The Foundation

Oy Nautor Ab was founded in Finland in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkylä.

Koskenkylä's intention was to build the first 10m yacht capable of both cruising and racing, using a fibre glass mould.

At the heart of his concept was quality, the core focus of Nautor's production process throughout its history. Series production was considered key to the success of the venture and precise, logistical organisation was paramount at an early stage.

The First Swan

A meeting with Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens initiated the enterprise and the duo were appointed to design the first ever Swan.

Their first yacht, the Swan 36, was an instant success.

Swan 36 Casse Tete II

In 1968, Casse Tete II achieved seven wins out of seven at the Cowes Week regatta.

The Swan 36 was closely followed by a 43 foot design.

1966 - 1978

During the first 12 years of the company, Sparkman & Stephens went on to design 15 Swan models for Nautor.

Of the first 1000 Swans, 800 were of their design.

The Swan 55 and 65

The Swan 55 (introduced in 1970) saw Nautor enter the market sector in which they are now dominant. That of safe, fast, liveable cruising yachts capable of high speed under sail. It is, however, the Swan 65 for which Nautor's early history is best remembered.

This classic S&S design was, for almost a decade, the largest fibreglass yacht built worldwide. Its race pedigree and ocean crossing ability are legendary.

A production Swan 65 (Sayula II) effortlessly won the first Whitbread Race in 1973/4. The second Whitbread in 77/78 saw the Swan 65 take 2nd, 4th and 5th.

1980: A new era

Nautor entered a new era in 1980 with the appointment of a new designer, German Frers, who continued to demonstrate a good balance of competent racers and comfort in his design.

German Frers was entrusted with designing a version of 'Blizzard', the top race yacht of the year - the result, the Swan 51.

In 1982 a Swan 51 became the 1000th Swan launched. Frers ushered in a new era for Nautor. Whilst new lightweight, pure racers and one designs became fashionable, Nautor held true to its traditional values of seaworthy construction, practical yet luxurious interiors and undistorted hull lines.

Swan 46

The Swan 46, first introduced in 1983, has become the quintessential Swan.

109 were built, with the last delivered to an American owner in 1997.

The competitive side of sailing

Since 1966, over 1900 Swans have been built and nearly all are still sailing.

Since Nautor's foundation, the company's continued growth has been strongly linked with the competitive side of sailing. Swans from all over the world have achieved great results.

Swan have been given further opportunity to enhance their success by Nautor’s international racing calendar.

1998: The Italian glamour

In 1998 Nautor received a injection of Italian glamour when Leonardo Ferragamo and a group of investors saw the potential in this brand.

This initiated a whirlwind of change, the results of which have firmly placed Nautor at the forefront of the international sailing world.

The Company Today

Today the expansive Swan portfolio charts the journey that Nautor has travelled, from the inaugural Swan 36 to the ambitious 131.

Nautor’s Swan yachts are considered the ultimate ocean-going, performance, luxury sailing yacht of unrivalled build quality.

The future continues to look bright as Nautor justifies its position at the top of the ladder both for pure luxury and for revolutionary technology with the opening of a new, hi-tech boatyard.