No other yard has been as consistently successful in producing iconic models as Nautor – historically Swans are invariably the very best yachts of their era and subsequently become design classics. But after more than 50 years can the company still weave its magic as effectively as ever?
Nautor is billing the Swan 58 as a ‘new bluewater concept’. The idea is that the priorities of safety, comfort and autonomy don’t compromise performance, or the pleasure of helming the boat. This model is also pitched as a proper bluewater cruiser that a couple can reasonably sail and look after themselves, without a professional skipper. But is all that really possible? We sailed the 58 in Barcelona to try to find out.
On my first trial, in only 6-7 knots of true wind, we made 6.5-7.5 knots sailing upwind, matching speed with a 55ft performance cruising catamaran while sailing noticeably higher, and romping away from another 60ft monohull. The ability to maintain speed in light airs adds greatly to the general enjoyment of life afloat, especially in the many popular parts of the world – including the UK in summer – where average wind speeds are well below 10 knots.
The helm has a lovely, precise and responsive feel that belies the boat’s hefty 25 tonne displacement and its brisk, yet effortless, pace. We had a solid Force 4-5 for my next sail, so popped the first reef in the main and kept three to four rolls of the headsail around the foil, more for comfort and ease of sail trimming than necessity.
Denne historien er fra February 2022-utgaven av Yachting World.
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Denne historien er fra February 2022-utgaven av Yachting World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
NIKKI HENDERSON
WHERE DO YOU FIND HANDY BILLY WHEN YOU NEED HIM?
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
IS OLYMPIC SAILING ACTUALLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS A SHOWCASE OF THE SPORT FOR BOTH COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS?
Building fleet for Baltic Sea Race
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New cruising charter 'Odyssey'
Charter company Dream Yacht has launched a new round the world supported cruising programme for yacht owners which draws on the company's extensive network of charter bases.
Mixed fortunes at Marseille
The Paris 2024 sailing regatta saw mixed fortunes for many favourites - some confirming their dominance, others crashing out as variable winds played havoc.
The yacht Bayesian
Bayesian is one of Italian yard Perini Navi's 56m series, originally named Salute.
Seven dead in superyacht sinking
Seven people are dead following the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian, a 56m/184ft British-flagged Perini Navi, off the coast of Sicily.
5 EXPERT TIPS HELENA DARVELID ON MULTIHULL CONTROL
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SWAN 88 DREAMCATCHER
GLOBAL LEADERS AT THE SEMI-CUSTOM END OF THE PRODUCTION SCENE, NAUTOR SWAN INVITED US FOR THE FIRST SEA TRIALS OF ITS BIG NEW 88