Rolex Farr 40 Worlds

Bob Fisher sums up the formidable competition for today's first race

The Farr 40 Class World Championship, sponsored by the Rolex Watch Company and organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron, begins today. Racing is to be held in the Solent and in charge will be the Royal Yacht Squadron team which met with such resounding success as a result of the America's Cup 150th Jubilee Regatta.

This will be the fourth world championship of this exciting 40 foot class designed by the universally acclaimed Bruce Farr. Previous championships have been held in Miami, San Francisco and Newport, Rhode Island and members of the class are delighted to race in the waters at Cowes, the Mecca of Yachting.

130 Farr 40s have been built since 1998 and much of the success of this class has been in the rule which insists that the owners steer their own boats. This has found great favour in the United States, Australia, Italy and Great Britain. Amateur helmsmen have been the backbone of yacht racing for decades.

In turn, the owner/drivers generally have as many as the maximum of four professional crewmen to assist their efforts and the 'rock stars' of sailing find considerable enjoyment from contributing to the racing in these closely matched boats. It enables tacticians, for example, to keep their heads out of the boat and concentrate on the strategy of the race in progress.

At this world championship, there will be two of the former world champions competing, the reigning champion, John Calvert-Jones, who is also the Class Chairman from Australia, and Jim Richardson, who won in 1998.

Calvert-Jones' Southern Star will have Grant Simmer, former owner of the North Sails loft in Sydney, and now design co-ordinator for the Swiss America's Cup Challenge, as tactician once more. There is also the additional talent from 49er champion, Adam Beashel, and the ever-reliable Mark Walsh.