TP 52 explained

Image Boat:LPZ 20110519 0141.JPG
Image Caption:TP52 Container at the Audi MedCup races in Cascais, 2011
Updated:9 April 2011

The Transpac 52 (TP52) is a class of yacht used for competitive 52 Super Series yacht racing, and the Audi MedCup previously, besides the world championship of the class. The class is recognised by the International Sailing Federation which entitles the class to hold an Official World Championships.

History

The TP52 Class has grown from a non-registered club of like minded yachtsmen inspired by Tom Pollack to a fully member controlled, registered and ISAF recognised Class with a proper set of bylaws, an annual meeting, an executive committee made up out of the members and a class president who also has to be a member.

The original intention was to provide a yacht capable for both inshore and offshore sailing specifically the Transpacific Yacht Race however with the decline in IMS racing, the class became popular in Europe. A professional inshore tour was established for Europe called the MedCup. Recent (2022-23) rule changes[1] help keep the class at the forefront of competitive racing.

The Box Rule

TP52 boats are built and sailed to a set of rules which established the original design as a 'box' rule - where the boat must fit within a notional box of specified dimensions. The current rules[2] specify a single masted, fixed keel mono-hull with a bowsprit and a single rudder, with maximum hull length of 15.85m (52feet), beam width of 4.3m (14.1feet), keel draft of 3.5m (11.5feet) and spinnaker hoist height of 22.4m (73.5feet), along with a minimum total weight of 6975kg (15,377lb) and maximum keel bulb weight of 3800kg (8,400lb).

Events

World Championship

See main article: TP52 World Championship.

Global Championship

The unofficial World Championship was held before it got international status and were the keystone of the formation of the class.

2006 Miami
Eamon Conneely
Philippe Kahn
Kark Kwok
2007 Porto Cervo
Torbjorn Tornqvist
Eamon Conneely
Peter de Ridder

European Series

The competition changed the nature of the class with it becoming a pinnacle inshore/coastal event for grand prix monohulled yacht racing. The series started off as the MedCup from 2005 to 2011 before evolving in the 52 Super Series.

Offshore Events

TP 52s or optimized direct derivatives have won the overall trophy in most of the classic offshore events while racing under the major international handicap systems. Notable results include:

RaceDistanceCategoryBoat NameSkipperElapsed timeNotes
2003 Transpac Race2,225 nm1st overall Alta Vita7d 12h 20m 29sAnother TP 52, Beau Geste, came 2nd overall.[3]
2004 Newport Bermuda Race635 nm1st overall Rosebud2d 20h 24m 43s[4]
2004 Chicago to Mackinac333 nm1st overall EsmeraldaMakoto Uematsu
1d 17h 5m[5]
2005 Transpac Race2,225 nm1st overallRosebud8d 16h 25m 4sTP 52s came 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall.[6]
2005 Fastnet Race608 nm2nd overallPatches2d 2h 17m 48s[7] [8]
2006 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race673 nm1st overallIsland Fling2d 0h 16m 5s[9]
352 nm1st overall Rán[10]
151 nm1st overall John Merricks II21h 24m 03sAnother TP 52, Paprec Recyclage, finished 39 seconds later.[11]
352 nm 1st overall Fram XVI1d 23h 59m 39s[12] [13]
2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 1,805 nm4th overall /2nd in classJohn Merricks II8d 11h 49m 23sBritish Keelboat Academy's youth team entry led overall in the opening stages of the race.[14] [15]
606 nm 1st overall Lucky3d 3h 16m 25s[16]
352 nm1st overall Datacom-Lindahl[17]
2012 Hong Kong to Hainan Race 355 nm1st overallFreefire1d 4h 43m 54s[18]
2013 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race673 nm1st overallLucky2d 2h 22m 44s
2013 Fastnet Race608 nm1st in classPace2d 21h 15m 7s[19]
2014 China Sea Race565 nm2nd overallLucky2d 21h 45m 22s[20]
2016 Victoria to Maui2,308 nm1st overallKinetic V8d 14h 16m 46sAnother TP52, Valkyrie, took line honours and set a race record of 8d 9h 17m 50s.[21]
628 nm 1st overall Ichi Ban1d 19h 10m 20s[22]
2019 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race673 nm1st overallFreefire2d 0h 27m 55s
628 nm1st overall Ichi Ban2d 6h 18m 5s[23]
2020 Caribbean 600 600 nm 1st overall Outsider2d 19h 41m 40s[24]
628 nm 1st overall Ichi Ban3d 3h 42m 29sAnother TP 52, Celestial, came 2nd overall.[25]
628 nm 1st overall CelestialTP 52 also came 2,3,4,5! [26]

