Nautor expands

The Swan 88 runs out aft to almost its full width of 6.72 metres and relies on a double rudder system. The freeboard rises high and the stem is straight. Modernisation measures that were introduced with the conversion of the cruising line in 2018. However, the classic convex Swan transom is making a comeback, running at an angle and thus blending harmoniously into the deck - and enabling a longer bathing platform with a two-level beach club. It is a departure from the flat stern with a hard edge, as first seen on the 78 and later on the 98 and 120. This may be due to the involvement of Italian architect Lucio Micheletti, who assisted Germán Frers with the exterior design.

Frers based his design on the lines of the new Maxis, but made extensive performance and balance calculations and completely rethought the rig positioning and sail plan. The result: the mast is almost half the length of the deck and runs clearly through the striking superstructure cap. The deck step is more pronounced again, increasing the height of the long coaming for a better-protected cockpit. Behind it, sliding benches allow for a variable layout. This is followed by the working areas of the captain and his deckhand, who access the crew cabins via a hatch.

In contrast to the 78, 98 and 120, Nautor gives the owners of the 88 no choice when it comes to choosing their retreat, which the layout locates behind the bow. New are hull windows for all guest cabins, of which there are up to three more depending on the version. The C-shaped seating in the saloon is arranged symmetrically, with the companionway in the centre.

Nautor's Swan offers two fixed keel variants for the 26.50 metre long yacht, with a draught of 3.60 or four metres, or a telescopic keel ranging from three to 4.60 metres. The heel has been limited to 20 degrees by design, and the Finnish shipyard has opted for a conventional shaft drive system. This fits in with Germán Frers' idea of the ideal Swan 88 owner: pleasure sailors looking for a simple, practical boat.

Those who prioritise performance over comfort will find what they are looking for in the ClubSwan line - of which a maxi model, the 125, is currently under construction in Finland. Class boss Enrico Chieffi revealed in a Q&A session following the virtual press conference that the 42-metre ClubSwan flagship will be launched in April and will make its regatta debut at the Fastnet Race.