Bruce Farr
Encyclopedia
Bruce K. Farr OBE
(born 1949 in Auckland
, New Zealand
) is a designer of racing and cruising yacht
s.Farr began building boats at 13 in Warkworth near Auckland,New Zealand.His first boats were plywood hard chine Moth class designs.He later designed and built variants of Cherubs and especially Flying 18s.His early designs were built in plywood with focus on light weight with good planning shapes.By his late teens he was designing successful small keel boats.
competed in every Whitbread Round the World Race after 1981, and won the 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 races. In 2001 the event was renamed the Volvo Ocean Race
. A yacht designed by Farr Yacht Design was victorious in 2002. However, Farr's Volvo Ocean Race boats fared less well in 2006 as all four of his designs experienced problems after various failures in their Farr-designed keel canting
mechanisms, including an abandonment of the yacht Movistar which was unable to prevent the flow of water through the keel box and, to this day, lies on the ocean floor, unrecovered.
Farr is the most successful designer of winners of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
, having designed 15 overall winners between 1945 and 2003.
Cookson Boatworks developed a new 50' design, using the Farr office to collaborate, called the Cookson 50.
Irish-owned yacht Chieftain, conceived, developed and constructed in 2005 at Cookson's in New Zealand, was the overall winner of the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race
. Shortly after it was launched, Chieftain finished 5th at Australia's Hamilton Island Race Week
, then won class in the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
.
Chieftain competed in all of the 2006 season Royal Ocean Racing Club
races and won class in the Round Ireland, won overall in Round Britain and Ireland Races, was awarded Boat of the Year in Ireland in 2006, and finished as the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
competitors, including New Zealand
's entries in 1986 (co-designed with Ron Holland
and Laurie Davidson
) and 2000, and Larry Ellison
's United States
's BMW Oracle Racing Challenger in 2003 (accepted as Challenger of Record for the 2007 Cup). Farr's design Young America (USA-36) proved faster than the other American sailed yachts, but was unsuccessful in defending the Cup in the 1995 Finals, losing 0-5 to a Davidson designed Black Magic
of New Zealand, led by the late Sir Peter Blake
.
Also helmed by Sir Peter Blake was the Farr-designed Ceramco New Zealand, which competed in the 1980 Whitbread Race and won the Sydney to Hobart the same year. Farr's design proved exceedingly fast, and Ceramco would have won the Round the World Race, save for an unfortunate dismasting on the first leg, a trans-Atlantic crossing. The deltas for the rest of the legs would have put Ceramco 30 hours ahead of her next competitor.
Among the most impressive of Farr's design boats was the 90 foot long KZ-1, the Michael Fay
sponsored boat brought forth to challenge the San Diego Yacht Club
immediately following their gaining the cup in 1987. The challenge was unusual in that it did not allow the host yacht club the conventional three to four years to prepare for the event, nor did the challenging boat adhere to the 12 metre class design that the America's Cup had been contested in for thirty-five years, nor did it allow time for other international challengers and defenders to participate. The unconventional challenge was answered with an unconventional defense, and the entire episode serves as an excellent case study on how the process of yacht racing can be mired in the legal system when America's Cup participants radically depart from the spirit of the rules.
, Concordia, Baltic and Nauta.
Some of the larger cruising luxury yachts Farr has designed include Mirabella, Philanderer, Sojana and the two Southern Wind built 100 footers: Farewell and Farandwide.
Farr is a native of New Zealand and currently lives near Annapolis, Maryland
. His services to yachting were recognized in 1990 when he was awarded the Order of the British Empire
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1949 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a designer of racing and cruising yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s.Farr began building boats at 13 in Warkworth near Auckland,New Zealand.His first boats were plywood hard chine Moth class designs.He later designed and built variants of Cherubs and especially Flying 18s.His early designs were built in plywood with focus on light weight with good planning shapes.By his late teens he was designing successful small keel boats.
Ocean racing
Boats designed by Farr Yacht DesignFarr Yacht Design
Farr Yacht Design, headed by Bruce Farr, is a racing yacht design team based in the United States. Its yachts measure from 25 to 125 feet . Farr develops custom and production yachts, including: interiors, sails, and hull design...
competed in every Whitbread Round the World Race after 1981, and won the 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 races. In 2001 the event was renamed the Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
. A yacht designed by Farr Yacht Design was victorious in 2002. However, Farr's Volvo Ocean Race boats fared less well in 2006 as all four of his designs experienced problems after various failures in their Farr-designed keel canting
Canting keel
A canting keel is a form of sailing ballast, suspended from a rigid canting strut beneath the boat, which can be swung to windward of a boat under sail, in order to counteract the heeling force of the sail...
mechanisms, including an abandonment of the yacht Movistar which was unable to prevent the flow of water through the keel box and, to this day, lies on the ocean floor, unrecovered.
Farr is the most successful designer of winners of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
, having designed 15 overall winners between 1945 and 2003.
Cookson Boatworks developed a new 50' design, using the Farr office to collaborate, called the Cookson 50.
Irish-owned yacht Chieftain, conceived, developed and constructed in 2005 at Cookson's in New Zealand, was the overall winner of the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
. Shortly after it was launched, Chieftain finished 5th at Australia's Hamilton Island Race Week
Hamilton Island Race Week
Hamilton Island Race Week is a keelboat regatta set against the backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands, on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.-History:...
, then won class in the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
.
