Nautor says, “The first Swan 51 represented a landmark in the inspirational evolution of the Nautor Swan brand.  Launched in 1981, the model marked the first collaboration between Swan and the celebrated naval architect Germán Frers. Based on the successful 51-foot Admiral’s Cup racer Blizzard, the Swan 51 was the start of one of the most successful partnerships in yachting history with over 700 yachts produced so far to his design. It is a partnership that continues to this day with the unveiling of the new Swan 51, representing the ongoing and always evolving creative relationship with Frers Naval Architecture.

“In another mark of the model’s enduring heritage, the 1,000th yacht built by Nautor was a Swan 51 named Formosa. It is also noteworthy that a secondhand Swan 51 was the first yacht ever owned by Leonardo Ferragamo, now of course the owner of Nautor Swan. The Swan 51 has a special place in the history of the company.”

I could go back and detail the history of the Nautor Swan series starting back in the early days of the IOR when its designs were dominated by the work of Sparkman and Stephens. Needless to say, any avid high school racer could spot a Swan by its characteristic styling marked by long-ish IOR-type overhangs and the wedge-shaped cabintrunk that gave the boat its unmistakably svelte appearance.

In terms of series-built production boats, there was only one boat that was built like a Swan and looked like a Swan, and that was a Swan. In those days the dominant IOR one-offs were typically almost disposable designs, good for a season. But Nautor added another element to the picture by producing a boat of exquisite qualities and aesthetics in full-form a little too cruisey to be a consistent race winner, and a little too racy to be a comfortable mom and pop cruising boat, but the combination was compelling.

Looking back over the various models of Nautor Swan, what strikes me about this design is that I don’t recall similar Swan boats in this size range that offer the variety of interior options available in this model. More on this later.

The profile of the new Swan 51 is relatively bland, with almost no spring at all to the sheer, a tiny bit of traditional rake to the stem, and just a smidge of reverse rake to the transom. Fore and aft hull rocker is of a predictable form, and the twin rudders are well forward of the stern. Max beam is carried about as far aft as one would dare. I see a slight hint of a chine aft. Three keel configurations are available: Cruise is a moderate-aspect fin and modest T-bulb; Comfort is a modern aspect-ration with a bulb tip; and for racers the Sport keel has a high-aspect-ratio profile and long T-bulb. The D/L ratio is 124.72 and L/B is 3.48  

Each configuration comes with a rig to suit the purpose. The SA/D is 21.17 for the “sport” sailplan listed in the specification, or 17.87 for the “comfort” sailplan.

To keep things simple for the layout, I will use the “standard with options” drawings.  This layout provides three staterooms, one stateroom forward, one double berth aft to port, and twin singles aft to starboard. The saloon features a dinette to port, and a choice of seating and a game table or a navigation table to starboard. The drawings indicate pipe berths in the fo’c’s’le for the crew.

With all this beam carried aft, and almost no camber to the transom at all, a broad fold-down swim step is available, slightly offset to starboard.  There are twin wheels, with what appears to be a mainsheet winch on centerline adjacent to the wheels. Port and starboard dining tables will make for a comfortable experience in the cockpit. Deck details have been kept very simple and clean, and one should have no concerns about stubbing toes on deck gear on this deck.

There are two large topside windows on each side, although drawings for the Comfort configuration show four on each side.

I’d love some things to complain about, but why waste the time. It’s a Swan 51.  I suppose the cockpit could use a little more seating room. But in terms of general styling, I don’t see anything that makes this boat leap out as unmistakably a Swan. Maybe I expect too much.

LOA 55’6”; LOD 51’’; LWL 48’2”; Beam 15’11”; Draft 8’; Displ. 39,700 lb.; Ballast 13,900 lb.; Water 132 gal.; Fuel 172 gal.; Auxiliary 80 hp.; D/L 124.72; L/B 3.48; SA/D 21.17 www.nautorswan.com