Donovan TP 52

The commitment to TP52 Class Rule stability, the ease and safety of sailing these yachts in any weather conditions, and performance comparable to much larger handicap rule yachts, has elevated the TP 52 fleet into the premiere racing yacht fleet in the USA, and is attracting considerable interest worldwide. With an existing fleet of 7 yachts, 4 yachts currently under construction, and another 6 yachts in the planning stages, the fleet will potentially number more than 20 yachts by the end of 2004.

The Transpac 52 design is aligned perfectly with my capabilities and experience, and this project will bring together many other talented individuals who are working at the very top of the performance yacht design and construction field. They have recently come from working within America's Cup syndicates: Dirk Kramers, Chief Engineer for the Alinghi Swiss Challenge - Dave Hulse with Oracle BWM Racing and Ted Brown with Stars & Stripes.

The Donovan Design Transpac 52 design takes full advantage of the rule's material allowances, which require robust scantlings for the structures, but also allow the use of up to date materials to gain full advantage of modern yacht construction methods. Dirk Kramers is providing structural engineering and design: hull and deck construction utilize carbon prepreg and nomex core, vacuum bagged and cured at the maximum rule temperature to produce an incredibly strong and light-weight structure that will endure a lifetime of hard use.

ML Boatworks, located near Sao Paulo, Brazil is building TRADER, welcoming the opportunity to deliver a high quality product from their outstanding new boat building facility. Ted Brown, lead builder of the 2003 Stars & Stripes AC yachts, brings many years of expertise in carbon prepreg yacht construction to the building team, and provided the technical knowledge required to get the best results using these materials.

The TP52 Rule has practical limits that describe straight forward rigging arrangements. The benefit is a yacht that is less complicated and more reliable: reasonable rig weight and VCG rules that will make the mast tube very stiff and strong, no running backstays, swept 2-spreader rig, adjustable permanent backstay and forestay. All these elements perfectly suit an offshore yacht. Dave Hulse of Novis Composites Inc. will be supplying the full rig/rigging package for the yacht.

The keel design benefits from America's Cup design technology, maximizing the stability gain with a deep steel fin and lead bulb. Keel fin attachment to the yacht allows for easy removal of the fin without the need for a day of fairing and painting. A kelp cutter is fitted to the leading edge of the keel fin.

TRADER is the first yacht built to this design. The hull shape balances long effective sailing length and powerful stern sections for the upwind speed needed in buoy racing, with a low wetted surface hull form to provide the speed to get through the light air conditions that are typically the crux of an ocean race. Deck and Interior layout reflect a yacht intended for serious offshore sailing. Although the deck layout is optimized for efficient sail handling for around the buoys racing, the systems are conceived to allow a smaller crew to keep the "pedal down" on distance races:

· Wide-body 3-speed primaries / carbon pedestal drive
· Wide-body self-tailing 2-speed secondary winches
· Wide-body self-tailing 3-speed mainsheet winches (additional mainsheet pedestal optional)
· Self-tailing 2-speed halyard winches
· Under-deck control lines; traveler controls, genoa car-pullers, A-sail tack line
· Twin carbon steering wheels/pedestals
· Hydraulic forestay and backstay rams

Practicality for racing at sea is the essence of the below-deck arrangement:

· The navigation station is located near the center of pitching and is remote from the companionway
· The galley is organized to provide a secure area for the cook to work
· Berths are longer and wider than the minimum requirements
· TRADER's large enclosed head/shower compartment is optional, at minimal weight

For more info contact jpd@jpdonovandesign.com