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Black-sailed racing yachts close together at a start
Photo: Royce Fonseca / Unsplash

Farr 40

One-design class · Farr Yacht Design · Carroll Marine

Boats
19
Results
64
Wins
28
Races
19
Length
12.19m
Beam
3.68m
Draft
2.59m
Weight
4.3t
Sail area
93.6m²
Official designer page
OverviewCompareBoats19Races19

Why sailors choose the Farr 40

The Farr 40 became one of the most respected owner-driver one-design classes, because its rules cap professional crew and force the owner (or an amateur) to steer. Owners valued racing peers in a tight, well-run international circuit on a boat that is demanding but within reach of amateur teams. Running a winning programme is costly and time-consuming, and fleets shrank after 2008.

  • Owner-driver rule with a cap on professional crew
  • Short-course one-design racing that is demanding but manageable
  • Strong international circuit and world championships
  • Mixed pro and amateur crews developed many sailors
  • Expensive to campaign at the front; fleet shrank after 2008

Our note

Most successful

  1. 1Chocolate8 wins · 10 results
  2. 2ENKA / CHEESE IV6 wins · 11 results
  3. 3Gringo 34 wins · 10 results

Specifications

One-design class

Designer
Farr Yacht Design
Builder
Carroll Marine
Length
12.19m
Waterline
11.28m
Beam
3.68m
Draft
2.59m
Displacement
4,309kg
Ballast
2,495kg
Sail area upwind
93.6m²

Designer's figures (Farr design 727); other published displacements run near 4,950 kg

Published figures for the design; individual boats are often modified. Sources: farrdesign.com

What sailors and testers say · in our words, from the linked pages

  • He only wants competitive owner-driver one-design racing, but admits it is costly, needs about 30 days a year, and fleets were larger before 2008.

    Farr 40 world champion Alex Roepers, interviewed by David Schmidt · SAIL, 2015

  • He credits the class with blending professionals and amateurs, which brought on new sailors and many women into the sport.

    former owner and Australian Sailing president Matt Allen · Sails Magazine, 2018