where in Hamble - Hoya £3k, DBS £7k

SOOOOOO much boat for little money - I went through a stage of wanting one, then fought - thats just silly for a uni student, then looked at an 18footer, same response, so settled on a 49er - then realised, heyyy its not 12ft long! Now Cherubs & 12ft skiffs are the only way!

Right - News update!!!

One of my Bros mates has bought Frontera!! Sailing it in the good ole south west and hoping to set up the race circuit again!!   WOOOOOOOO

I have several TVS (Meridian) TV sailing programmes which featured the Ultra 30's racing at a North sea venue, on a lake with Windsor castle in the background and the Solent.  Malcom McKeag was primary commentator and such names as 'Research Machines, Games Workshop (Ozzy someone helming) and DBS seen.  There was a race of Cowes Green one night during Cowes Week some years ago.

There are no trapezes on the boats but racks used. 

Date wise these must be 10 or 11 years old at least.

Yeap, taken during one of the swiss lake races

I wonder how much difference it makes wiring a boat like that rather than sitting on the rail? more comfortable on a long lightwind trek up the lake I guess...

no....does it really look 30foot? does it have wings like most other ultras? does it even look remotely dinghy like?

NO

Interesting to read the stuff posted here. Fumes you splitter! lleft me in Wales without a mainsheet man and joined Lawrie. But I'm not bitter....mines a pint!

Anyway for anyone who is interested, I own one of the beasts. Started life looking after B&Q for John Caulcutt then with the help of a sponsor bought it from him and set about spending lots of money over a ten year period and had the biggest blast of my life. She became Blockbuster Video, Ultra Virgin, BT Marine, Hoya and finally United Airlines. once the circuit finished (and about time, my liver could take no more!) The thought of what else could be done has been ever on my mind.

At last the answer has been found. RORC have decreed that with a little modification we can have a sportsboat cert. First  I have to dump all the overweight kit forced on by the old Ultra OD rule. As mentioned earlier by Fumes the now over stiffened rigs weighed a ton, so Selden have built me a new Carbon one 40kg lighter than the old. The rule alows us to use the old sails, so all that's left is to add some lead to the keel, 300kg should do it. Dig out my dry suit, find seven nutters and head off for the warsash spring series. 

Guess who is going to be first in the bar? 

count me in as well!

out of interest what have RORC/sportsboat people said about the trapeze? think i rember reading an amendment to SBR saying trapeze boats now had to be specifically invited for events, otherwise couldent enter..... so far i have not found this much of a problem...

what is the handycap under SBR?!

john

Action 26, Henry the navigator-3 trapeze......

looks like i need to find another couple of hulls and fix em up too! never thought it would push so many buttons!

Traps are allowed under SBR but it's down to the host club to write them into the notice of race. Top cop out! I am setting it up to hike or trap. Provisional TCS 1.189 to Hike, trap rating TBC.

 Interesting! there is a boat with a worse handycap than me!-0,941. i have done round the island with trapeze,and some other local stuff and nobody seemed to complain, but dont get time to enter much else at the moment so not tested the rule,  but not noticed many races welcoming trapeze boats :( 

if a suitable restoration project came along i could be tempted....!!!

i think the mold is lying in a yard on the hamble, looks about 30 ft and a very similar shape, but i may be wrong, dont know where they were originally built?, it could be...

It is the one and only Ultra mold. Still owned by Humpreys Design and Rob is looking to offload it. RF composites built the last hull Hoya for Eddie Warden Owen down at Mercury YH. Ian Ridge built all the others. Wonder what happened to him?

It would be great to get someone else on the water to tee up against. If you find a resto project, go for it. It's the fastest way to empty your piggy bank and buy the biggest grin. Oh and you will end up with more mates than a lottery winner in a lap dancing club.

Eddie's boat only did one circuit and a couple of RTI's. Compared to the others it should be in nearlty mint condition. Otherwise try Pwhelli marina I belive David McLeans boat is or was last seen there and will be going for a song.

 must be it then! i teach sailing for Hamble sea scouts based at mercury marina and it has been there as long as i can remember!

well my current boat is 26 ft with three trapeze and does a great job at emptying bank accounts!, but gives a good grin! so i imagin an ultra must be even better!!!!!!!

well if one came along at the right price......one day.....!

I remember watching these when they raced on the Humber. Always hoped they would come back one day.

Local radio station held a competition to win a ride on 'Black Bottle' too. If only I'd been a bit older at the time.

This could be one of those myths but I seem to recall something about the race rules being changed so that the boats had to finish with the same amount of crew as they started with, to stop a scenario were the wind dropped right off and a crew member was pushed off the back (presumably picked up by following RIB) to lose some weight. Any truth in it?

There is (or was) an RYA prescription to that effect but it went back long before Ultra 30s. The Carribbean Working Boat class (might have the name wrong) does indeed traditionally jettison crew on the final downwind leg. They have the water temperature for it. I have a feeling this is now part of RRS and therefore no longer an RYA prescription.

