The GP 33 Class appears to be gaining momentum and popularity in Japan, where just a few months ago the Nelson/Marek-designed Century First made its successful debut. Now another GP 33 designed by Akihiro Kanai is under build at Tsuboi Yacht, where tooling is being made for a production version of this design to be introduced in early 2009. 

We have an exclusive interview with Kanai on his views of this boat and the GP 33 class:

Why do you think the GP 33 will be popular in Japan?
The box classes such as GP42 and TP52 look very exciting in Europe, and I think such level races will have the potential to get popular also in Japan compared to the existing rating races. The GP-series boats are also more fun with more speed and maneuverability, quite different in their performance from existing cruiser/racers, and once owners and sailors have known this I think they will be impressed and have interest in the boats.


The GP42 is, however, a little too big in size to get popular in Japan due to expensive mooring costs and limited places - the majority of sizes in Japan is around 33 feet. So I think the GP33 is a good size and will get popular in Japan. I expect the series of races in GP33’s could be held in Japan and hopefully throughout Asia.

The Nelson/Marek-designed 'Century First' has that been doing well in Japan – has that maybe prompted interest in more boats of this type? How is your design different than the N/M design?
'Century Fast' was very impressive with its good speed competing with 40 footers under the IRC rating races although the rating value seemed a bit too high. Maybe some modifications will be needed to race under IRC rating. The exciting performance is the key of this boat, so I think it will get more attention while CF gets more tuned and faster and my GP33’s are launched. 

ACT-GP33 has been planned as a production boat but designed with the same approach as America's Cup. Intensive CFD work was carried out for hull and keel, ¼-scale models were tested in a tank, with VPP works and so on. The new CFD technique by which the boat speed and the heel, pitch, leeway angles and the heave are changed automatically to balance with other forces was also applied. Designers think differently using different tools and approaches in the same box, so the design will be different from other GP33’s in the same way as in the AC. Actually in my view the hull shapes looked very different.

What are the materials used to build the boat? Who is the spar builder? Is there anything unique in the construction techniques used for the boat?
To save on building costs and to get the GP33 popular E-glass is used instead of carbon for the hull and deck. Then the weight management is more important to satisfy the maximum rule weight limit. Some ideas to reduce the weight were included in the detail design. The mast will be constructed with carbon, and we will soon decide the spar maker. The hull and deck are constructed by infusion system.

Where will this boat be based? Will it be used for inshore or offshore sailing, or both?
The first boat will be launched in February next year and be based in Hayama near the base of Century First. It will be mainly used for inshore races and sail with CF together, and then race with other GP33’s.