Level 45
With
plenty of growth and action in small one-design racing around the world,
it’s refreshing to hear of a bigger boat class with some shit happening.
Check out this report from sportboat sailor and former Yachts & Yachting
writer Justin Chisholm, posted on his new site, Offshore
Rules. Thanks to the delectable Ingrid
Abery for the pic.
The
class first saw the light of day in 1996 as the Corel 45. The New York
Yacht Club selected the class as the competition boat for their International
Cup regatta in 1997 and in 1999 the world renowned One Ton Cup became
the class’s world championship trophy. 
Despite
good early acceptance, the arrival of the smaller owner-driver Farr 40
in the same year pretty much halted the 45 in its tracks with around seventeen
boats built. It has since passed through the guise of the IC45 before
finally becoming simply the Farr 45. Many of the boats have found their
way to Europe and the UK and in recent history there was an active Farr
45 winter circuit down in the Mediterranean. However in the last few years
the class has been reborn on England’s south coast with ten boats
now based in and around the Solent.
