Sector: CRUISING
Design No. 39
GERONTIUS
42 Cruiser
Length12.8m / 42′
Design Year1973
BuilderJohn Senior
Description
Design 39, Kailua - Sloop, is a racing yacht designed by Bruce Farr Yacht Designer, Auckland NZ, in 1973. She has an overall length of 42 feet (12.8m). Built by John Senior.
Visual Assets
Technical Specifications
| Year | 1973 |
| Type | Cruising Yacht |
| LOA | 12.8 m42 ft |
| Beam | 3.96 m |
| DWL | 10.75 m35.28 ft |
| Draft | 2.13 m |
| Displacement | 7,246 kg15,975 lbs |
| Ballast | 2,812 kg6,200 lbs |
Design Plans
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Designer’s Notes
The design brief for this boat was for a very easily handled, large, low cost cruising yacht of similar stlye to MOONSHINE, that would be about the maximum to be handled by a husband and wife. The boat was, however, to have IOR consideration so that, without compromising primary requirements, it could be raced reasonably competitively under IOR Rule. KAILUA was designed at the same time as redeveloping FANTZIPANTZ for the FARR 727, and so incorporates many of that design's IOR features, although beam length ratio was kept down to the same ratio as MOONSHINE's for easy handling. The boat proved to be a great family cruising boat, stiff and fast upwind, a joy downwind, and with very easy handling characteristics. A second boat built to the design - GERONTIUS - became famous by getting into the New Zealand Admiral's Cup team in 1975, despite its cruising interior, and went on to become the top boat in New Zealand's first Admiral's Cup challenge.