FARR 42 NEWS UPDATE 18/05/07

Austral Yachts is proud to announce their first international export of the Farr 42.  Headed for Ireland, this is the first in what is expected to be a long line of international exports.  With interest from Scandinavia and Western Europe, the US and even as far away as Azerbaijan, the Farr 42 has certainly turned a few heads.  Competing on the local stage, the yacht has certainly proved her metal in the Adelaide to Lincoln (third across the line), the Sydney Hobart and Skandia Geelong Race Week. 

Ray Borrett, the owner of Laurelle, has this to say about his Farr 42. 
“My objective for this new Farr 42 with Austral Yachts was to have a yacht designed around the IRC rule. Not only was I tired of the performance handicap system that rewards inconsistent sailing performance, but it seemed to me that the IRC rule looks favourably on stiff yachts with relatively large sail area. All the yachts that rate well on IRC also sail well, and that is a big plus.

The Farr design office was very keen to be involved in this project and set about researching the rule and coming up with a design that met my objectives of performance and reasonable accommodation for the return trip cruises after ocean races and major regattas.

Since launching the yacht in October 2006, we have done the races from Melbourne to Stanley and Sydney to Hobart as well as the Lipton regatta, sail south week, Docklands invitational and Skandia Geelong week. I am extremely happy with the performance of the yacht, and we are on a steep learning curve with many of the crew who have not sailed on such a powerful stiff yacht (last boat was a Super 30). In lighter breeze (5kn - 12kn) where the crew work is less critical, the performance has been up there with the 45ft - 50 ft yachts and certainly ahead on handicap.  In the heavier winds we need to develop the skill base of the crew to get consistent results.

David Eickmeyer, head of Quantum Sails in Melbourne has also spent a bit of time on board the new Farr 42.  “I have sailed on many IRC boats over the last few years and no 40 odd foot boat has impressed me more than the new Farr 42 built by Austral yachts. 

The boat has it all for a racer /cruiser, great rating, great speed around the track, and an interior that will cater for families.

With the direction of the new IRC 40+ footers being flat, with massive rigs and great amounts of lead under the water, they make for a very fast and powerful boat for the more skilful crews to fang around the race track.

"The Farr 42 stands out as a great production racer that will cater for those that have racing in their blood and wives that like cruising.  Sailed well this boat will be a stand out performer for a production racer /cruiser in the IRC class."