Pinnacle Inshore Events

RaceCategoryBoat NameSkipperNotes
2013 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stHurakanMarco Serafini
2014 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stEnfant TerribleAlberto Rossi
2015 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stEnfant TerribleAlberto Rossi
2016 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stFreccia RossaVadim Yakimenko
2018 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stBeau Geste
2019 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stXio
2022 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stBeau Geste
2023 ORCi World Championships - Class A1stBeau Geste[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Transpac 52 website, rules overview . 31 December 2022 . 1 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701222157/https://www.transpac52.org/about/rule/ .
  2. Web site: 2023 TP52 Rule.
  3. Web site: Transpacific Yacht Club. transpacyc.com.
  4. Web site: Appendix 3: Bermuda Race Winners: 1906-2004 . 2024-07-31 . bermudarace.com.
  5. Web site: Transpac 52 Esmeralda wins 2004 Chicago–Mackinac race . 2024-07-31 . www.farrdesign.com . Farr Yacht Design LTD.
  6. Web site: Transpacific Yacht Club.
  7. Web site: Patches second class Sailing Column . 2005-08-12 . www.irishtimes.com . David . Branigan.
  8. Web site: Rolex Fastnet 2005 IRC Overall Fastnet Rock . 2024-07-31 . www.rolexfastnetrace.com . 2005-08-07.
  9. Web site: Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club - Hong Kong to Vietnam Race.
  10. Web site: Race Results.
  11. Web site: RORC Cowes – Dinard – St Malo Race Race. www.yachtsandyachting.com.
  12. Web site: Royal winner . 2024-07-31 . thedailysail.com . James . Boyd . 2010-07-09.
  13. Web site: Rounding results for class IRC CHARLIE at rounding 2010 Finish . 2024-07-31 . resultat.ksss.se . Eurocard Gotland Runt 2010.
  14. Web site: 2010 RORC Mainseries IRC Overall - Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland . www.rorc.org . 2024-07-31 . 2023-08-10.
  15. Web site: Telefonica takes charge in Round Britain race . 2024-07-31 . www.independent.co.uk . . Stuart . Alexander . 2010-08-25.
  16. Web site: Rolex Middle Sea Race - Aussie gets lucky on USA TP52 boat that won. www.sail-world.com.
  17. Web site: TP52 Win Gotlant Runt. 8 July 2011.
  18. Web site: Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club - Hong Kong to Hainan Race - Past Events.
  19. Web site: Sailing Results. rolexfastnetrace.com.
  20. Web site: Rolex China Sea Race 2014 - IRC Overall . https://web.archive.org/web/20220102172824/https://www.rhkyc.org.hk/upload/Sailing/Results/RCSR2014IRCOverall.pdf . 2022-01-02.
  21. Web site: Vic-Maui Yacht Race - Results, Winners, Records, Trophies.
  22. Web site: Sydney Hobart: Ichi Ban Confirmed Winner >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News. 29 December 2017.
  23. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2021.
  24. Web site: Outsider lifts the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. Chris. Stone. RORC Caribbean 600 Race.
  25. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023. rolexsydneyhobart.com.
  26. Web site: Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023. rolexsydneyhobart.com.
  27. Web site: TP52 Gladiator is Round The Island Race Winner. Thomas. Hall. afloat.ie.
  28. Web site: ORC World Results.

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