One of my brothers mates has an ultra down Cornwall way.......................

Arrr the Bermuda 14's - bailer boy like on the 6ft skiffs!

Indeed: Bermuda Fitted Dinghies. Keep bailing! http://www.boats.com/content/default_detail.jsp?contentid=11330 - http://www.boats.com/content/default_detail.jsp?contentid=11 330

Interestingly we were talking about the Ultra in Pwllheli last summer.  I know the owner pretty well (David McLean) and have sailed with him on a few of his boats.

I'm pretty sure he'd be happy to sell his Ultra but the mast is broken as a guy at PSC drove a tractor off without noticing that a halyard was tied to the tractor (forgotton why).  Losing the rig is not big loss.  As has been mentioned before the rig was waay too heavy and was the major cause of capsizes, especially in the early days.  I should say that my brother had DBS built when new and he and I fitted it out in Cowes marina - quite an interesting job as there were no other boats in existence at that time that we could compare notes with.

It was a great time.  We had sposorship from DBS (Financial Management), Timberland and Helly Hansen (actually sellin gmy HH drysuit on eBay right now!!).  A highlight of sorts was doing the RTI race but capsizing and breaking the mast half way round.  At the time we were 30 mins ahead of the existing monohull record (slow by todays records) - pretty frustrating.  The following weekend we had a new mast and sailed from Cowes to Brighton to do the first U30 event!

Boats (pre-trapezes) where great fun to sail and teamwork was key to getting the things round the course upright.

DM's boat has now been moved away from the sailing club and I watched the sails being burnt last August!

We thought it would be fun to get a carbon rig and do some local events - expensive though!

Hi Ferg.......didn't know you lurked here!

Ted

Originally posted by Jockey It was goingto be the Spring series...and still is. Warsash Sc have been brave enough to write in the SBR rule 9.0 so we can trap, cant keel, use moveable balast. Think we will stay with the traps for now, a canting keel on an Ultra is probably a step too far.....for now!  It's going to be a blast carving up the 'lead mines' on the start line. Oh the only restriction is that we have to wear Dry-suits. Who wouldn't  in March in the UK!!

in that case...

can i play

Remember the Ultimate 30's in the US? The raceier version of the Ultras.

Well if you don't get them sailing again, the rigs are pretty good for a 25' sports boat. The hulls make quite good day boats with outboard.

You need to add a skeg for directional stability, cut off the front half of the deck, turn it over and you have a nice two berth cabin up front.

Paul Bieker US 14 designer and designer on BMW/Oracle did this to one, whilst working for him a few years ago I borrowed it for a long weekend cruising around the San Juan Islands North of Seattle.

Had some very strange looks pulling into the marina's looking like Capitan. Nemo. 

Not sure about that.  The Ultimate 30 rigs were lighter than the Ultra 30 lumps.  Put an Unltra 30 rig on a 25' sportsboat and it witll either sink immediately or capsize and then sink

I don't remember the hull being very stable, but that was probably due to the rig.

Not only are the ultra rigs heavier they are also a lot bigger. Would fit a 35' sportsboat only the cut of is 30' so not a sportsboat. Remember the Ultras are a copy of Flyer the original Ultimate 30 and i do believe winner of the $1m prize that started it all.

Hope to be fitting the new carb rig to mine in two weeks...watch this space for a report.

Will be very interesting

Are you keeping the original [heavy] daggerboard or going nuts and trying a lightweight one?

Sounds like a good idea....it should be quite a lot more stable than the originals. Ss you know we had to put 'race marks' under the wings so they stayed upright when not sailing.  They also had to be tied firmly down onto the dock in the marina.  We actually capsized DBS on the pontoon at the first event before anybody started putting floats under the wings).

You probably know that one of the boats (Research Machines I think) had a very very lightweight board built originally i.e. it almost floated.  Not a great success but fun to watch 

Sounds like we should know each other. I looked after John Caulcutts boat for a couple of years before buying it off him. I started I think it must have been in season 2 around '90/91. 10 years sailing Ultras was just the best fun you could have with your clothes on...or not as the case may be.

When DBS capsized on the dock, was Santi not up the rig at the time and entered the marquee through the roof. Not sure if it was an urban myth but a great story anyway.

As for Pete's lightweight board, it did float...right out of the boat once! And as for the race marks, I have one up my chimney to prevent winter drafts!!

Indeed,  Johnny was up the rig at the time, and yes he did land on the marquee (but not through it)!!  It was a little embarrasing as we had the Timberland chaps over taking some photo's of us in their gear!  

JS was also up the rig in Southampton when we fell over.........but we all knew that one was going to happen!  I was up at the sharp end with Johnny (Marlborough Country as we liked to call it - although the rest of the crew back in the Fantasy Land used to call it the Playpen ) - had a great time with him.

I did the first season very full time and then sailed a bit with Laurie in years two and three.  Went back to college after that.

Lest anyone forget, here is an ultra in full flight

.