Britt Ward, the newly appointed owner, president, and principal designer of Farr Yacht Design, has been with the iconic Annapolis-based firm since 1996. Inspired by Australia II’s historic 1983 America’s Cup win, Ward pursued naval architecture from a young age, studying at Webb Institute and later earning a master’s degree focused on hydrodynamics at MIT. Over nearly 30 years at Farr, he has worked on everything from paddleboards to 140-foot superyachts, America’s Cup programs, production cruiser-racers, and advanced military and commercial vessels.
Today, Ward leads a diverse portfolio of projects, including new cruiser-racers, superyachts for Southern Wind, innovative production concepts, and an upcoming multihull line. With a deep belief in the blend of art and science, his work emphasizes accessibility, ease of sailing, refined performance, and smart industrial design. Under his leadership, Farr Yacht Design is entering a new chapter—expanding into multihulls, advancing high-tech tools and simulations, and applying racing-level innovation across the cruising, charter, and commercial sectors.
For more information, please see their website: http://www.farrdesign.com/
Diane: I’m here with Britt Ward from Farr Yacht Design. He’s been with the company for quite a few years now in Annapolis. Britt, can you start by telling me a little about yourself and how you first got involved in yacht design?
Britt: Sure—and thanks, Diane. I’ve been at Farr since 1996. I actually started as a draftsman. But I figured out yacht design was what I wanted to do when Australia II won the America’s Cup in 1983. I grew up in Western Australia, so I was there for the Cup defense in ’87.
Some family contacts told me about this little school in New York called the Webb Institute, which does nothing but naval architecture. I applied and, at 17, set off across the world to study there.
Webb didn’t have a lot of yacht-specific coursework, but the core naval architecture foundation was excellent. I’ve always believed yacht design is a blend of art and science—and the “science” side was advancing incredibly fast. None of the yacht design firms were hiring when I graduated, so I did a year at MIT with Jerry Milgram, focusing on hydrodynamics for my master’s degree. Then I got a call from Russell Bowler, came to Farr as a draftsman… and almost 30 years later, here we are. I took over ownership of Farr Yacht Design at the beginning of 2025, and I’m now president and principal designer.
Diane: Congratulations—so you’re officially the owner now.
Britt: That’s right.
What’s Happening at Farr Yacht Design Today
Diane: Tell me what’s happening at Farr right now. What are you working on?
Britt: What I’ve always loved about yacht design is the combination of pressure and creativity. Projects are always time-constrained, and you’re always pushing to deliver the best performance possible. That part hasn’t changed. But the level of complexity and the expectations for what we deliver have increased dramatically.
One of the fun parts is the diversity of projects. Over the years I’ve designed everything from a 14-foot stand-up paddleboard to 142-foot superyachts, America’s Cup class boats, racing designs, cruising designs, and all sorts of one-offs. You never know where inspiration will come from.
Right now, that diversity is still there. I’m working on:
- A 3.5 m tender for mass production—an interesting industrial engineering challenge for a powerboat.
- A 36-foot cruiser-racer targeted at ORC, and a 42-foot sistership.
- Several superyachts either in build or advanced design.
- Southern Wind in South Africa just launched the third SW108 this week.
- Last year they launched the SW96-3.
- We have a new SW100 and SW123 in build.
We’re also collaborating with Micheli & Partners Studio in Milan on a 100-foot bluewater cruiser we’ve begun introducing to the market.
And I just wrapped up four years with American Magic in the America’s Cup, including most of 2024 in Barcelona during racing. That’s a completely different environment, but it’s invaluable for understanding where the science and engineering are heading and for building new relationships.
Who Are Farr’s Cruising Designs For?
Diane: Farr does a mix of racing and cruising designs. What kind of sailor are your cruising boats aimed at?
Britt: The pure race-boat market has gotten very small. There are only a few active classes, and in some cases certain designers have effectively locked those up—just like we did 15 years ago. Cruising, on the other hand, is fascinating because it includes charter customers, private owners, and a very broad range of sailors.
For me, it comes back to fundamentals:
I want someone—whether they’re on a 25-footer or a 142-footer—to be able to steer with one hand on the wheel, feel the breeze, and sense the boat respond. Sailing should be fun and intuitive. If charter sailors have a great experience, they’re more likely to become owners. If a cruising boat is easy to handle, people will sail more. That’s the goal.
How Do You Make Boats Easier to Sail?
Diane: Sailing can be intimidating for newcomers. How do you design boats that are easier to use?
Britt: A lot of it is smart industrial and ergonomic design—especially in production boats, where efficiency and cost are major factors. You have to choose the right hardware. For example, if you undersize the winches, someone is going to struggle. And if reefing or anchoring systems are complicated, people won’t use them.
