Favonius 2, an (ex Cookson built Bribon) TP52, finished fourth on corrected time in ORR Division II in the 53rd Transpacifc Yacht Race, leading the amateur entries, trailing only the three professional teams. Central to the yacht’s performance early in the race was a new carbon outrigger system designed to the ORR rule, engineered and project-managed by Owen Clarke Design. This system, which has been installed on their IMOCA 60 designs for over two decades was developed specifically to enhance three-sail reaching under J0, J2 and GS, allowed now in Transpac because of the ORR rule change in 2021.
The outrigger system enabled outboard sheeting of a newly added J0 reaching sail, allowing Favonius 2 to maintain high average speeds during the critical early race segments as the breeze shifts from upwind to vmg running conditions. The design was tailored to the TP52’s geometry and optimised for offshore loads, with installation and trials completed early in the season well ahead of the Transpac start. The system which provided universal sheeting points along the length of the pole performed flawlessly contributing directly to the boat’s performance in the critical first few days of the course.
Owen Clarke co-founder Merfyn Owen joined the crew as trimmer/helmsman for the season, providing his significant offshore racing experience as well as technical input. “This project was a great example of how targeted design upgrades can deliver measurable performance gains to older boats helping them to remain competitive,” said Owen. “We were able to push the boat harder and more efficiently in reaching conditions, which made a real difference against a strong fleet.” Favonius 2’s result reinforces Owen Clarke Design’s commitment to innovation in offshore racing across a range of fleets, not just the short-handed designs they are most well known for.
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