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Among the Pandemonium of Rating Systems, Rules and politics of racing
sailboats there is some solace in the notion that there still exists the
opportunity to produce a boat that is just plain quick for its size and a
joy to sail. It is even more satisfying to find that a high performance boat
will be competitive on corrected time with those choosing to be thoroughly
optimized to a rule. Design 444, our new 52ft LOA One Design, follows the
trend set by the very successful Farr® 40 OD, a thoroughly fast
boat for its size and a proven threat under both IMS and IRC rating systems.
Powerful
The Farr® 52 OD is a moderate to light displacement (DLR 96),
powerful boat with a low center of gravity, a generous sail plan and up to
the minute appendage design - all the ingredients necessary for some
stimulating action on the water. For example, with the masthead spinnaker
option, the Farr® 52 OD is faster downwind than the current ILC
Maxi World Champion in winds under 5 knots and over 20 knots and faster
downwind than the CML 60 in all wind strengths. The all-carbon hull
construction, combined with a cast steel keel fin, lead bulb and minimal
internal ballast (just enough to allow tuning the total weight to the One
Design limit), generates a 54% ballast ratio for high stability and
scintillating upwind speed. The hull shape is long and lean and benefits
from the results of our extensive research and testing in support of IACC
and Volvo Ocean 60 designs.
Exhilarating Sailing
VPP comparisons of performance versus rating between the Farr® 52
OD and other top IMS designs around the same size are encouraging for those
wishing to collect silverware in IMS regattas prior to or in parallel with
proposed One Design activity. Around an upwind/downwind course the Farr®
52 OD will be 30 to 50 seconds a mile faster upwind and 23 to 50 seconds a
mile faster downwind (with standard fractional IMS spinnaker) than a typical
optimal IMS 50 footer, course times equivalent to a 58ft IMS boat. This huge
performance gap will provide the 52 OD crew with the potential to stretch
out from the current IMS 50 fleet while having some exhilarating sailing and
thoroughly competitive corrected times. In offshore events such as the
Newport/Bermuda, the 52 OD will be a serious IMS contender.
Proven
The rig, with swept spreaders, short-footed headsail and no running
backstays, has proven its place on the racing scene in terms of its
simplicity, economy and performance versus rating. Great care is taken in
deriving the tube stiffness that will make tuning the rig a simple task. A
large, racing cockpit with twin wheels and pedestals for both the main and
primary winches offers the crew a wide-open yet tidy workplace.
Accommodation below is minimal, consistent with requirements for longer
distance offshore events.
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