10:42 PM Mon 22 Mar 2010 GMT
On our walk home from the final day of the Louis Vuitton Trophy, Sail-World was invited abroad the new JP54 tied up in the Viaduct basin, having just made the delivery trip from her Tauranga builder's yard, the night before.
Based on the technology developed for high speed short handers of around 60ft in length, the JP54 is the brainchild of Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) a renowned short handed racer, most recently of Paprec Virbac 2 and the Vendee Globe fame, and shows plenty of IMOCA Open 60 thinking, combined with a dramatic interior by Stephanie Marin.
JP's concept for the yacht was to have the speed of an Open 60, but with the cruising capability to be able to visits the many remote areas he sailed past in his circumnavigations.
The JP54 shows off her lines in the Auckland evening - including twin rudders. There is large stowage area in the transom.
Port steering position with navigation screen replicated from below. Note the lack of running lines on the port side.
The starboard steering position with the running rigging running to a powered winch.
Sails are by Norths including a 'fat-head' mainsail which is surprisingly workable for cruising and substantially enhances her performance.
Mast base with her hydraulically jacked mast, and all halyards leading to the starboard side only
Running rigging on starboard side only
The jib is self-tacking
Two roller jibs are carried, the anchor drops from a bowsprit via a quick release system. Powered winch and chain locker is to port
Jean-Pierre Dick (right) and Luc Talbourdet
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by Richard Gladwell
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