Finnish know-how
The Finnish shipyard Nautor was founded in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkyla, an entrepreneur with a passion for sailing. After building his own boat in his father-in-law's garage, he decided to invest his personal assets in a small production facility. Convinced of the benefits of polyester, which was becoming more and more popular in boat building, he started to produce fast cruising yachts.
The yard is based in Pietarsaari, in the Gulf of Bothnia, where the sailing conditions are demanding for the sailors and their boats. True to Finnish know-how, Pekka focuses on high quality design and above average performance under sail.
The Swan 36, the first to be strung and the first success
Inspired by the Gaia class, which is characterized by a long keel design and a wooden hull, Koskenkyla, in collaboration with the architectural firm Sparkman and Stephens, imagined an evolution of this 36-foot hull. They integrated a rudder and an offset fin, all on a fiberglass hull. This solution, which reduces the wetted surface and improves the behavior of the sailboat, will become one of the foundations of modern naval architecture.
The success is immediate, and 90 Swan 36 will be manufactured between 1969 and 1971.
A victory over the first Whitebread
With this first commercial success, Pekka Koskenkyla develops his production tool to manufacture longer hulls. The young manager's wish was to confirm the growing reputation of his boats. In 1973, he launched the Swan 65, named Sayula 2, the largest fiberglass sailboat ever built. Led by a Mexican crew, the shipyard's flagship won the first Whitbread, a crewed round-the-world race, ahead of all the favorites at the time.
This victory reinforces the reputation of the Finnish shipyard for fast, comfortable and well-built boats.
A collaboration with great names in naval architecture
Faithful to the Sparkman & Stephens design for many years, Nautor produced nearly 1000 units in collaboration with the American architects. The Swan 38 and 47 will win numerous victories in regattas, while being acclaimed for their cruising comfort.
Between 1978 and 1981, another well-known architect, Ron Holland, designed the Swan 37, Swan 39 and Swan 42, of which nearly 300 were produced.
In the 1980s, German Frers coordinated the design of most of the Finnish shipyard's models. This collaboration allowed Nautor to maintain a modern image and to remain competitive in the face of an emerging competition.
A wide range for racing or cruising, sailing or motoring
Today, Nautor offers about fifteen models divided into three ranges:
- Swan Yacht: this division includes the 6 models manufactured in series from 48 to 78 feet
- Swan Maxi: this semi-custom range offers 4 models from 88 to 120 feet, and will soon be completed by the new Swan 128
- Swan Club: launched in 2001, this entity groups together a range of Swan one-designs, and organizes regattas and meetings all year round in the world's top yachting venues. Mainly dedicated to performance, this range includes 5 models from 36 to 125 feet, designed by German Frers or Juan Kouyoumdjian.
Since 2021, Nautor has added two 42-foot motor dayboats to its catalog, the Swan Shadow and the Overshadow, which follow the precepts of their sailing counterparts.
Good prospects for the Finnish swan
The yard has produced more than 2,300 units in almost 60 years of activity. Taken over in 1999 by the Italian Leonardo Ferragamo, Nautor Swan generates an average turnover of 70 million euros, boosted by the dynamism of a premium segment.
Production is carried out by a team of 400 people at three locations. Mould making, hull lamination and assembly of smaller yachts is carried out in Källby. The assembly of the 60 to 125 foot models takes place in Pietarsaari, while the workshop in Kronoby includes the carpentry and joinery.
