Our Story

Five decades, 800+ designs, 43 world championships. This is how it started.

1970s

The Beginning

Bruce Farr started drawing boats in Auckland, New Zealand, with an intuition for hull shapes that outpaced the computing power of the era. By the mid-1970s, his designs were winning national championships and catching the attention of international racing programs.

What set Farr apart was a willingness to challenge convention. Where established offices relied on tradition and tank testing, Farr combined an analytical eye with a relentless drive to make boats go faster. The results spoke on the racecourse.

Early Farr designs

1980s – 1990s

The Ocean Racing Era

The Whitbread Round the World Race changed everything. When Steinlager 2 won every leg of the 1989–90 edition, the sailing world took notice. What followed was the most dominant run in offshore racing history — seven consecutive race wins spanning Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race editions.

Simultaneously, Farr designs were rewriting the record books in the IMS and IOR fleets, winning world championships across classes and oceans. The office relocated from New Zealand to Annapolis, Maryland, positioning itself at the center of the global racing community.

Whitbread / Volvo era

2000s

Expanding the Portfolio

With a racing pedigree that no competitor could match, Farr Yacht Design expanded into new territory. Production partnerships with builders like Beneteau, Carroll Marine, and Baltic Yachts brought Farr hull shapes to thousands of sailors worldwide. The one-design movement embraced Farr classes — the Farr 40 became the benchmark of grand prix racing.

The superyacht division emerged, applying the same performance-driven philosophy to vessels over 100 feet. Projects like the award-winning Kiboko series proved that Farr could deliver refinement and speed at any scale.

Farr 40 / superyachts

2020s

Today

Under the leadership of Britton Ward, Farr Yacht Design continues to push boundaries. The office remains active in the America’s Cup, supports campaigns across the grand prix circuit, and delivers consulting and new-build services to clients who expect the best.

More than 800 designs bear the Farr name. The legacy is the foundation — but the work is what’s next.

Modern Farr office

Five Decades of Milestones

1972
Bruce Farr establishes his design practice in Auckland, New Zealand.
1977
First international recognition — Farr designs dominate the Half Ton Cup.
1981
Office expands to serve a growing international client base.
1986
Farr Yacht Design relocates to Annapolis, Maryland.
1990
Steinlager 2 wins every leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race.
1995
Young America campaign — Farr enters the America’s Cup.
2000
Farr 40 class launches, becoming the benchmark of grand prix yacht racing.
2005
ABN AMRO ONE & TWO finish 1–2 in the Volvo Ocean Race — the most dominant result in the event’s history.
2012
800th design completed. Superyacht division grows with award-winning projects.
2014
Volvo Ocean 65 debuts — the one-design class drawn by Farr for the entire fleet.
2019
Britton Ward assumes leadership as Principal, guiding the next generation of the practice.
2020s
Active America’s Cup involvement, World Superyacht Award recognition, and continued innovation in racing and cruising design.

The legacy is the foundation. The work is what’s next.

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