Farr/SAI Ambrosini Maxi Racing Yacht - 24.32m/80ft - LONGOBARDA

1988

Farr Maxi LONGOBARDA - £800,000 GBP

Longobarda is generally recognized as the outstanding Maxi Racing Yacht of her era, a combination of the design talent of multi-award- winning New Zealander Bruce Farr and the universally-acclaimed build quality of Ambrosini in Italy.

Built in 1988 using state-of-the-art lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, Kevlar and Nomex, and with a no-expense-spared budget, Longobarda was earning an enviable reputation within months of her launch, by taking on - and beating - yachting’s best in races the world over.

Victory in the Maxi Yacht World Championship in 1989 and the OMYA World Cup in 1990 set in train a string of international successes in America, Australia and Europe; in iconic events such as the San Francisco Big Boat Regatta, the Sydney to Hobart and the Isle of Wight Round The Island Race, Longobarda was the boat to beat.

In the 21st Century, Longobarda has taken on a new role: following a major refit, she now offers the unique opportunity for near race-speed fast sailing in an 80ft Maxi Racing Yacht combined with the ultimate in luxury cruising and culinary delights through a series of tailor-made charters in the Caribbean and beyond.

And the ‘grand prix car of the ocean’ is still winning - in January 2008 Longobarda announced her arrival in the region’s waters with victory in the Barbados Round the Island Race in a time of 5 hours 29 minutes, which is awaiting Barbados Yacht Club ratification as a new record for the south-about route.