[singlepic id=3543 w=300 h=204 float=left]TP52 – Leiderdrop – E’ in fase di definizione la nuova box rule della classe TP52 che entrerà in vigore a partire dal 2011. L’obiettivo cui ambisce il management della classe è quello di rendere le barche della nuova generazione adatte sia a regatare in circuiti come la MedCup, sia sotto giogo dell’IRC senza per questo dover apportare modifiche di alcun genere.
Grande attenzione verrà posta al taglio dei costi necessari per costruire un TP52 nuovo. Verrà vietato ad esempio l’impiego del carbonio ad altissimo modulo e il Nomex di Kevlar, materiali che costano più di quanto concedono in termini di performance. Le barche dovranno inoltre adeguarsi agli standard ISO richiesti dall’ISAF a partire dal luglio di quest’anno, standard fissati per arginare il diffuso aumento di danni strutturali che interessano con sempre maggior frequenza le barche da regata in genere. Secondo i responsabili della classe, il nuovo regolamento permetterà un risparmio compreso tra il 5 e il 10% sui costi di costruzione.
Dal punto di vista tecnico, invece, le barche saranno dotate di chiglie più profonde, composte da lame di deriva in acciaio e bulbi in piombo che risulteranno più efficaci. Scelte che renderanno i TP52 più stabili e porteranno a un taglio sul numero dei membri dell’equipaggio. Il peso massimo, infatti, verrà fissato tra i 1050 e i 1100 chili. Ciò vorrà dire puntare a team composti da 12 persone, contro le 15 di oggi.
Già dal 2010 i TP52 potranno avere bompressi e paterazzi gemelli: aumenterà così sensibilmante la superficie velica sia dei gennaker che delle rande, destinate ad assomigliare sempre più a quelle degli ultimi ACC.
A bordo di potranno portare 4 fiocchi, 4 spinnaker, 1 randa, 1 fiocco da tempesta, 1 fiocco da vento forte e la staysail. Ciò comporterà un taglio del numero dei “bottoni” che ogni team ha a disposizione nel corso della stagione per far realizzare nuove vele. Si calcola che per una stagione ogni equipaggio potrà contare su un totale di 25 vele. Un numero certo importante, ma comunque accettabile se si tiene in considerazione il numero delle regate che ogni TP52 affronta nel corso dell’anno e il fatto che, un paio d’anni fa, i top team, utilizzavano 50 vele nell’arco della sola MedCup.
Il regolamento completo sarà pubblicato in ottobre, dopo l’approvazione da parte dell’Annual Member Meeting. Nonostante alcuni cambi regolamentari verranno introdotti già a partire dal 2010, la Classe ha comunque deciso di porre alcune limitazioni, in modo da permettere anche alle barche della flotta esistente di poter essere adattate e restare pienamento competitive. In pratica i TP52 che intederanno regatare tanto nella MedCup, quanto nel Mondiale 2010, pur potendo disporre già di stralli sdoppiati e bompresso, dovranno rispettare precisi parametri relativi al VCG (Vertical Center of Gravity).
TP52, box rrule 2011 (tra parentesi i dati riferiri al 2009):
Dislocamento: 7300 kg (era 7484)
Peso equipaggio: 1050 kg (era 1274)
Pescaggio: 3.35 mt (era 3.2)
Peso del bubo: 3800 kg (era circa 3000)
TPS: 8.3 mt (il bompresso potrà essere lungo 1.1m)
MSA: 92.5 mq (l’area della randa aumenterà di 1 mq)
HSA: 65 mq (la superficie dei fiocchi aumenterà di 1 mq)
SPA: 260 mq (la superficie dei gennaker aumenterà di circa 13 mq)
LIFTING THE LID OF THE BOX
[Source TP52 Class] The 2011 TP52 Rule will transform the TP52 to an even faster, leaner and meaner allround offshore racing machine.
It will produce a boat that can be raced in IRC regattas without any modification and vice versa, so if you build to the TP52 Rule with the intention to race IRC events you may join the occasional TP52 event, like the TP52 Worlds or one or more of the MedCup events, without modifications.
