tp52 Class

In 2005 a group of renowned owners chose to build TP52’s to develop a new high performance class because they were no longer content to race on handicap.

It has become the de-facto top monohull inshore race class in the world appealing to the very top level professional sailors, discerning owners and teams. The all carbon fibre boats with powerful sail areas and deep slender keels remain very close in performance.

They are light, have a high power to weight ratio and most of all offer exceptional fun for the crews who enjoy the physical and mental challenge of the 52’s.

Downwind in stronger breezes they will regularly surf at well over 20kts.

The tight controls imposed by the design rules ‘box’ allow sufficient freedom for the different designers to express their ideas, yet the fleet has remained very closely matched.

Each year has seen subtle new ideas generated for each new design, ensuring that there is just enough incentive to keep building new boats. Over 60 have been built. And the purity of racing is in real time, first past the line wins is still at the heart of the new 52 SUPER SERIES.

tp52 TECHNOLOGY

Innovation, R&D, and advancing composite technology has been in the DNA of McConaghy since the beginning.

We are constantly innovating, testing and improving our techniques, applying composite technology to new fields as well as refining the production, mechanical properties, and minimizing weight of composites in existing applications.

Maintaining a keen focus on research and development, which now extends to non-marine applications, we have has assembled a team of in-house experts covering all facets of composite building to create a company with unique capabilities.

The benefits of composites

+ High Strength - Composite materials can be designed to meet the specific strength requirements of an application.  A distinct advantage of composites, over other materials, is the ability to use many combinations of resins & reinforcements, & therefore custom tailor the mechanical & physical properties of a structure. 

+ Lightweight - Composites offer materials that can be designed for both lightweight & high strength.  In fact, composites are used to produce the highest strength to weight ratio structures known to man.

+ Corrosion Resistance - Composites provide long-term resistance to severe chemical & temperature environments.  Composites are the material of choice for outdoor exposure, chemical handling applications & severe environment service.

+ Design Flexibility - Composites have an advantage over other materials because they can be moulded into complex shapes at relatively low cost.  The flexibility offers designers a freedom, which is a hallmark of composite achievement. 

+ Durability - Composite structures have a exceedingly long life span and exceptional fatigue properties. Coupled with low maintenance requirements, the longevity of composites is a benefit in critical applications.  In a half-century of composite development, well-designed composite structures have yet to wear-out.