Farr's Favorites

Bruce Farr weighs in with his favorite boat(s) of all time.

For a designer, this is like asking a mother to choose one of her children!  I have many favorites for many differing reasons, so it is inevitable to choose several, and many favorites (I’m not sure you can have “many” favorites, but why not!) include something more than just designing a nice or fast boat, often because of the experience with the boat and it’s people, or the level of involvement in the process of producing a winning project.

First up, I would say the 1996 IMS maxi SAYONARA, not just because she went almost unbeaten for 4 years in her class along with winning 3 ILC Maxi World Championships 1996 through 1998, but also because she was a pretty yacht and as a project it was one which brought a lot of satisfaction and pleasure as we developed her from one season to the next.  All involved in the project at various times were a pleasure to deal with from the moment David Thompson contacted us and introduced us to Larry Ellison, who was an absolute model client, and has been ever since for us, through Bill Erkelens who managed the program, to the various Sailors who sailed her to many victories, including one in San Francisco where I was invited as part of the crew which was a special treat.

Almost at the other end of the spectrum was the little ¼ tonner 45 South, which won the ¼ ton Cup Worlds in 1975, changing the design direction of offshore racing yachts in the process.  A sweet handling, small, light dinghy-like keel yacht with a runner-less single swept-spreader fractional rig.  My first production built keel yacht and conceived as a racer/cruiser!  My first Keel Yacht World Champion, and introduction to the Northern Hemisphere market.  I was a part owner and helmed that boat to victory in the NZ championships but was unable to sail her in the Worlds.  Murray Crockett, Graeme Woodroffe, Roy Dickson, and Rob Martin did a superb job in my absence, while I sailed in the Admirals Cup aboard Graham Eder’s Gerontius.

And, just for fun, the Farr 3.7, a 12 foot singlehanded trapeze dinghy from 1970.  Light, super fast, challenging.  Has a loyal following in NZ where some have sailed in the class for over 30 years.  After designing this boat and setting up the class I stayed pretty much out of it for several years but came back in 1975 to win the National Championship, if I recall correctly, in a clean sweep of every race.  That was a favorite experience!

Did I tell you about 18 foot skiffs??!!

Got a favorite Farr boat? Jump in.