GP 33
Ship equipment exporter Konrad Smolen has just launched his new Ceccarelli-designed GP 33
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. Smolen is no newcomer to international offshore racing, having been active for over two decades
in the Baltic, with strong finishes logged in the Quarter-Ton World Championship in
Travemunde, Germany and various Gotland Runt races in Sweden. He was also crowned as the
Polish ORC International champion.
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 GP 33 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 GP 33 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.”
