Sunday, May 27, 2007

Spanish TP52 and GP42 boats warm up for 2007 season in Barcelona's Trofeo Godó

Although all the attention of the world sailing community is focused in Valencia and the 32nd America's, a couple of hundreds of miles from here, the other two major professional sailing classes, TP52s and GP42s, are steadily warming up for the upcoming 2007 season in various regattas.

For the TP52s the opening event of the 2007 Breitling Medcup starts in about 15 days in Alicante, from June 12 to 17. For the GP42 the maiden regatta will take place in Cres, Croatia, from June 21 to 23, but the class will see its whole armada racing for the first time here in Valencia, from July 12 to 14, right after the end of the America's Cup.

In view of the imminent start of their 2007 racing season, boats from both classes are taking part in various regattas along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Here is a brief report with some pictures from the latest one, Trofeo Godó, currently taking place in Barcelona until Sunday, May 27.

GP42
Similar to the other Spanish regattas, the GP42 class did not compete on its own since they still only have one representative sailing, the GP42 Zurich. This time the Zurich boat was reinforced with America's Cup caliber crew. She was helmed by Jordi Calafta (Alinghi's strategist), Pepe Ribes took his position on the bow similar to what he has been doing for Victory Challenge in Valencia, while Desafío Español's Nuno Barreto took over as genoa trimmer.

The impressions from the boat continue being excellent and Jordi Calafat was awed by the boat's speed, stating that "she's a very fast boat, there's no doubt about it, and it's a different way to sail, upwind the difference is not noticeable but downwind this boat is from another planet!! Exactly for this reason I think we still have to train intensively before the opening regatta of the season in Valencia".

The GP42 Zurich racing in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Jordi Play / Trofeo Conde Godó

The GP42 Zurich racing in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Jordi Play / Trofeo Conde Godó

TP52
Four Spanish boats had been registered to race in this regatta but only three of them are competing. In addition to the three "veterans" of the class, ONO, Balearia and TAU-Andalucia, a brand new entry, CAM, was to race her maiden regatta in Barcelona. Unfortunately, the boat from Alicante encountered severe problems with the keel and despite the three sleepless nights of their shore crew the problem was not solved and the brand new yacht was not launched on water.

Iñaki Castañer's ONO was clearly ahead of the other two boats, in generally very good conditions and winds that reached 24 winds.

Part of the Spanish TP52 fleet in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Alfred Farré

Part of the Spanish TP52 fleet in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Alfred Farré

Part of the Spanish TP52 fleet in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Alfred Farré

Part of the Spanish TP52 fleet in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Alfred Farré

Part of the Spanish TP52 fleet in the Trofeo Conde Gondó. Barcelona, 26 May 2007. Photo copyright Alfred Farré

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