Our Story
Five decades, 500+ designs, 50+ world championships.
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.
1980s – 1990s
The Ocean Racing Era
In 1981, Bruce Farr and Russell Bowler relocated from New Zealand to Annapolis, Maryland and incorporated Bruce Farr & Associates — the firm that would later become Farr Yacht Design — formalizing a practice already known for pushing boundaries. The Whitbread Round the World Race changed everything. When Steinlager 2 won every leg of the 1989–90 edition, the sailing world took notice. Farr designs went on to win five editions of the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race, a record unmatched by any design office.
Simultaneously, Farr designs were rewriting the record books in the IMS and IOR fleets, winning world championships across classes and oceans, positioning the office at the center of the global racing community.
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 Southern Wind designs proved that Farr could deliver refinement and speed at any scale.
2020s
Today
Britton Ward, who joined Farr in 1996 and worked directly alongside Bruce and Russ for over a decade, became a partner in 2012 and took full ownership in 2025. Recently, Britt has served as Hull Platform Lead for the American Magic AC75 Patriot in the 37th America’s Cup campaign in Barcelona. The office is actively taking on new projects and continuing to support all of our existing owners.
The Farr team has worked on more than 800 projects producing over 500 distinct designs. At our last estimate more than 15,000 boats bearing the Farr name have been built.
Our Approach
FYD’s reputation is built on combining decades of experience with the most advanced technologies and a willingness to push boundaries to find uniquely creative solutions that meet our clients’ requirements. We pride ourselves on our close relationships with clients and builders, helping to understand and refine their vision into highly refined solutions that are beautiful, functional, and a joy to sail.
We utilize the latest in advanced computer-aided simulation and design tools to develop designs that are lighter, stronger, and faster — but also optimized for manufacturability. We offer the unique ability to combine research, naval architecture, styling, engineering, and project management within a single integrated team.
Our Story Timeline
The legacy is the foundation. The work is what’s next.