The LONGOBARDA story

LONGOBARDA

HISTORY

SPECS

PICTURES

LONGOBARDA'S History
Since her launch in 1989 Longobarda was recognised as the outstanding Maxiyacht of her era, proving this by winning the World Maxi Yacht Championships in 1990. She is the product of a successful combination of Bruce Farr design talent, Ambrosini build quality and a no expense spared build budget.

With the demise of the IOR Maxi Circuit in 1993, and after competing in that year's Nioulargue, the swansong of the IOR maxis, Longobarda was sailed to Southampton where extensive modifications were carried out over that winter, in preparation for a year of international sailing. These modifications included the thorough strengthening of the hull structure to take the rigour of offshore racing and ocean crossing, fitting of water tight collision bulkheads forward, provision of a quality 'racing' interior, strengthening of both rigs for offshore and delivery, generator, watermaker and Commander hydraulic winch pack.

Re-launched in the spring of 1994, Longobarda was sailed to Newport R.I. where she took part in that year's Bermuda Race before the Onion Patch and New York Yacht Club's 150th Anniversary Regatta. Here she competed with credit against some of the new IMS Maxis. She was then trucked across the USA to take part in the San Francisco Big Boat Regatta, then delivered across the Pacific to Sydney, Australia for that year's Hobart. Following this she was sailed back to the UK to take part in European Regattas including the Maxi Worlds in Sardinia 1995, where she performed well until losing the top of her mast in the very windy last race.

Winter 1995/96 saw extensive further modifications to enhance her performance and rating under IMS. These included building a new bow, modifying the rocker and filling in the IOR inflexion under the stern. The internal ballast was also removed, significantly lightening her. This last winter saw the IMS modifications completed with the addition of a bulbed IMS type keel and further reduction in displacement. The result of the above IMS modifications - Longobarda is over 1m longer at the water line, 9 tons lighter for the same righting moment, and performing faster than ever.

To compliment these modifications and to compete in the Maxi Worlds in Sardinia in September, a new North 3DL mainsail, three headsails and two new spinnakers were purchased. In addition to numerous older sails, Longobarda currently has two complete sets of regatta sails. A new offshore spectra mainsail has just been delivered by Doyle Sails in Southampton.