Class symbol
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TP52 Container at the Audi MedCup races in Cascais, 2011
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LOA | 15.85 m (52 ft 0 in) |
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The Transpac 52 (TP52) is a class of yacht used for competitive yacht racing. The class is recognised by the International Sailing Federation which entitles the class to hold an Official World Championships.
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 (2015) rule changes help keep the class at the forefront of competitive racing.
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 single rudder and maximum hull length of 15.85 metres (52 ft), beam width of 4.43 metres (14.5 ft), keel draft of 3.5 metres (11 ft) and spinnaker hoist height of 22.4 metres (73 ft), along with a minimum total weight of 6,975 kilograms (15,377 lb) and maximum keel bulb weight of 3,800 kilograms (8,400 lb).