"Lola", the Argentinean version of the 2011 TP52 rule

Guillermo Parada, Matador's helmsman, had told us last week that his team would be launching a brand new 52-foot yacht that would follow the 2011 TP52 rule, giving them a headstart in the design race. In fact, the Argentineans will take advantage of the Southern Hemisphere summer that has just started and test their latest yacht.

Thanks to our friend and Spanish-language sailing-media-supremo Juanpa Cadario, we saw that "Lola" was launched on Thursday on the waters of the Yacht Club Argentino in Buenos Aires. Guillermo Parada, project manager and skipper of Lola, and the rest of the crew will make the first test sail in the following days.

Lola, the Argentinean version of the 2011 TP52 Rule. Buenos Aires 24, September 2009. Photo copyright Ale Bottino / Juanpa Cadario

Lola, the Argentinean version of the 2011 TP52 Rule. Buenos Aires 24, September 2009. Photo copyright Ale Bottino / Juanpa Cadario