The birth of a myth
45 years ago, Nautor won the first Withbread with the Swan 65. Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, it was the largest production boat of its time.
Today in 2019, we are discovering the revolution of the Swan 65 . Admittedly, this boat will no longer be able to win a round the world race, but it does provoke an irrepressible desire to sail around the world.
Refinement and technology
The range of Nautor's Swan, commonly known as Swan, has evolved over the decades while remaining contemporary. This Germán Frers plan, 20.11 m long and 5.62 m wide, no longer has anything to do with his ancestor. In comparison, it is so wide and the lines so tight that it is difficult to see continuity. And yet it is still intended for the same sailing program: fast offshore cruising. Architecture and materials have evolved, the Swans follow the spirit of the times. But a Swan is more than that: performance certainly, but not without elegance and luxury.
The development of a range of products
The Swan 65 replaces the 66', which came out 9 years ago. It is part of a new range of cruisers launched with the Swan 78, introduced 1 year ago. The Swan 48 will be announced at Cannes 2019 and there are already 10 sales. The Swan 98 and 120 are still under study. As we can see, the Swan 65 is no longer the flagship of the prestigious Italian-Finnish shipyard.
Vanni Galgani, Swan Yacht's product manager, entrusts us with "the Before the Düsseldorf Boat Show and the world premiere of the Swan 65, we had already sold 6 units. Production is at its peak, demand is high for this yacht size. We plan to deliver 3 Swan 65s in 2019. "
Four versions for a choice of keel
The boat is available with three fixed keels of different draughts. The fourth bowling version is on display at the foot of the Swan 65. It is telescopic, thus going from 4.2 m to 2.8 m deep. Technically, it's a very impressive piece. This solution is like Swan, the technology is at the service of comfort and performance.
A contemporary and powerful hull
On the Swan 65, Germán Frers has designed wide rear sections to give power to his hull. The water inlets are fine for good bar accuracy and easy sea passage. The double rudders are deep and relatively thin, they promise good control of the boat and high speeds.
The geometry of the carbon rigging is modern. The current trend of high-performance sailing yachts is pushing architects to move the rigging back. It should also be noted that there is a bowsprit that will allow an asymmetrical spinnaker or a zero code to be amassed. It integrates the anchor and the guideau is flush.
A 60' to sail with a reduced crew
Of course, the boat is very large, yet it is designed for a small crew, such as a family for example. This is how, on such a unit, technology comes to the service of the pleasure of sailing. At the helm station, the various manoeuvres can be controlled and the winch controls activated. There are four of them fixed in front of the sublime wood and carbon composite wheel steering systems. In the centre of this manoeuvring area is the fixed point of the mainsail sheet.
The main option in this cockpit is the presence of a bridgedeck. It divides the cockpit into two areas, a well-protected lounge space and a navigation area where manoeuvres are concentrated.
A roof of rare elegance
The roof lines, tense and sensual, are particularly elegant. It ends with a fluid curve that joins the bridge by integrating a front window.
The Swan 65 is not flush and yet it gives this visual impression because the roof fits in well with the general line of the boat.
The bridge is particularly clean. The ropes that usually circulate are all hidden from view. We may like strings of all kinds, but what purity esthétique?!
The front deck also impresses with the work of teak, the integration of portholes and trunk panels. And speaking of the trunk, the bow has access to a very large sail compartment that seems to reveal the deep nature of the boat: send some toile?!
Refinement and marine spirit
It is still under the bridge that the Swan stands out. A Swan exists through the refinement of its fittings and finishes.
When entering the boat, the square impressed by its size, there is more than 5.50 m between the descent and the masthead. We hardly notice the sponge which fits perfectly into the kitchen. Indeed, the latter rests on the front wall of the square. A piece of furniture serving as a work surface and a bar separates it from the rest of the edge. This one is slightly raised. It houses technical equipment such as generators, watermakers and tanks. This is a very good point for weight centering and maintenance operations. This boat is made to sail.
This arrangement, enhanced, leaves plenty of height under the roof, and allows a panoramic view thanks to the glass surfaces surrounding the roof.
Of course, inside this prestigious boat, the shipyard offers a wide range of options that will allow you to configure the saloon and fittings according to your programme.
The details are treated with the utmost care. When the eye lingers, it is impressed by the quality of manufacture and finish.
This near-perfection has a price: 3 000 000 euros excluding VAT, we can add 400 000 euros of options in order to buy the version presented at the Boot Düsseldorf. The happy owners are impatient, they are about to leave for a family round the world trip.
