45 South II (Farr One Tonner)

45 South II in her heyday, finishing fourth in the 1976 One Ton Cup in Marseilles

The Farr One Tonner 45 South II (One Ton Cup 1976), one of the subjects of an earlier article, continues to benefit from continued upgrades by her German owner Henrik Teichmann. Following the addition of a twin-spreader carbon mast in 2013, and a winter refit over 2014-15, 45 South II now also sports a new carbon rudder and prod. 

45 South II sailing back to Germany from a cruise in England, summer 2015

Teichmann reports that the new rudder has improved 45 South II's performance even more than the carbon mast, and the boat recently finished a close second in a 24-hour race held in Holland against 380 other yachts (this must be a very popular race - it attracted 577 entries in total, although light winds in the last few hours meant that only 250 boats finished the race in time). 

The new carbon rudder blade

45 South II ghosts over the finish line in the 2015 Delta Lloyd 24-hour race (Holland)

One Ton Cup 1971 - Part 2

Here is a gallery of colour photos from the 1971 One Ton Cup, which formed part of a feature article in the New Zealand Weekly News, March 1971 (photos taken by Leon Hamlet). An earlier article about this series, the first One Ton Cup under the then new IOR rule, can be seen here.

The New Zealand yacht Runaway, sailing for Germany, sails downwind past islands in the Hauraki Gulf

Wai Aniwa leads the fleet downwind, with Escapade and Apecist to the left and Young Nick to the right

Wai Aniwa works her way through the Rakino passage on the first (short) ocean race - she looked at this stage to be an all-the-way winner of the race, but was becalmed near the finish line and slumped to sixth.

Swiss yacht Joran, foreground, and Wai Aniwa slug it out together during the beat to the weather mark in the third race

Mustang, left, rounds the weather mark in the third race to windward of Apecist (G226) and Maria (A12) on the right

The eventual winner of the Cup, Australia's Stormy Petrel

Sweden's Kishmul to windward of the Italian entry Kerkyra

The start of the 146-mile short ocean race sees Stormy Petrel get the jump on Mustang, Kerkyra, Warri and Wai Aniwa - Wai Aniwa soon after tacked to port and worked the Whangaparaoa shore to take the lead

Young Nick comes in second in the short ocean race

The International 50-Foot Class - Part 3

The 1990 World Cup for the International 50-Foot Yacht Association (IFYA) got underway with a one-off series in Japan, in November 1989 – a notable series for the fact that Mark Morita, the Japanese owner of Champosa V, underwrote the shipping costs of all the yachts, containers and crews to the tune of an estimated $5m - half of which was raised from seven major Japanese corporations under the aegis of the International 50-Foot Yacht Association of Japan, which Morita formed. 

Will sails upwind in fresh conditions during the second race of the Japanese World Cup event, November 1989 (photo Sail magazine)

This attracted to 18 boats for the actual regatta, from eight countries, and coincided with ongoing growth in the 50-foot class, with eight new boats having been launched since December 1988, and another six were expected to debut in early 1990. For Bengal V’s Japanese owner Masakazu Kobayashi, the 50-footers were seen as an excellent training ground for his new Bengal Bay Challenge America’s Cup crew.

The Fifties competing in tumultuous conditions in Sagami Bay, Japan (photo Guy Gurney)

While the event was notable for the impressive size of the fleet, the largest fleet to ever compete in an IFYA event, the conditions in Miura, a commercial fishing village in Sagami Bay south of Yokohama, were less so. Winds swung between very heavy and very light, and the race committee barely got in the minimum four (out of seven scheduled) races to constitute a series. The second race was in the very upper limit for the fragile racers, sailed in breezes that reached a steady 39 knots. Boats surfed at 18 knots. Some limped away early - the Judel-Vrolijk designed Container (helmed by Star sailor Achim Greise) was dismasted in dramatic style during a wayward gybe. The rig was cut away and later retrieved by scuba divers – the crew worked all day and night in watches of seven men to splice the mast together again, and they finished just in time to sail the next day’s races. The overall toll from the race was two broken masts and four broken booms, and a variety of other minor damage. 

Container prepares to gybe in the very fresh conditions in the second race - below, the aftermath

In the end it was Richard DeVos’s Farr-designed Windquest, skippered by John Bertrand, that won the abbreviated series, taking the series over another Farr design, the Japanese Will, by just 0.5 points. Windquest led round the course on the first race but sailed past the layline on the last beat and lost to Container. In the second race Windquest nipped the Danish yacht Andelstanken by half a boat-length on the last tack. Bengal V, with the help of New Zealand sailors Peter Lester and Rod Davis aboard, won the re-sailed third race in light and very shifty airs – Windquest was as low as 14th at one stage but battled back to finish ninth. The last race was another light and shifty contest, which was won by Windquest with Will second, and Will also took second place overall. Third place overall went to Andelstanken, followed by the ever-present Champosa V and Bengal V. 

