Farr 1020 BRILLIANT CLUB RACER/CRUISER! Just Listed

Firefly is a highly regarded Farr 1020, designed by internationally renowned yacht designer Bruce Farr and built by Sea Nymph in Auckland, New Zealand. Originally conceived as a strict one-design cruiser-racer, the Farr 1020 successfully combines competitive sailing performance with genuine cruising comfort. Firefly is particularly significant as a factory-built and fully finished vessel that was constructed as a premium show boat for the 1987 Annapolis Boat Show, showcasing the best fittings and finish available from the builder. The Farr 1020 remains one of Bruce Farr's most admired production yacht designs and was influential in the development of later high-performance New Zealand yachts.

At 10.34 metres (33.9 feet) in length, Firefly offers an ideal balance of speed, stability and accommodation. Her fibreglass hull and deck are built around Sea Nymph's innovative structural grid system, creating a strong, rigid platform while maintaining excellent sailing characteristics. The powerful hull shape, lead fin keel and fractional rig provide impressive upwind performance and exhilarating downwind speed, while remaining easy to handle with a small crew or even single-handed.

Below deck, Firefly provides comfortable accommodation for up to six people. The layout includes a private double V-berth forward, a convertible double berth in the saloon, a generous aft quarter berth and an additional single berth amidships. The enclosed head incorporates a marine toilet and shower, while the warm timber interior and practical storage throughout make the yacht equally suited to weekend cruising, offshore passages or race campaigns.

The galley is well equipped with a two-burner stove and oven, sink with hot, cold and seawater supply, an insulated icebox, and ample storage for provisions and cookware. A 200-litre freshwater tank supports extended cruising, making the vessel capable of comfortable family adventures around Tasmania and beyond.

On deck, Firefly features a spacious and practical cockpit designed for both racing and cruising. All sail controls are led aft, allowing efficient short-handed operation. Four self-tailing Harken winches, quality Spinlock and Lewmar clutches, a dodger, boom tent, twin anchors and substantial locker storage provide a versatile and highly functional deck layout. The generous cockpit offers excellent comfort under sail while remaining race-ready.

Firefly is offered with an impressive sail inventory that allows her to remain competitive on the racecourse. Included are two Kevlar mainsails, a custom-built 2025 Quantum J2 headsail featuring Carbon Fibre Lightskin technology, a carbon laminate J3, a furling Dacron J1, and four fractional spinnakers. The aluminium tapered mast, aluminium boom, stainless-steel standing rigging and modern Spectra running rigging complete a package that is ready to race immediately. Recent upgrades, including replacement deck organisers and running rigging improvements, further enhance reliability and performance.

Mechanical power is supplied by a reconditioned Volvo Penta 2002 two-cylinder diesel engine driving through a Volvo saildrive and folding propeller. Recently serviced in June 2026, the engine provides dependable auxiliary power for coastal cruising, deliveries and harbour manoeuvring. Under sail, Firefly is capable of exceptional performance, regularly demonstrating the renowned speed for which the Farr 1020 class is known.

The vessel's electrical and navigation systems include a 2024 DSC VHF radio with AIS, HF radio, Raymarine instruments, Raymarine tiller pilot with fluxgate compass, LED navigation lighting and modern tablet-based navigation using Garmin Navionics. These systems make Firefly equally suited to shorthanded cruising, club racing and extended coastal passages.

Firefly has an enviable racing history. Previously known as Forzado, she successfully competed in events including Hamilton Island Race Week, Geelong Week, the Festival of Sails and the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. More recently she has continued racing successfully in Tasmania and remains a proven performer on the Derwent.

Firefly represents a rare opportunity to purchase a yacht that genuinely excels as both a cruiser and a racer. With pedigree design credentials, documented racing success, comfortable accommodation, recent upgrades and a reputation for outstanding sailing performance, she offers exceptional value for sailors seeking a versatile, turn-key yacht that is equally at home winning races or exploring Tasmania's magnificent coastline.

Derwent Boat Sales offers the information on this vessel including condition, in good faith as provided by the Owner/Vendor. While confident about the accuracy we cannot Guarantee or Warrant it but will assist any prospective purchaser verify this as part of the purchase process.