We like the TP 52's and always have, (even Nelson's). Granted it is a Left Coast phenom, but for the well-heeled owner who wants to race big and fast boats while still playing the design game (to a limited degree), it has to be the way to go. Despite reports to the contrary, the class seems to be generating some momentum. Two new boats are on the way in 2003 for a total of seven.

Karl Kwok (Hong Kong) is having his Farr Design named "Beau Geste" built in time for the 2003 Transpac. His boat will be on West Coast in May. And Charles Burnett out of Seattle (who owns the OD 48 that I used to sail on, sailed it to a very credible second place behind Ken Read and Idler in PHRF 2 at Key West) is having his Bakewell-White design (named "Braveheart") built at Lloyd Stevenson. They will sail it for a couple months down under and ship it straight to San Francisco in time for the 2003 Big Boat Series.

J-Bird III is in the process of being sold to a Northern California buyer who will continue to campaign her. An 8th Transpac 52 owner is just about to pull the trigger on a new boat as well. This will be a totally first rate, world-class program if it comes to pass.

So the Transpac 52 class continues to grow, albeit slowly. They will probably see 4 TP 52' at the Ensenada Race, 4 TP 52's at Yachting Cup, two TP 52's at the 2003 Transpac, 4 or 5 at this June's Coastal Race from San Francisco to Catalina Island, and hopefully all 7 at the Big Boat Series in 'Frisco. The 52's will finally have a critical mass for class racing come the fall. Perhaps getting the next five Transpac 52's will be a lot easier than getting the first five? The Owners meet again in two months to hammer out the 2004 and 2005 race schedule.

So despite the Latitude 38 article that says the class may have fizzled out, guys keep showing up with new boats spending millions of dollars.

As far as I can see, the Transpac 52's offer the only Grand Prix racing in this size range in the States. By all accounts, they turned heads at Key West, even though it was a pretty light air regatta overall, except the last day.

So the fleet continues to slowly grow one owner at a time. And that is a good thing. http://www.transpac52.org