Furthermore the 2011 TP52 Rule aims to curb the construction options that mainly result in extra cost without any or very little return in performence, like the use of ultra high modulus carbon and kevlar nomex cores.
With the switch to the ISO scantling standard as required by ISAF from July this year and setting a few of our own TP52 standards on top of that, plus selecting the high quality services of Germanischer Lloyd as the Class Authorized Body, we aim to work towards safer as well as more even in terms of weight and weight distribution engineered boats.
We expect the build cost for a TP52 to come down by 5 to 10%.
By going for a deeper keel, a steel fin and a substantially heavier bulb, as well as a bowsprit, we will be able to reduce crewweight in a dramatic way. The final choice will be set on 1050 or 1100kg, aiming for 12 crew. Reducing the current number by 3. This will result in quite some cost saving and exciting sailing.
From 2010 a TP52 will have a bowsprit and twin backstays. The Code-0 is abandoned to the museum. Same for the spipoles, the aftguys, the ingenious jockey poles and all that comes with that. This allows us to introduce a square headed mainsail and bigger kites.
Sail numbers on board again will be reduced to 4 jibs and 4 spinnakers, 1 main, 1 heavy weather jib, stormjib and trysail. This will allow a typicly 5 event regatta circuit like MedCup to further reduce the sail limit to 15 or 16 sails. With one set of sails required to train and do other regattas this will the total amount of sails required for one year to about 25. Still a big number, but for the size of boat and the level of sailing this is very acceptable. Two years ago the top teams were used to look at a number of around 50 new sails each year.
For the 2011 TP52 Rule IMS based VCG limit disappears, resulting in simpler and easier to conduct measurement procedures. Less hassle, less cost.
The 2011 TP52 BOX (indicated are the major changes from 2009):
Displacement: 7300 kg (was 7484)
Crew weight: 1050 kg (was 1274)
Draft: 3.35 mt (was 3.2)
Bulb weight: 3800 kg(was around 3000)
TPS: 8.3 mt (a bowsprit putting the spi tack more forward by about 1.1m)
MSA: 92.5 mq (mainsail area up by 1 mq)
HSA: 65 mq (headsailarea up by about 1 mq)
SPA: 260 mq (spi area up by about 13 mq)
The full 2011 TP52 Rule, blessed by the TP52 Annual Member Meeting, will be available from mid October 2009. Earlier non-sanctioned versions will be availble upon request from the Class Manager. The time between now and October will be spend by the technical committee to fine tune the numbers and the rule on basis of further advice by experts and suppliers.
There is nothing stopping you from building a new boat to the 2011 TP52 Rule to race IRC events from the moment your boat is launched. Only for the 2010 MedCup and the 2010 TP52 Worlds there will be some restrictions, basicly aimed to accommodate the existing fleet racing these events to be 100% competative versus new boats without resulting in major costs for the existing fleet.
This means that for the 2010 MedCup and the 2010 TP52 Worlds we keep inclining the participating boats to bring them all to the same VCG, as well as that we keep the sailing displacement (boat plus crew) near to that of 2009. It will be a boat however that allready sports the bowsprit and the twin backstays.
The TP52 Class feels that by introducing the 2011 TP52 Rule it has done all it can do to bring you to the top of our sport at substantially reduced budget without giving away on quality. In the contrairy, we have stepped up towards an even more reliable offshore racer suiting racing and winning the worlds most reknown events. Whether you choose handicap or real time racing or a mixture, this is the rule that will open up the world for you.
There are over 50 TP52’s actively racing as a result of the first decade of the TP52 Class, we aim to add at least another 50 in the years to come.
The TP52 is the ideal vehicle for international competition, whether based on WL racing, major offshores or a mixture. This year IRC modified TP52’s won offshores like the Sydney Hobart and the Transpac as well as lots of WL or short courses all over the world. The TP52 Class will support any initiative, anywhere in the world. It welcomes fair comments and will try to accommodate good ideas and initiatives. The TP52 Rule will evolve with our sport, it aims to help making a succes of and protect your investment in a TP52. The best way we can do that is by steering for quality and proper controls of boats where ever they race. Sofar we have done this quite well, a healthy second hand market proofs our boats are not 6 months fancies.
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