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News

The GP42 Class keeps growing

After a break-through year in 2006, the popularity of the exciting new GP 42 Class looks set to spread even further. A recent interview in Scuttlebutt confirms that the GP 42 class will be a real hot competition that will attract additional owners, designers and sponsors.

The Class already has strong footholds in Spain and Italy, and now orders reflect growing interest in Holland, Norway, Portugal and Croatia.

Right now, the European GP 42 fleet is almost 20-strong, including first generation boats and those designs currently in build. An incredible five of those are under construction in King Marine's Buenos Aires shipyard.

Each of the boats, all based on a single Botin&Carkeek design, are semi-customised by a team including representatives from Grand Soleil, Botin&Carkeek's design team, King Marine and several European boatbuilders.

The team met up recently in Buenos Aires to see the boats take shape.

Here's what they thought:

Jan Santana (ESP) - Team Zurich boatbuilder:

- Why is the GP 42 Class so attractive?

There are several reasons, but the main one is real-time racing. Sponsors want visible results, they want to know who's won straight away. That's why they like the GP 42 Class: the boat that crosses the line first is the winner. It's that simple. Because it's so simple, sponsors can release the news, interviews, footage and photography to the media straight away. That maximizes event coverage so sponsors get more for their money. The second reason is that the GP 42 Class outlaws any changes to the box rule for several years. That means owners get better value too. They build top quality boats, build good crews, train hard, build experience and stay competitive for years without worrying about rule changes. Personally, as a boatbuilder, it doesn't feel good to build a boat that's obsolete a year later.

-Does the Class have a future?

It's very likely to keep growing. Box rules are solid and well liked. That's the secret. A box rule means strong competition, which attracts designers, constructors, equipment manufacturers. This, in turn, helps the Class evolve. Obviously they're great fun to sail too fast, responsive and very similar in many respects. A good design, well built and sailed by an excellent crew has every chance of winning.

- Can it work alongside IMS?

IMS is still an effective way of comparing boats with different characteristics. So no, I don't think GP 42 replaces it. They're different things. GP 42 has a really promising future, but there's space for other rules.

Delivery schedule of GP42 boats:

1- Team Movistar (Pedro Campos - ESP) - 15 March

2- Team Zurich (Jan Santana - ESP) - 15 March

3- AL CAP ONE (Peer Moberg - NOR) - 15 April

4- Team Quebramar (POR) - 15 May

5- Team QUUM (ESP) - 15 June