Farr Comments on FG43 Design Brief

The construction of the tooling for the Finngulf 43 is advancing rapidly! From the beginning of our relationship the design and development of the FG43 has moved at a brisk pace, and it is exciting to see our design coming to life under the hands of the talented group at Finngulf. Farr Yacht Design is pleased to have been chosen by Finngulf for the first design in their updated line of performance cruisers. The design brief calls for a modern, aggressive hull with a traditional Nordic sheer to complement beautiful, hand-built interiors designed by Studio Suppanen. Superb performance across a range of conditions and excellent results in handicap racing are major goals of this design. The choice of the final hull and rig parameters is largely driven by the achieved ballast ratio. The commitment of Finngulf to employ a high level of construction technology has allowed a ballast ratio of 43.5% in combination with a moderate displacement and plenty of sail area for light wind performance. Key features of the hull shape include a moderate bow overhang with a stem slope of 10 degrees. The slope and length of the overhang (from the waterline ending to the knuckle) are designed for handicap benefit and for quickly adding length as the boat heels. The keel configuration is driven by two key factors. Achieving the deepest vertical center of gravity (VCG) and the optimum overall longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) in a design with the least total drag promotes the choice of a "T" arrangement with the keel fin attached to the longitudinal center of the bulb. The proposed draft of 2.61m provides for good upwind performance without being extreme. The proposed material for the fin is cast iron and for the bulb is lead. The lateral area of the fin is set to achieve reasonable leeway angles. The rudder is the minimum size needed to give excellent handling in all conditions. The rig has been designed with flexibility in mind. The amount of sail area can be adapted for local prevailing wind conditions and handicap systems by varying the headsail overlap of the largest headsail from 155% to 105%. Alloy or carbon is available as the mast material. The styling is drawn from and intended to maintain a direct lineage with Finngulf heritage, wih cabin geometry composed of aggressively sloped sides with simple, taught, thoroughly modern lines. The layout of the deck and cockpit strikes a balance between the dual requirements of competitive boat handling with an ergonomic and spacious cockpit for round the buoys maneuvers and comfort and versatility while cruising. The twin wheels allow the helmsperson to sit comfortably to windward with good visibility forward, and unobstructed passage while stern-to in port or anchored along a beautiful beach. The Finngulf 43 successfully merges the needs and desires of the racer and the cruiser into an elegant, distinctive package with impressive performance and exceptional comfort. We eagerly look forward to see the new FG43 on the water and in the winner's circle. www.farrdesign.com