SailingIreland will have a new challenge at the start of international big-boat racing for the 2005 season following confirmation this week a building programme commenced at the beginning of this month. Green Marine of Lymington are constructing an Transpac 52-footer (TP52) for Eamon Conneely of Galway Bay Sailing Club, with an expected launch date of mid-April.
The Irish boat is the sixth to be built to sail on the newly-formed European circuit that is expected to have 10 TP52s racing in 2005. The class is based on the American version and patronage from the King of Spain following the collapse of support for IMS Handicapping system in that region has boosted interest among owners to switch to this one-design fleet.
To be named "Patches" after the owner's home village close to Clifden in Connemara, the Irish TP52 has a head start on a clutch of British boats thought to be in the planning stages at present.
Designed by Reichal Pugh, the "box rule" one-design originated in the US and this state-of-the-art boat is a faster version of the famed Santa Cruz 70-footers that sailed the San Francisco to Honolulu Race that gave rise to the naming of the Transpac boats.
Intended to sail as a "first-home wins" class, Patches is expected to carry a favourable rating under the popular IRC-Handicap system that places the 52-footer in the same stable as the latest Jason Kerr 55-footer and the Farr 52 one-designs. According to her owner, its appeal comes principally from the ability to race one-design inshore and offshore.
Conneely intends this campaign to be world-class and the plans for next season include the Scottish Series in May, the Dún Laoghaire to Dingle Race (D2D), Sovereign's Cup and Galway Bay Series. Its overseas schedule includes the Fastnet Race, Sardinia Cup and Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta towards the end of the summer.
Commenting on a possible Irish Admiral's Cup for 2005, no firm plans are as yet in place.
"Currently, we're not planning to do the Admiral's Cup but if there was a viable Irish team we would certainly make the boat available," Conneely told The Irish Times yesterday.
The crew of 14 will be principally drawn from his team on Dark Angel, currently being sold. Although undecided at this time, between four and six professional sailors will supplement the amateur sailors while a full-time boat captain will manage the project. Industry sources have suggested the build costs and initial campaign budget for a TP52 would be approximately €1.5 million.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Ireland's first true "big boat" in more than 10 years can be seen as further evidence of the revival in interest of offshore sailing.
The TP52 Patches may also be regarded as the flagship for Irish West Coast racing as it breaks the traditional Cork/Dublin axis that dominates the sport in this country.
The news of Conneely's campaign is certain to be one of the topics in general discussions at the Irish Cruiser Racer Association next weekend (Saturday, 20th November) at the River Court Hotel in Kilkenny.
Building on the success of their inaugural season in 2004, the ICRA hopes to encourage more travelling by the national fleet next year as the next stage of development.