Andelstanken leads Will and Windquest in fresh conditions in the second race (photo Sail magazine)

Some of the Fifties on their way to Japan

A new change for the class was the introduction of a Silver Fleet for the 1990 World Cup, which got underway with the Japan regatta. The influx of new boats for the 1989 season had seen a marked speed difference between the new and older generation. So the IFYA addressed the problem by deciding that those boats that qualified for an old-age allowance under Mk IIIA of the IOR would have two ratings. They would then be given two scores, one against the overall fleet and a secondary set of results against other Mk IIIA boats in a Silver Fleet. Fuijimo beat Infinity, Springbok and American Eagle to win this 'classic division'. 

Sixteen 50-footers went on to compete at Key West in early 1990, where the wind blew harder than the previous year’s event, and well above 20 knots for the first two days. Kobayashki’s new Farr-designed Tiger was the early leader, but a premature start in the seventh race cost her the series. The new Farr designed Springbok ended up winning five races of the series, but remained behind Container in overall World Cup standings. 

The Fifties at Key West Race Week 1990 - Carat leads Insatiable, Windquest, Champosa and Springbok (photo by Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

The Fifties at Key West Race Week - Insatiable leads Springbok, Carat and Will (photo by Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

Close up view of the action aboard Blizzard during the 1990 Key West regatta (photo Sailing World magazine)

The Fifties at Key West Race Week - Springbok leads from Carat and Will (photo by Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

Will during Key West Race Week 1990 (photo Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

A Fifties startline during Key West Race Week 1990 (photo Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

Windquest during Key West Race Week 1990 (photo Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

Springbok during Key West Race Week 1990 (photo Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

Infinity during Key West Race Week 1990 (photo Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)

Container leads Windquest around a leeward mark during the Tortola World Cup regatta (photo Craig Davis/Sail magazine)

Container went on to win the Tortola leg of the World Cup, held in May 1990, which was contested by a reduced fleet of eight boats, finishing ahead of Abracadabra and Springbok. 

Container was the early front-runner in the 1990 50-Foot season (photo Diamond Sails)

Abracadabra turned the tables by winning the next event in Miami, beating Container and Springbok. Abracadbra was a new Reichel/Pugh design, owned by Dr Jim Andrews and helmed by John Kolius, and she sailed a very consistent series in Miami, with only one finish below fourth. Container lost the regatta after being disqualified in one of the last races after a collision with Infinity 90 and Champosa V.

Abracadabra - standout performer during the 1990 World Cup series (photo McConaghy Boats)

Abracadabra makes her debut in the Miami World Cup regatta (photo Sailing World magazine)

The final event was held in fresh conditions in Newport, Rhode Island. Abracadabra won the first four races en-route to a resounding victory, her fourth regatta win in the 1990 season and more than enough to take the 1990 World Cup. Container and Springbok fought hard for second, with Container edging out Springbok in the final points. Windquest finished fourth and Carat VII fifth.

Abracadabra - 1990 World Cup winner (photo McConaghy Boats)

Container and Springbok had a closely fought series for second and third in Newport, the final regatta in the 1990 World Cup (photo Guy Gurney)

Springbok puts her bow in during a gybe in fresh conditions in Narragansett Bay, Newport (photo Sail magazine)

Carat VII - fifth in the 1990 50-Foot World Cup, and sporting her Sobstad 'Genesis' mainsail

Mandrake was the overall winner in the 1990 Merit Sardinia Cup

In Part 4 of this series of articles we look at the Fifties in the 1991 Admiral's Cup, and the last 50 Foot World Cup events.

Mandrake (photo Carlo Borlenghi / Farr Yacht Design Facebook page)

Part 1 of this series can be seen here, Part 2 here and Part 4 here.

Article updated June 2026

Half Ton Classics Cup 2015

Nieuwpoort, Belgium - 21 August 2015 - After five days, ten races, multiple parties and some amazingly close yacht racing, the 1985 Humphreys MG HS30 Checkmate XV, helmed by Ireland's David Cullen and crewed by Mark Pettitt, John Murphy, James Hynes, Andy George, Aidan Beggan and Gary Cullen, was declared the Half Ton Classics Cup Champion 2015 with a race to spare. 

Checkmate XV on the final day of the Half Ton Classics Cup 2015 (photos by Fiona Brown)

Whilst David and his team returned ashore to savour their victory after the penultimate race, the battle for second place between the 1986 Andrieu designed Miss Whiplash and the 1992 Ceccarelli designed Per Elisa went down to the wire in the final race. Roddy Angus and Dan Challic's Trestada had won race nine with Per Elisa second, Tom Florizoone's Red Cloud third and Miss Whiplash fourth. Miss Whiplash still had the advantage, but with the tricky light conditions leaving the door open for the unexpected there was still a chance for Per Elisa to overtake. 

The two boats were locked in battle royal throughout the last race, but ultimately race victory by 19 seconds and second place on the podium went to Paul Pullen, Timmy Bailey, Brian Steptoe, Jonathan Kneale, Edward Bolitho, Oliver Berryman and Amy Sharp sailing Miss Whiplash, with Robbie Tregear, John and Chris Darbyshire, Andy Jenmin, Dave Miller, Adam Furneaux and James Richardson aboard Per Elisa taking second in the race and third on the podium.

