SWAN OF THE TIMES

THE NEW SWAN 51, A 'SPORTSCAR' FRERS DESIGN, IS NOW THE SMALLEST CRUISING SWAN. BUT WHO'S IT FOR AND HOW DOES IT BEHAVE UNDER SAIL?

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In 1981, Nautor launched its first German Frers design, a Swan 51 that sparked one of the most successful designer/builder relations in yachting.

Yet today's version (by the same team) is a world apart. Since that original design, with its traditional soft entry, compact aft cockpit, tucked-in stern sections and wineglass transom, volume has swelled astronomically. So much so that the new 51 could probably swallow its original ancestor twice over in a nautical game of Pac-Man.

And yet the new 51 is still arguably one of the most elegant Swans in years, and looked every inch the fast cruiser of today as it made a fitting debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival before we boarded it for sea trials in Saint-Tropez. Times have changed, and while Swan is one of the best at pivoting with them, the obvious question remains: can you add all that volume and still get a premium performance cruising experience?

Normally, light winds for such a trial would be frustrating, but for this type of vessel, they helped evaluate that question.

EVOLUTIONARY GAINS

The 51 is the latest in the new generation of Frers models, so it benefits from the top-down learnings of the larger Swans. Despite the big boat mentality, it's designed for couples to manage and cruise.

On the face of it, the 51 may look quite similar in style and layout to the six-year-old 48, but there are big gains in volume here too. By replacing the 48, it also means this €1.45m 51-footer is now the entry-level Swan offering. Not that that has prevented sales, with four orders taken pre-Cannes, and another five straight after.