Hull Serial Number 488

This yacht is designed as a moderated cost, fast but easily handled, one design club racer. It is also capable of being raced in the IMS Racing Division with few minor addition to the otherwise empty interior to suit IMS Regulations. Farr Yacht Design, Ltd. was commissioned to design the Platu as a racing sailboat suitable for teaching sailing skills and racing skills to “new sailors”. The yacht will be fast and sporty with no interior fit out as it is intended for day racing only. The light displacement hull shape combines a long waterline, fine bow sections and powerful stern sections, all carefully balanced to deliver exceptional performance. The combinations of wide, flaring topsides that increase the effective stability from crew weight and a highly refined keel geometry will give the high stability essential for a well-rounded, light displacement design. The SG cast iron keel design has evolved from the keels seen on our most recent Whitbread designs featuring a large bulb carefully integrated into a slender fin. The highly refined rudder profile and sections shapes, unique to Farr designs, call for a carbon rudder stock, glass and foam rudder blade. An efficient, no nonsense deck layout has been designed to make the yacht easy to sail for either the novice or regatta veteran. Complete with sail and rig controls, emphasis has been placed on the careful placement of gear. Configuration of a double swept-spreader, fractional rig with short over-lapping headsail and large mainsail will allow for a high performance rig that is strong and reliable yet allows for effective adjustment of sails for varying wind conditions. The large spinnaker is set on an “over-length” pole.