Per Elisa secures a pin end start early in the series

A hugely enthusiastic supporter of the class, David Cullen was a popular winner and magnanimous in his victory, thanking his crew, his fellow competitors, the members and volunteers of the Koninklijke Yacht Club, Nieuwpoort, and Race Officer Paul Charlier for an outstanding regatta. Asked how it felt to finally have his hands on the trophy after so many years he replied:

"We had a fantastic week, it's a beautiful place to sail and the organisers are superb. We got a mixture of all kinds of weather, a bit of Irish weather with the rain, light breezes and windy, so we were very happy with our overall performance and obviously to win the event is very gratifying. 

"I actually started sailing the original Checkmate with Nigel Biggs when I was 19 - and I'm not going to tell you how long ago that was! I bought this boat from Nigel last year and we have spent all year upside down in it at very windy regattas, so to come over here and keep the boat upright is quite an achievement, never mind finishing and winning the regatta.



"It's a very tricky boat, the new boats are very very powerful and we're still trying to figure it out. But we've learnt a lot this week thanks to my ace tactician Mark Pettitt, and we look forward to moving forward and maybe being a little bit faster for Falmouth next year."
The Corinthian Half Ton Classics Cup Trophy was awarded to local boat Skippy's Ton helmed by Nicolas Lejeune and crewed by Jean-Marie Gilles, Ann Lippens, Jean-Benoit Boels, Jan Vyvey and Philippe Piron, who finished in 12th place overall.

An early casualty - General Tapioca loses her mast on the second day

The prize for the leading Production Boat was won by Crakajax, an X95 built in 1985. After the prize giving co-owner Ursula Bagnall noted, "The navigation in Nieuwpoort is really difficult because of the sandbanks and how they effect the tidal flow. It makes racing in the Solent look like a doddle. We are one of the few boats that still sails to every HTCC and we have a full interior including a toilet and cooker and bunks for eight. It's a great event and we hope to see more Production boats in Falmouth next year, perhaps even enough to have a division of our own."

 
In addition to the main racing trophies there is a very special award presented at each Half Ton Classics Cup. The Half Ton True Spirit Trophy is awarded to the boat that, in the opinion of the judging committee, truly personifies the spirit of the class in that season. For their never ending enthusiasm, their commitment to their beautiful boat and their determination to throw themselves into every Half Ton event wholeheartedly, this year's recipients of the True Spirit Trophy are Jean-Luc Courbon, Jean Marty, Richard Carlie, Pierre-Yves Danet, Helen Frouin, Paul de la Renardiere and Louison Le Scouarnec of the 1988 Andrieu designed Half Capone - named after the famous American gangster who also inspires the crews crew uniform. The ladies of the KYCN shore team helped to decide the winner and came armed with water pistols and handcuffs to round up their man!

Alongside the serious prizes there were a number of humorous awards, which caused much mirth amongst the sailors, and every boat in the fleet was called to the stage to receive special prizes including a copy of the Half Ton Classics Cup 2015 poster, a bottle of scotch whisky presented by Roddy Angus of Trastada and, most importantly, a special invitation to the 2016 Half Ton Classics Cup which will be held in Falmouth, UK during the third week of August.

And so the sun sets on another amazing Half Ton Classics Cup and the boats are heading home to start dreaming about and preparing for next time. For next year's event the Class is also keen to encourage participation by Production Half Tonners and boats still being raced in "as original" condition. So if you have a Half Tonner of any type and fancy joining in the fun in Falmouth please contact Paul Pullen on paul@mylorchandlery.co.uk.

 
Review all the news, results and photographs from the event via the Half Ton Classics Cup Blog and the Half Ton Class Facebook page.  Further information about the Half Ton Classic class is available from the Class Website.

FULL RESULTS

PHOTO GALLERY

Quarter Ton Cup 1975

A short film from the 1975 Quarter Ton Cup, held in Deauville, France, has recently surfaced. The Cup was won that year by the Bruce Farr-designed 45 South, the first international victory for New Zealand in a home-grown design, and an early breakthrough effort for Farr. 45 South features at 0:10 (at the dock) and 1.00 (sailing downwind) in this clip.




More about 45 South and the 1975 Quarter Ton Cup can be seen here.

Howzat - 2015 SSANZ Race 2

Howzat, the modified Whiting Half Tonner, is presently competing in the SSANZ (Short-handed Sailing Association of New Zealand) Two-handed regatta, made up of three races of various lengths around the Hauraki Gulf. Howzat finished second in the "Shorthaul" division in lighter conditions in the first race in July, and this sequence was taken soon after the start of the second race (Saturday 8 August) - conditions were pretty moderate to start with, but a classic wintery squall soon ripped through the fleet and I was able to catch Howzat on the burst in this sequence below. They avoided putting the boat completely down the mine, and after recovering from their broach she went on to finish the race in tenth place on corrected time.