Farr Yacht Design Ltd

Farr Yacht Design Ltd., founded in 1981 by New Zealand naval architect Bruce Farr (born 1949) and engineer Russell Bowler as Bruce Farr & Associates in Annapolis, Maryland, is the world's preeminent racing yacht design firm, renowned for over 300 hulls ranging from 25 to 125 feet that prioritize light-displacement, fractional-rigged, wide-sterned, shallow-hulled forms for superior speed, planning ability, and ease of handling. Farr, who began designing boats at age 13 and gained acclaim through dominant 18-foot skiff wins in the early 1970s, revolutionized offshore racing with innovative IOR designs like the 1979 Ceramco New Zealand (which nearly won the Whitbread Round the World Race) and went on to secure 43 world championships, multiple Volvo Ocean Race victories (1986, 1990, 1994, 1998), Admiral's Cup triumphs, and America's Cup challengers for teams like BMW Oracle (2003, 2007) and New Zealand (1988–1992). The firm's signature style—emphasizing CAD-optimized hydrodynamics, foam-sandwich construction, and balanced performance—has influenced production cruisers via partnerships with Beneteau (e.g., First 40.7, First 35, First 40), Jeanneau, Bavaria, and one-designs like the Farr 40, Mumm 30, and Platu 25, while superyacht projects include the record-breaking 100-foot Leopard 3 and 105-foot Sojana. Now led by President Patrick Shaughnessy with a 13-member team including Bowler as a key consultant, Farr Yacht Design continues to excel in IMOCA 60s, TP52s, Vendée Globe entries, and sustainable custom builds, earning Farr the OBE in 1990 and enduring acclaim for blending raw speed with seaworthy comfort.