Team Origin test their new TP52

[Source: Team Origin] TEAMORIGIN’s new TP52 hit the water for the first time today and the team’s shore crew, sailors and designers were there in force to enjoy this exciting moment for the team.

Despite losing a key race yesterday in the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta, the TEAMORIGIN sailors were back in the gym and out for a fitness run first thing this morning and then headed out on the water with a new and exciting project on their hands. The team sailed the impressive new boat close to the semi-final action of the regatta and turned a few heads.

Team Origin test their new TP52. Auckland, 19 March 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Team Origin

David Duff, Shore Operations Manager for TEAMORIGIN, commented on the first day’s testing: “It went really well today, we’ve had a very tight schedule and have managed hit all the deadlines spot on so it was very pleasing to see the boat on the water today. It’s pretty impressive to take her out of the shed only two days ago and be sailing in 20 knots today. I’d like to thank everyone who has played a key part in this challenging project – Juan Kouyoumdjian and his team at Juan Yacht Design, Greg Salthouse and the boat build team at Salthouse boatbuilders, North Sails, Southern Spars and our own TEAMORIGIN build and shore team of Nick Bice, Sam Bourne, Dylan Fletcher and Marty Oliver.”

The team will carry out another few days of testing and the boat then gets loaded onto a ship and heads to Europe for its racing season. TEAMORIGIN will compete in the YP52 Audi Med Cup series which consists of 5 regattas around the Mediterranean, with the first event taking place in Cascais starting on 10th May 2010.

Juan Kouyoumdjian (Juan K), Principal Designer of the boat, witnessed the maiden sail today and gave his views “I was really happy to see the boat on the water today, it went extremely well and we passed the structural test phase very quickly and were able to move on to pushing the boat. It performed exactly like we expected it to perform on the first day.”

Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman of TEAMORIGIN, ommented on the forthcoming TP racing, “We are looking forward to our first crack at the TP52 Audi Med Cup Series, it’s been a really useful project so far from both a design and sailing team perspective and will great to race against some top teams this coming season.”

Team Origin test their new TP52. Auckland, 19 March 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Team Origin

Team Origin test their new TP52. Auckland, 19 March 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Team Origin

Team Origin test their new TP52. Auckland, 19 March 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Team Origin

Team Origin test their new TP52. Auckland, 19 March 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Team Origin

Team Origin test their new TP52. Auckland, 19 March 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Team Origin