The result was a stripped-out, purpose-built racing yacht that later attracted interest as a candidate for serious cruising conversion. One example, originally christened Spirit of Diana, spent years neglected on the hard before a later refit brought her back to life.
Design and Construction
The Farr Colvic Millennium 65 measures 19.8m overall, with a 16.9m waterline, a 5.2m beam and 27,500kg displacement. Her bulb keel draws 3.2m. A displacement-to-length ratio of 166 and sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 21.4 put her firmly at the high-performance end of the spectrum, while her theoretical hull speed is 9.9 knots.
Colvic Yachts built the composite hulls in 1999, reinforcing them with Kevlar for added strength. The water and fuel tanks were made from durable nylon material. The Farr 65 is a high-performance, Farr-designed round-the-world racing yacht built for speed and safety in all weather conditions.
Rig and Sail Handling
The masthead rig uses a keel-stepped Formula Spars aluminium mast, a Tuff Luff headfoil, and hydraulic vang and backstay controls. Sail handling centers on a manual coffee-grinder system. Lewmar 88 primary winches sit on the central grinding pedestal; Lewmar 66s beneath the dodger handle halyards and reefing lines; 64s are mounted on the cabin top; and 44s serve elsewhere.
The cockpit is huge and crowded with 13 winches. The mainsheet attaches at the after end of the boom, and a Lewmar traveller spans nearly the full beam just forward of the twin helms for mainsail trim.
Farr designed the boat especially for racing with an amateur crew, striking a good balance between ease of sail handling and safety. Bruce Farr described her as faster than her peers on every point of sail. One owner reported a maximum speed through the water of 19.9 knots during a passage from the UK to Ireland.
Accommodation
Below deck, the layout is unapologetically race-oriented. Eight more-or-less equal sea berths are divided between the forward and aft sections. A dedicated sail locker occupies the forepeak, separated from the accommodation by a watertight bulkhead. The extra six feet of length over the sister boat Icebear made this locker possible.
The galley sits amidships. It has a propane stove supplied by two externally stored 10.4kg fiberglass cylinders, a 130L 24V fridge and an 80L freezer. On the cruised example, the galley also has a GN-Espace oven large enough for full-size gastronorm trays, with countertops set 2in higher than standard.
Two head-and-shower compartments serve the crew. Two Eberspächer forced-air heaters also direct warm air into the wet lockers. In the transom area, a “bathtub” provides pressure hot water for an offshore shower.
Known Issues and Conversion Demands
The race for which the Farr 65 was designed folded after one edition, leaving most of the series without the career intended for it. One hull was left on the hard before being restored.
As built, the Farr 65 was a stripped-out racing boat with minimal accommodation and systems. Equipment found on converted examples—including a Lithionics 24V lithium bank of nearly 1,000Ah, a Watt & Sea 600 hydrogenerator, twin 450A engine alternators, a Spectra Cape Horn watermaker and Furuno 1835 radar—reflects later owner investment rather than the original specification.
The nylon tanks and Kevlar-reinforced composite shell are period racing choices, not cruising-grade redundancy.
Refits and Ownership
One 2022 refit included an investment of more than 70K in new North Racing sails: a mainsail plus J2 and J3 headsails.
A separate restoration added a new dodger, a Perry-designed navstation, and the lithium battery and hydrogenerator installation described above. The owners deliberately retained propane cooking and added forced-air heating and a manually operated watermaker. Those choices signaled an emphasis on offshore self-sufficiency rather than dependence on shoreside facilities.
The Verdict
The Colvic Millennium 65 is a genuine Bruce Farr round-the-world racing machine with the foundations of a formidable expedition cruiser. It will suit only an owner prepared to accept its racing origins—and the cost of converting it for cruising.
Pros
- High sail-area-to-displacement performance, with a documented maximum of 19.9 knots through the water
- Kevlar-reinforced composite hull and watertight forepeak bulkhead
- Sail handling designed to balance performance, safety and manageability for an amateur crew
Cons
- Only five were built, and the intended race folded after one edition, limiting fleet support
- Stripped-out racing specification as built; major cruising systems are owner additions
- 10ft 2in draft and racing-oriented ergonomics are poorly suited to casual coastal use
