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Black-sailed racing yachts close together at a start
Photo: Royce Fonseca / Unsplash

Swan 45

Production boat · Germán Frers · Nautor's Swan · since 2001

Boats
20
Results
85
Wins
52
Races
27
Length
13.83m
Beam
3.91m
Draft
2.8m
Weight
8.8t
Sail area
131.1m²
Official builder page
OverviewCompareBoats20Races27

Why sailors choose the Swan 45

The Swan 45 is a Frers performance racer with a cruising-grade interior, and it won Sailing World's best racer-cruiser award. Testers praised its dinghy-like manoeuvrability and its pace against bigger boats, which suits both buoy and distance racing. Early boats had rudder failures, later fixed, and the boom sits low over the helm.

  • Very agile for a 45-footer, tacks and turns like a dinghy
  • Proven race winner on corrected time against larger boats
  • Comfortable interior allows cruising
  • One-design class racing at Swan events
  • Early rudder failures led to a stronger retrofit
  • High purchase price

Our note

Most successful

  1. 1Damaco10 wins · 14 results
  2. 2Aceites Abril7 wins · 13 results
  3. 3Brujo7 wins · 12 results

Specifications

Production boat

Designer
Germán Frers
Builder
Nautor's Swan
First built
2001
Length
13.83m
Waterline
12.07m
Beam
3.91m
Draft
2.8m
Displacement
8,850kg
Ballast
4,310kg
Sail area upwind
131.1m²
Keel
bulb

Has its own one-design class.

Published figures for the design; individual boats are often modified. Sources: boat-specs.com

What sailors and testers say · in our words, from the linked pages

  • It held station on the start line and spun within its length; the tester would choose it for cruising, buoy or distance racing.

    Sailing World Boat of the Year review by Chuck Allen · Sailing World, 2002

  • He noted rudder losses at an early Swan Cup, since addressed by stronger rudders, and a boom low enough over the wheel to catch crew.

    Sailing World Boat of the Year review by Chuck Allen · Sailing World, 2002