fbpx

Key West offers the perfect opportunity ahead of 52 Super Series

Austin and Gwen Fragomen, owners of the Interlodge Sailing Team, are currently sitting in top positions heading into day four of the highly competitive Southernmost Regatta in Key West, Florida. After six races, Interlodge IV (2015 Botin 44) has a healthy lead in the ORC division. After six races in the GL52 class, the Doyle powered Interlodge VII (TP52) is currently in 2nd place behind Vesper. The regatta offers the perfect opportunity to line up against other high-performance teams and trial new sail designs ahead of the 52 Super Series.

This is the first regatta that the husband and wife duo have raced both yachts at the same time. Gwen will be helming Interlodge IV (Botin 44) with Doyle Sails experts Tony Rey and Rob MacMillan onboard, with Austin helming Interlodge VII (TP52) with Dave Armitage, Adrian Stead and Jordi Calafat, also Doyle Sails experts, onboard.

Dave Armitage, who has raced with the Interlodge program for a number of years, and also manages the sail programme for both yachts, comments from Key West on how he is using this regatta as a trial to test out new designs and setups leading into the upcoming 52 Super Series.

Jordi and I are using this regatta to evaluate our new TP52 designs that will be used onboard both Interlodge VII and Platoon in the upcoming 52 Super Series. This is a collaborative design effort between myself and Jordi that also includes Richard Bouzaid and other key members of the international Doyle team.  This approach will ensure that we hit the ground in really good shape at the first Super Series event in Baiona, Spain in late May.

This is Doyle Sails’ first real foray into the highly competitive, high-performance Super Series. However, with the design expertise, design tools, high-quality lamination and membranes and professional sailors that Doyle has become known for, the two yachts are sure to make a very solid showing amongst a very tight and competitive fleet.

We have been fortunate to add Jordi to the Doyle design team within this last month, who brings a wealth of experience in sail design, along with an incredible feel for what makes a boat go fast. Jordi, myself and Richard have all worked together before on various programs, so it is nice to finally have all three of us working together within the Doyle Sails group.

We are extremely pleased with the sails we have seen at this regatta. We are using a new AP mainsail, J1.5 and J2 headsails along with an A1.5 and A2 asymmetrical – these are known as the workhorse sails in the TP52. For the next event, we will be adding a Light mainsail,  J1 and J3 headsails to evaluate. Once we see these sails we will begin building our race sails for the actual Super Series, and these sails will become the sails we use for practice races and morning warmups in order to keep the hours off our race sails”.

Not to be forgotten, the Botin 44 Interlodge IV, will also be receiving an entirely new inventory in the lead up to the spring events in Newport. Its going to be a busy season for the talented (and very busy) Newport team and with new additions like Paul Tingle playing a role in making sure all race sails are built and finished to the Grand Prix standard required of the team, they’re up for the challenge.

ABOUT DOYLE SAILS NEWPORT // Newport, Rhode Island is one of the primary hubs in American sailing – with a longstanding sailing history making it both a major destination and home port, with some of the most renowned sailing and motor yachts in the world.

Since 2019, accomplished Superyacht and Grand Prix Sailor Tony Rey has led the Doyle Sails Newport operations based out of the Newport Shipyard. Early 2020, has seen some exciting developments to our team and Doyle Sails are pleased to welcome David Armitage, Alex Clegg, Rob MacMillan and Dave MacMillan, who have all joined Tony and become members of the Doyle Sails North American group.

ABOUT DOYLE SAILS // Around the world, Doyle Sails has over 500 sailmakers in 46 different locations, all equally passionate about sailing – living and breathing our ethos’ Global Leaders and Local Experts.’

As sailors, our obsession with sailing connects us to the water. The water is our playground, a sanctuary where we seek enjoyment, a competitive playing field where we race as competitors; it’s sometimes our home and always a place that unlocks our sense of adventure wherever that adventure might take us. Behind every adventure is a Doyle sailor who shares this same obsession as you. We put your journey at the very heart of what we do to deliver the ultimate enjoyment and performance, powering our constant need to push the boundaries in sail design and innovation, to reimagine sailing.

From dinghies, club racers and cruising yachts through to Grand Prix campaigns and Superyachts, we are your experts.

Scroll to Top