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 started in 2001 and steadily grew over the years, gaining ISAF recognition in 2007, to a fully member controlled class with a 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 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 specify a single masted, fixed keel mono-hull with a bowsprit and a single rudder, with maximum hull length of , beam width of , keel draft of and spinnaker hoist height of , along with a minimum total weight of and maximum keel bulb weight of .
Events 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 MiamiEamon ConneelyPhilippe KahnKark Kwok2007 Porto CervoTorbjorn TornqvistEamon ConneelyPeter 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 Race 2,225 nm 1st overall Alta Vita 7d 12h 20m 29s Another TP 52, Beau Geste, came 2nd overall. 2004 Newport Bermuda Race 635 nm 1st overall Rosebud 2d 20h 24m 43s 2004 Chicago to Mackinac 333 nm 1st overall Esmeralda Makoto Uematsu 1d 17h 5m 2005 Transpac Race 2,225 nm 1st overall Rosebud 8d 16h 25m 4s TP 52s came 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall. 2005 Fastnet Race 608 nm 2nd overall Patches 2d 2h 17m 48s 2006 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 673 nm 1st overall Island Fling 2d 0h 16m 5s 2009 Gotland Runt 352 nm 1st overall Rán 2010 Cowes-Dinard-St Malo 151 nm 1st overall John Merricks II 21h 24m 03s Another TP 52, Paprec Recyclage, finished 39 seconds later. 2010 Gotland Runt 352 nm 1st overall Fram XVI 1d 23h 59m 39s 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 1,805 nm 4th overall /2nd in class John Merricks II 8d 11h 49m 23s British Keelboat Academy's youth team entry led overall in the opening stages of the race. 2010 Middle Sea Race 606 nm 1st overall Lucky 3d 3h 16m 25s 2011 Gotland Runt 352 nm 1st overall Datacom-Lindahl 2012 Hong Kong to Hainan Race 355 nm 1st overall Freefire 1d 4h 43m 54s 2013 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 673 nm 1st overall Lucky 2d 2h 22m 44s 2013 Fastnet Race 608 nm 1st in class Pace 2d 21h 15m 7s 2014 China Sea Race 565 nm 2nd overall Lucky 2d 21h 45m 22s 2016 Victoria to Maui 2,308 nm 1st overall Kinetic V 8d 14h 16m 46s Another TP52, Valkyrie, took line honours and set a race record of 8d 9h 17m 50s. 2017 Sydney to Hobart 628 nm 1st overall Ichi Ban 1d 19h 10m 20s 2019 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 673 nm 1st overall Freefire 2d 0h 27m 55s 2019 Sydney to Hobart 628 nm 1st overall Ichi Ban 2d 6h 18m 5s 2020 Caribbean 600 600 nm 1st overall Outsider 2d 19h 41m 40s 2021 Sydney to Hobart 628 nm 1st overall Ichi Ban 3d 3h 42m 29s Another TP 52, Celestial, came 2nd overall. 2022 Sydney to Hobart 628 nm 1st overall Celestial TP 52 also came 2,3,4,5
Coastal Races RaceCategoryBoat nameSkipperNotes2016 Round the Island Race1st Overall GBR 11152 - GladiatorBernard Langley
Pinnacle Inshore Events RaceCategoryBoat nameSkipperNotes2013 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Hurakan Marco Serafini 2014 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Enfant Terrible Alberto Rossi 2015 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Enfant Terrible Alberto Rossi 2016 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Freccia Rossa Vadim Yakimenko 2018 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Beau Geste 2019 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Xio 2022 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Beau Geste 2023 ORCi World Championships - Class A 1st Beau Geste 2026 ORCi World Championships - Class 0 1st Summer Storm
References
External links Official TP52 Class Association Website World Sailing TP52 Microsite Website