In the years since she was built Farida has provided enjoyment for more than a dozen different owners – among them a Lt. Colonel and a Wing Commander. She was owned in the 1980’s by ITN’s Chief Foreign Correspondent Michael Nicholson O.B.E., and like her owner Farida has had a much traveled and colourful career. This included a spell in a Turkish boatyard. She was originally built for Mr H. W. Clark who at the time was one of the shareholders of R. A. Newman and Son.
In many ways similar to the longer 38’ Channel class yachts of which Verity A (design number 0019) was the first, Farida has the same cockpit and deck works profile but with the forward coachroof extended forward by some 6’. She is 2’ longer on the waterline with potentially faster on wind performance and was clearly conceived as more of a racing yacht.
Three head stays and a keel stepped mast, composite hull construction but with the minimum of metal structure generally in way of shroud plates reinforcements, mast partners and deck beam knees. She is planked with 1 ¼” Honduras Mahogany on nineteen grown English Oak frames with three American Elm timbers between. Originally there were wrought iron floors at every frame and timber, and the keel bolts were attached to the Elm keel by way of twelve Laurent Giles standard ‘keel bolt clips’ which help to disperse the weight of the lead keel casting into the keelson while locating the W.I. floors.