The Transpac 52 is the culmination of everything we know about yacht racing so far. Ultralight Carbon Fibre construction, a long bulb at the end of a deep blade, and all waterline. Although, I don't agree that a removable headstay is a good idea, the 28' long pole allows for a huge 3000 square foot Asail that will push the boat to extremes. The boat has a huge main to go along with the big Asail that should keep the boat flying in lighter airs. I am quite certain that the boat will surpass 20 knots of boatspeed in big winds under mainsail alone. The mainsail is over 900 square feet with a maxed roach.

Pendragon III has proven that the small jib / big main theory really works. Of course, Catamaran sailors knew that 20 years ago. Finally our technology has allowed monohulls to be light enough to use the Catamarans reaching technology.

Early 2000 performances by the Andrews 45 "Locomotion" have shown just how fast these new concept ULDB's can be, both upwind and down. This exciting Andrews 52 design was commissioned by two Southern California clients for the 2001 season with two boats built by different builders.

Dencho Marine launched their first Andrews 52 in early June 2001 and will then continue building from production tooling. Westerly Marine built a sistership Andrews 52 from male tooling that launched in late May 2001. In addition to buoys racing, this design will compete to be the first "50 footer" to Hawaii under Transpac Yacht Club's new Transpac 52 "Box Rule". These boats are a real gas to sail! Upwind the fractional non-overlapping jib and large mainsail have heaps of sail for strong light air performance yet the ability to de-power quickly in a breeze. Off the wind and offshore the masthead spinnakers are taller and wider than a traditional ULDB 70 but on a boat weighing just two thirds as much.

Can you say "planing"!

Reichel / Pugh Yacht Design, Inc.

2924 Emerson Street, Suite 311
San Diego CA 92106
Voice: 619·223·2299 Fax: 619·224·1698
Email: jim@reichel-pugh.com