Farr 395 Tuning Guide

The Farr 395 is a great one-design for the owner who prefers driving his or her own boat. Fortunately, the Farr 395 rates fairly well in most handicapping systems and have won events such as Block Island Race Week.

Our Farr 395 Tuning Guide was developed by the Offshore One Design Division. The Doyle Offshore One Design Division is active in the Farr 30, Farr 395, Farr 40, Tartan 10, J/120, J/105, 1D 35, J/24, Etchells, Sonar, and Soling classes. We have included some extra helpful tips on tuning the Farr 395, which will add to the enjoyment of another great One Design. All of our Tuning Guides are designed to help maximize performance, and make adjustments fast and easy. This will help you get the most out of the Farr 395. We will continually update this guide as new developments and tuning techniques emerge.

After sailing the Farr 395 you may come up with some ideas not addressed in our guide. We are always happy to discuss your ideas. Feel free give us a call.

Remember this is just a guide, and you still have to get out and sail.

Good Luck and Great Sailing,
Mark Ploch
Doyle Sailmakers Offshore One Design Division

What you need to get started

There will be a couple of items needed before tuning the Farr-395. Below is a list that will help you throughout the tuning process.

• Note Pad and pen
• A 50' Metric Tape Measure
• The RT-11 Rod Loos Gauge
• Crescent Wrench and Screw Driver
• Plastic Wire Ties (Various Sizes)
• 1 Roll of Rigging Tape 

About the Mast

The Farr 395's carbon fiber rig with swept spreader and no runners has simplified sailing and boat handling but requires some different techniques in rig tuning. To fully understand how to tune the rig, first take a step back and look at what the goal of rig tuning is. The main objective with tuning is to insure that the rig fits the sails and that the sails work together. The mast bend and headstay sag should fit the sails as they were designed. The basic concepts of setting up the Farr-395 rig is not that different from many other modern boats today. The basic philosophy is to match headstay sag and mastbend to fit the sails and then adjust the rig and sails to keep this relationship similar as conditions change.

Because adjusting the headstay is not practical on the Farr 395, the headstay tension will be influenced by the Shroud, Backstay and Mainsheet tension.

Increasing pressure on the D-1's (Lowers) and D-2's (Diagonals) will straighten and stiffen the mast fore and aft. By stiffening the rig fore and aft, the backstay will have a more direct affect on headstay sag. Tighter rig tension will generate less headstay sag depowering the sailplan, while a looser rig allows headstay to sag and powering up.

Setting the Mast Step & Partners

Setting the Mast Step is first. This measurement is taken from the Bulkhead to the aft face of the mast. This measurement should be 201mm.

Set the mast at the deck (Partners) at Max J, which is 4.28m. This measurement is taken from the intersection of the head stay and the deck to the front face of the mast.

J-Measurement = 4.28m

Setting the Rig in the middle of the boat

• Now set the mast in the middle of the boat.
• Take the Main Halyard and connect the tape measure to the shackle.
• Pull the halyard up so the shackle is roughly 3' above the deck at the shrouds.
• Measure to the center of the Cap shroud pin. This measurement should be the same from side to side.

Setting the Base Shroud Tension

Now that the mast is centered in the boat we will be using the RT-11 Rod Loos Gauge to set the shroud tension. We are looking to have 2" of pre-bend at the finished set up.

• The V-1's (Cap Shrouds) will be set to 47 on the gauge.
• The D-1's (Lowers) will be set to 28 on the gauge.
• The D-2's (Diagonals) will be set enough to get a smooth 2" pre bend and straight sideways.

This is the 10 kts TWS Base Setting. As the wind speed increases or decreases, adjustments will need to be made. Please use the chart below.

Rig Set Up and Sail Combination for Farr 395

True Wind Speed	0-6 Kts	6-10 Kts	Base Setting 10 Kts	11-15 Kts	16-20 Kts	21+ Kts
Cap Shroud Loos Gauge	43	45	47	49	51	54
Cap Shrouds from Base	-2	-1	# Of Turns	+1	+2	+3
D-1’s Loos Gauge Setting	28	28	28	28	28	28
Mast Butt Aft of Bulkhead			201 mm
Jib Used	AP Race	AP Race	AP Race	AP Race	AP Race	RF Heavy
In-Haul / Weather Sheet	3"	2"	1"	0	0	0
Spinnaker Selection	1502 Meter	1502 Meter	1502 Meter	1502 Meter	1502 Meter	1202 Meter
Cap Shroud Measurement			382 mm
Lower (D-1) Measurement			329 mm

Note: Each Turn On the Cap Shroud = 1/8” or 3mm
Each Turn on the Lower (D-1) Shroud = 1/16” or 1.5mm

*Note: Turnbuckle measurement: The Distance from the top exposed threads to the base of the shroud deck plate. This may vary from boat to boat. Make a note in the set up book of these numbers. This will allow for a quick set up at the beginning of the season.

For more information or to order Farr 395 Class sails:

• Contact Mark Ploch, Doyle Ploch
  
• Email markploch@doyleplochsails.com
• Call 800 717 1406


• Contact your local Doyle Loft
• Email Us info@doylesails.com
• Call 800 94 DOYLE