The Farr 40 Class enjoyed another fantastic year in 2008.  We had a terrific winter series including Key West Race Week and the Miami Grand Prix, in which my Barking Mad was victorious. There were 261 boats at Key West and another 60 in Miami so it was an honor for the Farr 40 Class that we were selected  Boat of the Week for each regatta. The winter season culminated with the spectacular 2008 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship back in Miami Beach, in April. Vincenzo Onorato and his team on Mazcalzone Latino were World Champions for the third consecutive year. There was an impressive Rolex European Championship in Travemuende, Germany, which was extremely well-organized and supported, resulting —as in the World Championship – in another narrow victory for Vincenzo's team over Giovanni Maspero's, Joe Fly. Lang Walker and his team on Kokomo won both the Australian National Championship and the Australian Circuit for the second year in a row. The Rolex North American Championship, in Miami Beach, was won by Dougie Douglass and his crew on Goombay Smash.  The Great Lakes Fleet enjoyed a fine season with Helmut Jahn's Flash Gordon winning three events. Dave Voss' Pirahna led a nine-boat fleet in Southern California.

The Farr 40 Great Lakes Fleet and the Chicago Yacht Club have been successful in their bid to host the  2009 Farr 40 North American Championship.  Here's a terrific video previewing what's in store for the Fleet when it returns to the windy city next year!