Chieftain competed in all of the 2006 season Royal Ocean Racing Club
Royal Ocean Racing Club
The Royal Ocean Racing Club also called RORC was established in 1925 as a result of a race to the Fastnet rock from Cowes and finishing in Plymouth. The RORC is the principal organiser of offshore yacht races in the UK, including the Fastnet race, the Admirals Cup and the Commodore's Cup...
races and won class in the Round Ireland, won overall in Round Britain and Ireland Races, was awarded Boat of the Year in Ireland in 2006, and finished as the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
America's Cup
Farr is also a designer of America's CupAmerica's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
competitors, including New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's entries in 1986 (co-designed with Ron Holland
Ron Holland
Ronald John Holland is a yacht designer, who came to prominence in the 1970s with his successful racing designs, and is now best known for his superyachts such as Mirabella V and Ethereal...
and Laurie Davidson
Laurie Davidson
Laurie Davidson of New Zealand is an internationally renowned sailing yacht designer. He is most notable for his International America's Cup Class sailboats which successfully challenged and defended the America's Cup sailing trophy...
) and 2000, and Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison
Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Ellison is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation, one of the world's leading enterprise software companies. As of 2011, he is the third wealthiest American citizen, with an estimated worth of $33 billion.- Early life :Larry Ellison was born in the...
's United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's BMW Oracle Racing Challenger in 2003 (accepted as Challenger of Record for the 2007 Cup). Farr's design Young America (USA-36) proved faster than the other American sailed yachts, but was unsuccessful in defending the Cup in the 1995 Finals, losing 0-5 to a Davidson designed Black Magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
of New Zealand, led by the late Sir Peter Blake
Peter Blake (yachtsman)
Sir Peter James Blake, KBE was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup...
.
Also helmed by Sir Peter Blake was the Farr-designed Ceramco New Zealand, which competed in the 1980 Whitbread Race and won the Sydney to Hobart the same year. Farr's design proved exceedingly fast, and Ceramco would have won the Round the World Race, save for an unfortunate dismasting on the first leg, a trans-Atlantic crossing. The deltas for the rest of the legs would have put Ceramco 30 hours ahead of her next competitor.
Among the most impressive of Farr's design boats was the 90 foot long KZ-1, the Michael Fay
Michael Fay
Michael Fay may refer to:*J. Michael Fay , explorer and biologist*Sir Michael Fay , New Zealand merchant banker in the America Cup's Hall of Fame*Michael D. Fay, American Marine combat artist...
sponsored boat brought forth to challenge the San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club is a yacht club located in San Diego Bay. Its address is 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.- Facilities :...
immediately following their gaining the cup in 1987. The challenge was unusual in that it did not allow the host yacht club the conventional three to four years to prepare for the event, nor did the challenging boat adhere to the 12 metre class design that the America's Cup had been contested in for thirty-five years, nor did it allow time for other international challengers and defenders to participate. The unconventional challenge was answered with an unconventional defense, and the entire episode serves as an excellent case study on how the process of yacht racing can be mired in the legal system when America's Cup participants radically depart from the spirit of the rules.
Cruising yachts
Farr's cruising yachts have been sold and sailed the world around. His production designs (mass-produced as opposed to custom) have been produced by a variety of yacht manufacturers including Cookson Boats, Carroll Marine, BeneteauBeneteau
Beneteau is a French sail and motor boat manufacturer, with production facilities in France and the United States.-History:Shipwright Benjamin Beneteau founded his company in 1884, at Croix-de-Vie, France to build sailing trawlers. In the mid sixties Benjamin's grandchildren Annette Benneteau...
, Concordia, Baltic and Nauta.
Some of the larger cruising luxury yachts Farr has designed include Mirabella, Philanderer, Sojana and the two Southern Wind built 100 footers: Farewell and Farandwide.
Farr is a native of New Zealand and currently lives near Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. His services to yachting were recognized in 1990 when he was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
See also
- Ron HollandRon HollandRonald John Holland is a yacht designer, who came to prominence in the 1970s with his successful racing designs, and is now best known for his superyachts such as Mirabella V and Ethereal...
- Bruce NelsonBruce Nelson (naval architect)Bruce Nelson is a University of Michigan graduate in Naval Architecture. He has been most notable as a principal yacht designer for the America’s Cup contenders and America One challenge. Nelson is a veteran America's Cup racer as well as designer, he teamed with Dennis Conner on three Stars &...
- Doug PetersonDoug PetersonDouglas Blair Peterson is an American yacht designer. Beginning with the One Tonner Ganbare in 1973, Peterson's designs have pioneered many innovations in racing and cruising yachts....
- Laurie DavidsonLaurie DavidsonLaurie Davidson of New Zealand is an internationally renowned sailing yacht designer. He is most notable for his International America's Cup Class sailboats which successfully challenged and defended the America's Cup sailing trophy...
- Paul Whiting
- Juan Kouyoumdjian
- Frank BethwaiteFrank BethwaiteFrank Bethwaite, born in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1920, is an award-winning boat designer, author and former Olympic meteorologist.-Biography:Bethwaite built his first boat as a teenager...
- Julian Bethwaite
- Ron Moore (boat builder)Ron Moore (boat builder)Ron Moore is largely credited, along with George Olson and Bill Lee, tohave given rise to the modern ULDB, or ultralight displacement boat.This yacht type revolutionized sailing as the modern world knows it, especially...