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GP33 – Mar Baltico – E’ stato costruito in Polonia, dal cantiere Stocznia Ustka, il primo scafo rispondente al regolamento della classe GP33. A firmare il progetto dell’imbarcazione, varata nei giorni scorsi sul Baltico, dove inizierà a breve un fitto programma di regate, è stato Giovanni Ceccarelli, progettista italiano tra i più conosciuti e apprezzati.
Konrand Smolen, armatore della barca, si dichiara molto soddifstato della scelta: “La nostra barca precedente, un Ceccarelli 27, era perfetta per regatare sulle boe, ma troppo piccola per affrontare prove offshore, come, ad esempio, la Gotland Runt. Nel 2007 eravamo al comando della nostra classe quando siamo stati costretti a ritirarci a causa della stanchezza derivante dall’impossibilità di dormire: è per questo che abbiamo deciso di commissionare una barca più grande”.
Sui perchè della scelta GP33, Smolen è piuttosto chiaro: “Il GP33 ha le misure adatte per il Baltico: è veloce a dispetto delle dimensioni e robusto al punto giusto. Inoltre apprezzo il fatto che il regolamento Level Class lasci spazio a qualche interpretazione, a differenza di quello One Design. Inoltre, a breve, ne varrà varato un altro disegnato da Gienek Ginter: speriamo sia l’inizio dell’espansione della flotta”.
Proprio in tale ottica deve essere letta la scalta di Smolen di far realizzare scafo e coperta della sua barca partendo da uno stampo femmina: così facendo l’unità potrà essere facilmente replicata e prodotta in serie, fatta salva l’eventuale personalizzazione richiesta dall’armatore, a un prezzo competitivo.
Il commento di Giovanni Ceccarelli:
“La richiesta era per una barca veloce e sicura da far regatare sotto la regola GP33, ma che potesse dire la sua sia in ORC che in IRC. Quando abbiamo iniziato a lavorare al progetto la classe era appena decollata in Asia, quindi siamo orgogliosi di annunciare che questo è il primo GP33 varato in Europa”.
“Dato che la barca deve navigare prevalentemente nel Baltico, abbiamo cercato di disegnare uno scafo veloce nelle brezze leggere per gli eventi inshore e che potesse affrontare senza timori le condizioni impegnativi delle regate lunghe. Alla fine abbiamo decisio di ottimizzare la barca per brezze tra gli 8 e i 16 nodi. Secondo i VPP, alle portanti dovrebbe raggiungere velocità prossime ai 16-20 nodi, mentre di bolina toccherà i 7”.
“Il regolamento prevede una lunghezza massima di 10 metri, una larghezza di 3, fissa la profondità del bulbo e il peso dell’unità in un range compreso tra i 2000 e i 2100 chili. Ai designe tocca il compito di individuare la miglior configurazione tra forma dello scafo, appendici e piano velico. Sin dal principio ho deciso di sfruttare al massimo la larghezza e la lunghezza al galleggiamento consentite dalla regola e di limitare il dislocamento a 2 tonnellate, in questo modo ho potuto concentrare i miei sforzi sull’individuazione della miglior larghezza al galleggiamento e del miglior LCB.
Grande attenzione è stata posta all’ottimizzazione della lunghezza al galleggiamento dinamica: l’obiettivo era far sì che fosse il più lunga possibile, limitando al contempo l’effetto trascinamento dovuto all’eccessiva immersione della poppa. Anche lo studio della deriva è stato molto accurato: trovare il giusto bilanciamento tra performance alle portanti ed efficienza di bolina non è stato semplice. Alla fine ho optato per una lama in Weldox 700 e un siluro in piombo molto allungato e un centro di gravità molto basso.
