From the Whitbread to the Volvo — Farr designs have led the fleet around the world for four decades.
When Bruce Farr drew his first Whitbread Round the World entry in the late 1980s, ocean racing changed forever. What followed was the most dominant run in the history of offshore sailing — seven consecutive race wins, the one-design class that unified the fleet, and a legacy no other design office comes close to matching.
From Peter Blake’s Steinlager 2 in 1989 to the Volvo Ocean 65 fleet that carried every team from 2014 to 2018, Farr designs have shaped what it means to race around the world.
Second edition of the Farr-designed Volvo Ocean 65 one-design class. Seven teams raced identical Farr hulls across 45,000 nautical miles. Dongfeng Race Team took the overall title in a season decided by a single point.
VO65 one-design — 7 boats
Debut of the Volvo Ocean 65 — the one-design class conceived and drawn by Farr Yacht Design. The VO65 unified the fleet under a single design for the first time. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing won the edition aboard Azzam.
VO65 one-design — 7 boats
Azzam (Design 715) for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, built by Persico Marine. Team Sanya sailed Design 634 from the 2008–09 edition on a second-life campaign.
Volvo Open 70 — Farr Yacht Design
Farr Yacht Design was represented by our second-generation VO70’s Telefónica Blue and Telefónica Black — innovative vessels with open deck layouts, fine bows with integrated spray rails, and advanced structural designs.
Volvo Open 70 — Farr Yacht Design (Gen 2)
First race to feature the Volvo Open 70 (VO70). Farr Yacht Design designed 4 of the 7 entries: MoviStar (Design 550), Ericsson Racing Team, Brasil 1, and Pirates of the Caribbean (all Design 545). Paul Cayard aboard Pirates of the Caribbean finished 2nd overall, with Brasil 1 in third.
Volvo Open 70 — Farr Yacht Design (Gen 1)
John Kostecki drove illbruck to victory in the first edition under the Volvo Ocean Race name. The Farr design proved fastest across all conditions over 32,700 nautical miles.
Volvo Ocean 60 — Farr Yacht Design
Farr Yacht Design — Volvo Ocean Race Heritage
Aerial footage of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet at sea
From the Farr Archive
The legacy continues
From Whitbread to Volvo, the record speaks for itself. Ready to write the next chapter?