New Transpac 52 Design |
| Sunday, 05 September 2004 |
3D rendering from design study incorporating first run cockpit design and hull P4
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3D design is used to optimise cockpit ergonomics and geometry as well as for visualisation with the client.
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Owen Clarke Design and Americas Cup/Whitbread designer Clay Oliver began working on their Transpac 52 design early in the summer of 2004 to ensure the ground work is in place for clients to build their new boat during this coming winter.
As a writer of CFD code and developer of the universally used WinVPP software, Clay Oliver and his associates bring years of Americas Cup design and software development into the team. In addition to having worked at the Farr office for many years, Clay’s background includes designs for several Whitbread Races and five Americas Cups starting with the 87 and 88 Stars and Stripes campaigns. Lately Clay has undertaken the hull design and vpp studies for a number of maxis and of course the record breaking Mari Cha lV. This quiet and unassuming, behind-the-scenes innovator has been the hull designer of Team New Zealand for the last two Americas Cups and continues this association with the Kiwis in Valencia for the next one. His contract for the new black boat allows him significant time to develop other design threads. The TP52 along with Owen Clarke Design is one of these projects.
As well as being specialists in the optimisation of yachts within a box rule, Owen Clarke Design are known for combining an Anglo-Saxon, team driven technological approach to design, with hands-on project management of the design and construction process. The project aim is to produce the fastest yacht, not just the fastest design. This means seeing the project through not only the concept, design and construction stages but on afterwards into trials and into the sailing program. The nature of the TP52 rule is such that it places emphasis on the use of the latest design standards, tools and experience, but also the ability to translate these into actuality. Owen Clarke Design know how to do this. It’s been our forte for many years now and with the addition of Clay Oliver, together we represent a formidable design team for any client looking for an edge with their new boat.
The Transpac 52 is an undoubtedly quick boat and interesting to design. They're a breath of fresh air for the sport. We believe that the TP52 is pointing the way forward for the fully crewed inshore/offshore sailor. The racing experienced so far in the class is close and we're sure it will remain sustainable and cost effective. As with other box rules such as Open Class and the Mini Transat class we don't expect campaign costs to rise inexorably year on year because of a designer/builders 'arms race'. The old boats will remain competitive and so maintain their value for many years unlike the dark final years of IOR.
For more information go to:
Owen Clarke Design Transpac 52
Also see article by Merfyn Owen in Seahorse issue 296 October 2004 |
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