Farr Yacht Design (FYD) has been commissioned to research, design and support two Volvo Open 70's for a Spanish entry in the 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race. This is the first time that FYD has elected to work for a single program for the Volvo Ocean Race. This arrangement permits greater involvement of the design team with the project management, builders and crew. FYD will be making a much bigger contribution to strategic planning, construction supervision, boat optimization and tuning assistance during the race than ever before. In the previous Volvo Ocean Race, FYD had designed 4 out of 7 boats. All four had severe problems during the race, even coming close to abandon. The Spanish entry movistar, designed by FYD, finally sank in the Atlantic, fortunately without and casualties.
Research work at FYD commenced in November 2006 and involves a team comprised of FYD designers and outside consultants. Tank testing is currently underway at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. The Spanish entry has acquired an existing Volvo Open 70 and FYD has designed modifications to the boat that will be built and tested over the next few months. Sails, appendages, hull shapes and canting systems are all part of the full-scale testing program. FYD staff members have been sailing on the boat and will be onboard for testing of the modifications to obtain first hand knowledge to use in their research and design work.