We try to think through the entire user experience:
- How different people move around the boat
- Hardware that’s appropriately sized
- Ergonomics for a range of body types
- Smart stowage
- Thoughtful deck layouts
- Easy systems
People expect good design today—maybe because of the “iPhone-ification” of the world. And they should.
Favorite Designs Over the Years
Diane: Do you have a favorite design or a boat that represents what you value most?
Britt: It’s hard to choose, but we once tried to figure out how many Farr boats are out there. We came up with 18,000 to 19,000—from the earliest 1970s designs to today. That includes all the Beneteau and Bavaria production models we did.
Among cruiser-racers, the Beneteau First 40.7, 36.7, and the 40/35 line stand out. They hit every key point for a dual-purpose boat. A 36.7 we designed 20 years ago won the ORC World Championship last year—and the owner still lives aboard and cruises it. That proves you can design a genuine cruiser-racer that excels at both.
On the larger end, the Southern Winds are incredibly special. Each new one feels more refined than the last. The builders and partners are true craftsmen. I was in Portugal this summer sailing several and meeting their owners—it really reinforced what those boats represent.
And my personal standout will always be Canova, the 142-foot Baltic. It has a DSS foil—the largest foil ever built into a yacht—and remarkable regeneration and energy-capture systems. It’s sailed from high northern latitudes to the far south. And winning World Superyacht of the Year doesn’t hurt.
How Yacht Design Has Changed
Diane: How has yacht design changed over your career?
Britt: Technology has transformed everything. In the ’70s, you’d hand a builder two or three sheets of paper and they would loft and build the entire boat from that. Today everything is CNC-milled or digitally fabricated. That means designers now deliver incredibly detailed 3D models—sometimes of every component.
On the Volvo 65, for example, we delivered something like 10,000 pieces of design information over four years.
Our performance prediction and simulation tools have also advanced enormously. They let us optimize performance much more accurately and carry that knowledge into cruising designs, powerboats, and commercial vessels—even if we dial the fidelity down for cost reasons.
But visual intuition still matters. Bruce Farr used to say, “If it doesn’t pass the ‘look okay’ test, something’s wrong.” I’ve absorbed that over the years. If it doesn’t look right, it usually isn’t.
Farr and Multihulls
Diane: Speaking of looks, you’re getting more involved in multihulls. What’s happening there?
Britt: We’ve always been intrigued by multihulls—physics is physics, no matter how many hulls you have. The catamaran market, especially in charter, is really interesting. There’s a huge opportunity to apply smart design, adaptable tooling, and better industrial processes.
We’ve spent the last four or five years developing concepts for a full line of production catamarans. It’s early, but we’re in active discussions with builders, and it’s exciting to think about not just the boats but how a factory could be laid out to build them efficiently. The goal is high-quality, well-engineered boats at an accessible price.
The Next 10 Years
Diane: Do you see Farr launching a multihull line within the next 10 years?
Britt: I do. I’ve had some very encouraging conversations recently—especially at METS. Now is actually the right time to invest in new product, because development lead times are long and the market will rebound.
I like working across different sectors—racing yachts, cruising yachts, powerboats, tenders, military and commercial vessels. For example, we’re doing a lot with Ghost Works Marine in Michigan, applying lessons from race-boat tech to military and commercial craft to improve safety, sea handling, range, and speed. It’s all exciting—it’s just a matter of finding enough hours in the day.
The Farr Team
Diane: What does your team look like today?
Britt: I work with a network of specialized consultants—structures, systems, composites, hydrodynamics, aesthetics. As the field becomes more specialized, you really need experts for each project type. We’ve worked together for many years and trust each other.
If some upcoming projects lock in, I’ll probably bring on junior designers for broader support. But the days of a 15–20-person yacht design office aren’t really the norm anymore.
How to Follow Farr Yacht Design
Diane: Where can people learn more about Farr and follow your projects?
Britt: I’d point them to the website—but it’s terrible at the moment! It’s being rebuilt so I can properly update it. In the meantime, our LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook channels are active and up to date. We try to highlight our owners’ achievements too—whether it’s a brand-new superyacht or a 40-year-old Farr racer winning a regatta. We want everyone to feel part of the Farr family.
Diane: The new website is coming, though?
Britt: Absolutely. I promise! Like everyone, there are never enough hours in the day.
Closing
Diane: Britt, it’s been fascinating talking to you. It sounds like Farr has a lot of exciting things ahead, and that you’re enjoying the creative process and looking toward the future.
Britt: That’s what I love.
