SAGACIOUS IV, 40ft IOR Racing Yacht

Designer’s Notes

"Meet “Sagacious IV”, a Farr 40 design 136 (One tonner IOR) and one of the 17 listed “Magic Boats”, conceived by Bruce Farr in 1983. They were well regarded in the elite of sailing alongside such famous names as Geronimo, Exidor and Sundance from NZ - showing how it’s done in rough waters and whatever was thrown at them. Sagacious IV performed well in the Sydney Hobart 1984 and 1985 (1St on handicap). In those days – up wind and off the wind performance was premium – unlike the current trend of favouring courses to suit downwind carbon flyers only. Sagacious IV is now looking every bit the racing beast she is. She has been modernised and refitted to bring her up to today’s requirements including Nav systems and running gear. Showing here as she was in 1985 and as she is now in 2020 the Western Australian Blue Water Race “Geraldton Ocean Classic” (the only pre-qualifier in WA for the Sydney Hobart). This involves a race leg from Fremantle to Geraldton, a weeklong local regatta in Geraldton, and a return leg to Fremantle. The Sagacious IV Offshore Racing team are enjoying the journey developing and racing this old girl back to her former self – restricted of course under IRC rules that do not really favor the sail plan she was designed to sail under. Sagacaious IV now lives in the Swan River at South of Perth Yacht club and goes under the bridges to the ocean at every opportunity – under the ownership of Chris and Annie Hind – she is looking over the horizons to compete once again in the Sydney Hobart – a long way from Fremantle so fingers crossed should the stars align. There are a lot of IOR and similar designs that stand the test of time. They were built for rough water and lived to tell the tale. – go hard or go home "