L’albero, realizzato dalla King Composite, è a due ordini di crocette senza volanti e jumper. Il peso minimo è piuttosto elevato quindi rigidità e robustezza sono garantite: il mio lavoro si è concentrato sulla ricerca del profilo aerodinamico migliore. Per quanto riguarda il piano velico, le misure sono fisse, ma devo dire che sono molto soddisfatto della scelta dell’armatore di rivolgersi alla North Sails Argentina. Juan Garay, il responsabile, era il sail designer di +39 Challenge (sindacato per il quale Ceccarelli ha disegnato l’ACC della 32ma America’s Cup, ndr), lo conosco e so che con lui posso avere un rapporto costruttivo.
Il piano di coperta è votato alla regata e l’attrezzatura è fornita dalla Harken e dalla Spinlock. Internamente, ho limitato i volumi ai minimi stabiliti dal regolamento: le cuccette sono 4 e le finiture piuttosto spartane.
Come dicevo in apertura oltre a essere un GP33 è anche una barca che se la può cavare in ORC e IRC: da una smulazione il GPH dovrebbe essere di circa 560 secondi/miglio.
Ceccarelli GP33
CE cat. A
Type Race: ORC – IRC – GP33
Preliminary Main characteristics
Length overall mt. 9.99
Max. beam mt. 3.00
Max. draft mt. 2.20
Displacement kg 2000
Keel weight kg 1050
Max. crew weight kg 560
Builder Stocznia Ustka Sp.z o.o.
Rig
IG = 12.30 m
ISP = 14.20 m
P = 12.80 m
E = 4.75 m
J = 3.80 m
SPL = 5.15 m
LP = 4.10 m
Sail areas (as per ORC )
Randa 39.83 m²
Fiocco 25.80 m²
Spi asimmetrico 135.92 m²
Per informazioni http://www.ceccarelliyachtdesign.com
EUROPE FIRST GP33 IS LAUNCHED IN POLAND
[Ceccarelli Yacht Design Press Release] Ship equipment exporter Konrad Smolen has just launched his new Ceccarelli-designed GP33 Stocznia Ustka Boatbuilders 3 in Ustka, Poland in anticipation of a campaign of racing throughout the Baltic region this season. Building on their collaborative relationship with Ceccarelli during the last America’s Cup, former +39 bowman Jacek Wysocki has built the hull and deck in carbon fiber with help from Andrzej Glebow. The team also collaborated with carbon spar maker King Composites in Argentina for the rig package, as well as North Sails Argentina for the sail program.
On his decision to build this boat, Smolen says “Our previous Ceccarelli-designed 27-footer was perfect for day racing but too small for a long offshore regatta like the Gotland Runt. In fact, in 2007 we were leading our class in the race that year but with a small crew and no sleep we tired at the end and dropped back to the middle. So we decided to build this bigger boat.”
On the GP33 concept, Smolen is enthusiastic. “The GP 33 is just the right size for Baltic waters, looks very fast for its size and is strong enough to race in rough conditions. And we like that the box rule gives you some room for technical development which is not allowed in one design classes.”
He says this concept is proving popular, as another GP33 is now under construction by his friend and designer Gienek Ginter. “We had a sort of competition going with him, and even though we’re now in the water now, he is well-advanced with his and is scheduled to launch in September of this year.”
Anticipating this popularity of GP33’s, Smolen decided to build a female plug of hull and deck so the boat will be easily replicated in a custom series with an attractive price due to the competitive rate of labour, even though all the materials are of high quality. From the same mould for next season Stocznia Ustka could build other boats that could be optimized according to the request of the owner in the deck lay out and appendage design.
Smolen has an ambitious schedule of races planned for the upcoming season. “We are going to race Gotland Runt and European ORC Int. Championship as our main events this year and also to make a promotional tour around the Baltic countries. We have strong support and inspiration from the ORC Baltic Working Group: Thomas Nilsson, Eva Holmsten, Ecky von der Mosel, and Patrick Lindqvist which means that this is not just a Polish affair but an ‘international plot’…”
Design comments from Giovanni Ceccarelli:
The brief was for a fast and safe boat to race according the new level classes of GP33 but that could also measure with IRC and ORC. When we received the commission to design this boat the new level class rule of GP33 was just beginning to take off in Asia, so this may be the first boat in Europe to be launched from beginning of next May 2009.
