Breaking new ground

Designer Juan Kouyoumdjian shares some of the ground breaking features of his new TP52 design
Most of the times we face a new project I have the challenge of designing a boat that complies with some specific rules. At that early stage of the design process comes the first question, what do the rules say? It is very important to understand the rules’ permissions and constraints before the design starts in order to ensure a fast boat that at the same time meets the class requirements. In our case we normally do a brainstorming session where everyone in the office meet to discuss the rule, determine which areas need to be clarified with the Chief Measurer and come up with ideas for the design. We ask interpretations from the Chief Measurer for those areas of the rule that are not clear to us. These interpretations help in shedding some light in those grey areas of the rule. Despite having interpretations the objectivity needed for making classes fair and enticing to the owners is reached by following the rules as per what is written in them. Otherwise it would be very difficult for any designer facing the task of creating a boat for that class and it would be more a case of a Guide rather than a Rule. Any measurement decision not based on what is written in the rule would provide subjectivity to the measuring process and would be detrimental to the class. In this sense, the Transpac 52 Box Rule is open in such a way that allows developments in hull shapes, rigging and appendages. With this in mind, some months ago we were confronted with the task of creating a design under the TP52 Rule. Despite the constraining fact that in order to get a TP52 certificate the boats first need to get an IMS certificate, there is a lot of development potential