Farr 1/4 Ton (Farr 727, Northstar 727)

Description

The Farr 1/4 Ton (most commonly referring to the Farr 727 or simply the Farr Quarter Tonner) is a legendary trailerable racing sailboat designed by Bruce Farr in the mid-1970s. It was Bruce Farr's breakthrough design in international competition, marking his rise as a dominant force in offshore racing. The prototype, named 45 South, won the 1975 Quarter Ton Cup in Deauville, France—the first major international victory for a New Zealand designer and a pivotal moment that launched Farr's global career. This success led to production versions built from 1976 onward by yards like Alpha Marine (New Zealand), Chantier Mallard (France for Europe), Logan Marine/Sea Nymph (NZ), and Northstar Yachts (Canada, where it was called the Northstar 727). About 40–50 hulls were produced, many still sailing today in classic/Quarter Ton revival fleets. The Farr 727 was optimized for the International Offshore Rule (IOR) Quarter Ton class (rating around 18.0–18.5 feet IOR), emphasizing light displacement, high ballast ratio, and excellent all-round performance—fast off the breeze, good upwind in moderate air, and capable of planing in fresh conditions. It featured a fractional sloop rig, fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder (for protection and tracking), and a simple, efficient layout for crewed racing (typically 3–5 people). While race-focused, it has basic overnight accommodations (V-berth forward, settees, small galley/head) for coastal or club events.