Since this first boat will be sailed predominantly in the Baltic sea, it must be fast both in light to moderate breeze for inshore events and in strong breeze in offshore conditions, so finally we decided to optimize for the prevailing 8 to 16 knot wind range. Accordingly, the VPP data shows speed of 16 knots in 20 kt ws downwind and upwind speed of 7 knots.
The GP33 rule, defined as a new level class from ORC as a box rule, defines the principal measures of the hull with a maximum length of 10 metres, the beam max of 3 metres, fixed rig and sail parameters, fixed max draft for a range of displacement from 2000 – 2100 kg. The designer must concentrate his research for the best combination of hull shape, rudder and keel configuration, as well as deck definition and a structural plan.
The design work for the correct hull shape started with a full research study on the basic parameters, and from the beginning I decided to go to the maximum beam allowable by the rule and the maximum dynamic length water line and minimum displacement, since the parameter involved in the research was the BWL, prismatic and LCB position.
I decide on a preliminary 3*3 matrix, and a second more refined 3*3 after a preliminary screening with a wider net. Then all the boats were tested with CFD and post processed with a VPP, where I felt I was advanced because we had already done for the same typology research for our GP26 and GP42.
A lot of attention in the design process was to the transom area immersed to make the dynamic length as long as possible without being immersed with an increase in drag.
The rule requires scantlings to conform the ABS rule, with the result being a strong but light structure with the use of all carbon fibre and epoxy laminates. All the engineering both of hull and keel was done inside in Ceccarelli Yacht Design.
The fin has a conservative planform area with not too much taper, the idea being that in general smaller fins are faster downwind but could be dangerous at low speeds by not generating enough lift. The fin is made from high resistance steel type Weldox 700, with the fin welded to obtain the correct shape in plan form and section. According to the hydrodynamic study done, the foils are laminar and support a lead cast and CNC-shaped bulb, with the design being very long and with a low centre of gravity.
The bulb shape also was tested and optimized with the CFD research to obtain the minimum drag versus lower centre of gravity. The rudder build by ISOTOP has the stock and blade build in carbon fibre and a high aspect ratio shape, with the rudder in area was less conservative and is in direction of a small rudder.
The rig builder is King Composites in Argentina, and is a two spreader rig without runners or jumpers. The minimum weight of the mast is not too low so that the choice compromised on being the correct shape for aerodynamic drag and stiffness.
The sail plan dimensions are fixed, but not their shape. If Mr. Smolen chose for his boat to go to North Argentina and he ordered the sails there, they would be designed by Juan Garay who worked with me as designer of the sails of +39 AC Challenge. Balance for the boat was determined using further CFD testing.
The deck lay out is racing oriented, with a wide, large and shallow cockpit for easy movement of the crew. All the deck hardware is from Harken (blocks and winches) and Spinlock for rope clutches, pad eyes, tiller extension. The cabin is designed around the rule with the minimum volume. Below the interior has four berths and are racing oriented.
The boat could be used also in ORC with a preliminary GPH of 560 sec mile or in IRC both in inshore and offshore races.
Ceccarelli GP33
CE cat. A
Type Race: ORC – IRC – GP33
Preliminary Main characteristics
Length overall mt. 9.99
Max. beam mt. 3.00
Max. draft mt. 2.20
Displacement kg 2000
Keel weight kg 1050
Max. crew weight kg 560
Builder Stocznia Ustka Sp.z o.o.
Rig
IG = 12.30 m
ISP = 14.20 m
P = 12.80 m
E = 4.75 m
J = 3.80 m
SPL = 5.15 m
LP = 4.10 m
Sail areas (as per ORC )
Main 39.83 m²
Jib 25.80 m²
Asymmetric spinnaker 135.92 m²
For info and prices http://www.ceccarelliyachtdesign.com
