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The emblematic Nautor's Swan shipyard took advantage of the Rolex Giraglia to present its new one-design. This is the fourth âeuros one-design - after the 42, 45 and 50 - for the Finnish manufacturer.
While the new yachtâ??s compact, stripped-down, radical format may come as a surprise to connoisseurs, the collaboration with Juan Yacht Design comes as no real surprise, since the Franco-Argentinian architect has been working with Nautor for the past three years.
But the first sketches are exciting! The model and 3D views show a hull with very taut lines, an inverted stem, a bulb keel and, above all, a foil...
An exciting concept
Philippe Ouhlen, project manager with the Juan Yacht Design team, was given carte blanche by Nautor's Swan CEO Leonardo Ferragamo to design the new one-design. " The idea was to go one step further than the Swan 50, to build on the spirit of the next America's Cup boats, while offering a healthy, accessible yacht. When it comes to small racing yachts, I can distinguish three categories: the classics, the recent but ultimately rather conservative âeuros, and finally the concept boats like the Melges 40 or the Figaro 3. Of course, the CS 36 belongs to the latter family." The portability argument is not lacking in appeal, but limits the size, according to Philippe, to 30 feet.
Accessible but subtle
The ClubSwan 36 was designed for sailing with 6 crew. Rather wide (3.60 m for 11 m in length), well ballasted (1,400 kg at 2.75 m below the surface for a total displacement of 2,500 kg), this one-design is not an unmanageable steed in 15 knots of wind. With its two rudders, it's even easy to control.
In the interests of simplification and cost reduction, the site and the architects have turned away from all-carbon construction: " unnecessary to gain only 45 kg and, above all, to expose yourself to the effects of punching in the event of impact" explains Philippe. Likewise, to keep things simple, the designers limited themselves to just 4 sails: a mainsail, two jibs and a spinnaker. On the other hand, the carbon mast with its runners can be worked on at will.
A unique, mobile foil
One foil, not two! This part remains movable in a box, so that it can be fully extended on one edge or half extended on both edges. And because the foil is curved, you can play with its angle to the surface of the water. When fully extended to leeward, the asymmetrical plane acts as a daggerboard with a... negative fin. In the middle position, the foil offers a double lift effect. Add the heel component, and it's easy to see that setting up the appendage will be a real brain-teaser for the crew's best brains...
For a new audience
Swan, the Rolls of the seas... Launching a small Swan will enable new skippers to discover the brand and its prestigious regatta circuit. And the asking price âeuros, inevitably lower than that of larger racing machines âeuros, could motivate rapid development of the class. All the same, expect to pay â'¬385,000 ex VAT.
The CS 36 was designed to sail with 6 crew members. " A priori one owner helmsman, two amateurs and three pros" philippe predicts. The deck layout is rather disconcerting: no deckhouse, but a flush deck with a pronounced bouge âeuros a bit like that good old J 24 - and a cockpit uncluttered and bordered by fillières of rappels.
What's inside? Nothing or almost nothing... four bunks to relax and share a coffee. The panache of a Star combined with the latest technological and architectural developments... A concept that seems to be catching on, as 8 boats are about to be ordered. " Our objective with Nautor's Swan is to deliver 20 boats per year says Philippe. But we could build a lot more!"
