Family cruising in a Farr 7500

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 29

Family cruising in a Farr 7500

Trailer Yachts as opposed to keelers are fast becoming a papular trend in New Zealand for both cruising and yacht racing enthusiasts.

The advantages in converting to a boat with a retractable keel are obvious. No mooring problems and no restrictive long-term locations. The trailer yacht equipped to various stages of sophistication and comfort, is simply transported by trailer to a chosen destination and launched for sailing — even in shallow water.

Designed by Bruce Farr, New Zealand’s top yacht designer and built by Sea Nymph Boats, Limited, Auckland, the Farr is the ultimate in spacious luxury, stream-lined good looks and performance. Following the success of the Farr 6000 aimed at the day and extended week-end sailor, Bruce Farr designed the Farr 5000. These first proper one-design trailer yachts are now very popular all over New Zealand and Australia. His latest, the Farr 7500, designed for the luxury market at $20,000 plus, is probably the most exciting.

This new boat, launched for the first time in August last year, has all the space and comfort usually attributed to the keeler but appeared even easier to sail when “The Press” recently went on a “demo” run -to the Lyttelton Heads with the Christchurch agents, Boats and Motors (Christchurch) Limited.

With the sails set and a little coaxing in the Tight direction the Farr 7500 was soon sailing beautifully in the light breeze. (Rigging end launching took no more than 15 to 20 minutes). Later, as the wind increased a bright red spinnaker was raised against the white mainsail and as one of the crew watching exclaimed, she wqs sheer “poetry in motion.”

There is always a certain romance attached to sailing under “canvas.” The controls are uncomplicated and the ride is a graceful one. A sailor could become terribly fond of a yacht such as this. Even if the price is somewhat expensive it is quality you are paying for and besides, a Farr 7500 is not merely a yacht only to go racing in. It has been designed with -the cruising family in mind. And because of the versatility of the trailer yacht it could be argued that it is of greater benefit to a family than a firmly rooted holiday home.

As a “sailing caravan” the Farr 7500 can take you exploring anywhere in New Zealand — with a maximum of comfort. Apart from the obvious convenience of having transport and living accommodation sorted out aboard, many holiday pastimes can also be enjoyed such as fishing, sunbathing, swimming and relaxing — all by dropping the anchor.

Inside and cut the Farr 7500 has almost everything you could wish for. The standard features and fittings include a full built-in galley to port, dinette with seating for six to starboard and sleeping accommodation for five adults with the dinette converting to a double to make, six berths in all if necessary.

A particularly luxurious feature of the design is the provision of a private forward cabin with two single berths which convert to a double, a built-in alcove containing the toilet (additional) and a vanity' unit on one side and a hanging locker on the other.

The main galley area has a cosy, welcoming atmosphere with its fresh brown and white bunk cushions, and padded backrests, its mahogany

veneer timber work, its attractive (battery operated) copperplate lights (also extra) carpeted floors and padded ceiling. Cooking facilities‘in the Farr 7500 are compact and efficient. There is adequate bench space under one window, a sink with a cover and room for a two burner stove and small oven to be installed. There is also a glass rack above the sink and teak panelled cupboard space nelled cupboard space with cutlery and plate drawers below. Water can be pumped to the sink from a tank in one of the many storage compartments.

An insulated chilli bin has also been incorporated into the boat’s design.

The storage space undertime galley seats and along the walls presides plenty of room for essentials and enables children _ to have their own special compartment to pack away their favourite games, toys and fishing gear. Motor fuel and gas for the stove can be stored in two separate compartments at the stern. Living area is wellplanned on the Farr 7500 but has been made even less confined by a new innovation in trailer sailer design —the pop top. This facility raises the galley ceiling space to 183 cm — a wonderful improvement for the usually cramped livins quarters onboard a yacht. The pop top is also a built in ventilator for cooking fumes and can be left raised with a curtain surround in the evening — a particular advantage on hot summer nights. In good weather the galley can be opened up even further by the removal of cockpit shutters on either side of the main hatch. This “open plan” design helps to keep the skipper in touch with what is happening in the galley below, or vice versa. (Alternatively all hatches can be replaced and the entire yacht locked while the owners are away.). On deck there is plenty

of room to move with ease owing to the safety rail and non slip decking. If the sea is rough any necessary sail changes can be carried out from the forward hatch.

.The self-draining cockpit is wide and roomy, well set up for sail trimming while racing and also comfortable for the leisurely cruise. The deck layout has been carefully' designed and planned for simplicity and efficiency. One halyard winch on the cabin top to starboard looks after head sail and main halyards and all sail controls lead aft to easily reached jam cleats on the cabin-top and coamings. Sailing even for the novice in this yacht is bound .to inspire confidence after a few hours.? of instruction.

The 7500 does have positive foam buoyancy built-in to make it unsinkable but if the yacht did capsize it has passed a self-righting test using the N.Z.T.Y.A. approved formula. With this comforting thought in mind no parent should ave qualms about taking young children along providing the usual safety precautions are followed.

Apart from the . basic boat fittings on the standard Farr 7500 which costs $19,400, freight to Boats and Motors (Christchurch), Limited inclusive, you will probably need to pay for a few, extras as well. A toilet and a stove would not.go amiss, navigation lights .(if you are planning to sail at night, and for mooring). Interior lights are qlso extra. A spinnaker kit and a genoa are more necessary for the accomplished sailer. A stern ladder for getting into the ’ boat from the water and a reliable outboard motor,, are (probably) essential.

Boats and Motors (Christchurch), Limited recommend the Chrysler outboard motor. Either the “Sailor” 180 or 280 “Sailor” with extra thrust, as these have been specially designed for displacement sail boats.

A steel trailer and a six cylinder car are recommended for towing the Farr 7500.

The Christchurch agents give full instruction on the sailing of the yacht in the form of a day’s sailing. Once the boat has been purchased the owner is given further demonstrations on delivery, with the main emphasis placed on the rigging and on familiar sailing terms. The company also like to encourage their customers to join a trailer yacht squadron and go into competition to improve their sailing ability and to get to know other people interested in sailing. In the last two years Boats and Motors (Christchurch), Limited have sold approximately 50 fully built-up Farr units. The Farr 7500 is now also available in kit-set form at a cost of $15,641.42 (including tax). The boat comes complete according to the one design specifications of the designer and builder and it is very simply put together by the homehandyman.

The-Farr .carries a two year guarantee from Sea Nymph the builders, and comes with a handbook. Boats and Motors have discovered that some of their very keen sailing customers were complete novices when they bought their first Farr. For the family man who likes to mix his cruising holidays and week-end sails with a bit of competition racing the Farr 7500 looks to be the pick of the crop.