Italian Team Vitamina Sailing Joins 52 Super Series

5th February 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Alkedo powered by Vitamina will be steered by team founder Andrea Lacorte Credit: TP52 class

The 52 Super Series is set to welcome Italian team Vitamina Sailing for the 2023 season. They will compete with their TP52, named Alkedo powered by Vitamina. This vessel, previously known as Interlodge, boasts a successful history, having won the circuit under the name Azzurra.

As the TP52 class reports, Andrea Lacorte, the team's founder, will take charge as the helmsman. His tactician will be Cameron Appleton, an experienced New Zealand sailor who raced aboard the boat as Interlodge. Supporting them is Portuguese strategist Alvaro Marinho, a seasoned four-time Olympian.

The team roster includes Matteo De Luca as Team Manager and bowman, Nicolò Sanfelici as navigator, and Alberto Bolzan as trimmer. Other key members are Stefano Ciampalini and Dave Armitage (trimmers), Massimo Gherarducci and Chris Brittle (grinders), Giovanni Bucarelli (assistant bowman), Arancia Malaspina (floater), Luke Molloy (runner), and Pablo Torrado (rigger).

Excitement builds as the 52 Super Series marks the return of an Italian-flagged team for the first time since Azzurra topped the 2019 rankings. Fans eagerly anticipate how Vitamina Sailing will perform in the competitive racing circuit.

Published in TP52

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About the TP52 Racing Yacht

The TP52 racing yacht is a remarkable example of cutting-edge technology in the world of competitive yachting. Measuring 52 feet (15.85 metres) in length, this vessel is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, making it an incredibly light and agile craft.

The TP52 features a 6.25-metre high rig, complete with a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker and a self-tacking jib. This design reduces the workload of the crew, allowing for more efficient manoeuvres and freeing up the crew to focus on the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The spinnaker rigging set-up, measuring 15.00 m2, presents a challenge to even the most experienced crews, requiring them to be fit and perfectly coordinated. Maneuvering the boat requires athleticism due to the vessel's lack of inherent stability and the high speed generated by the fully battened mainsail and jib.

The TP52's hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout, resulting in a weight of just 74kg. The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is made up of three parts, featuring an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease overall weight. The capsizing moment, which can be generated by a heavy mast tip, is also reduced through this design. The TP52's foils are constructed from either aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel.

Overall, the TP52 racing yacht is an exceptional example of the latest advancements in yacht design and technology. Its lightweight construction, advanced rigging, and high-speed capabilities make it a top contender in the world of competitive yachting, challenging even the most skilled and experienced crews.