Farr 40 Class

Designed To Win

FLASH GORDON 6 crew celebrating their Farr 40 world title in Chicago

Chicago architect Helmut Jahn has won the 2012 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship after nine races across four days of competition on Lake Michigan. A stalwart of the grand-prix class, Jahn’s previous best result was a fourth place at last year’s Rolex Farr 40 World Championship which was contested in Sydney, Australia. After more than a dozen times racing in the world championship, it seems fitting that Jahn claims the 2012 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship title while racing from his home club, Chicago Yacht Club, against a backdrop of the city that is graced by some of his work.

With the race committee hoping to run three races for the final day of the series, the first race of the day got underway in a westerly breeze of 13 knots with gusts to 24. John Demourkas, on Groovederci (USA), led the fleet around the first two marks of the 6.4 nautical mile course, only to be overtaken by Hasip Gencer on Asterisk Uno (TUR) who cruised on to cross the finish just four hundredths of a second ahead of him. Enfant Terrible (ITA) was third across the line, followed by Charisma (USA) and Barking Mad (USA). Standings leader Helmut Jahn, on Flash Gordon 6 (USA), was sixth which was enough to both keep him in the lead and also increase his points cushion from 10 to 13.

After a wait for the wind to stabilize and then two general recalls, the second race got underway in approximately 12 knots with gusts to 17. Enfant Terrible won and was followed 10 seconds later by Nightshift and Heartbreaker, with Struntje light and Transfusion rounding out the top-five finishers. With a seventh place finish, their worst of the series, Flash Gordon 6 secured the championship crown. With the time limit for starting another race running out, the championship was determined with nine races.

2012 Worlds VIdeos

Windy City Lives Up To Nickname

Photo by Rolex / Kurt Arrigo. Click to enlarge.

Chicago, IL: Leaving no doubt as to the location of the 2012 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, the Windy City produced plenty of breeze for the penultimate day of grand prix racing on Lake Michigan.

The southwest wind delivered as predicted, building over the course of the day as the clouds receded and temperatures rebounded by almost 30 degrees from their overnight low, an 18-20 knot breeze -- gusting to 32 -- propelled the 20-strong fleet on a 6.6 nautical mile course for the first race of the day. Wolfgang Schaefer, on Struntje light (GER), was first across the finish to win his third race of the championship, followed by four American teams: PLENTY, Groovederci, Heartbreaker and Flash Gordon 6.

“We had a great day today,” said Peter Holmberg, Schaefer’s tactician on Struntje light. “We set our strategy to get off the start clean and we picked the side we liked and it was a good choice. In the first race we got around in front and held our spot. Second race same plan, and it went very well. We finished second in that race. Yesterday was quite windy and today one step windier. We did a nice job on the boat, making our strategy...that was probably the most important and getting off the line clean. And our owner did a great job driving the boat. [Planning] for tomorrow, we’ll go out early and see what the pattern of the wind is and try to make some good decisions. But getting off the line clean is the most important thing.”

In the second race, with the breeze up to 20-35 knots, the win went to defending champion Guido Belgiorno-Nettis on Transfusion (AUS).

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