"A perfect symbiosis": How Nautor Swan and Sparkman & Stephens made history
Fabian Boerger
· 13.12.2025
Mr Salamon, you are both an art dealer and a Swan lover. How does that fit together?
Perhaps I was born with a penchant for beautiful things. When I saw a Nautor Swan yacht for the first time at the age of 16, I was immediately fascinated by its beauty. I didn't know much about the technical side of things at the time, but her shape and design seemed perfect to me. I must add that when I talk about these boats, I always mean those designed by Sparkman & Stephens.
What's so special about it?
Before I bought my own Swan (first a 38, later a 47; editor's note)I had the opportunity to meet Olin Stephens in person. He made me realise what S&S was all about: they didn't just design the shape, they designed everything on board. Every detail was thought through to perfection, from the hull, deck and sail plan to the electrics. When they commissioned a project, they wanted it to be complete. This differs significantly from modern approaches, where many things are created by different designers.
How was this procedure guaranteed?
Part of the agreement was that each boat would be inspected by either Rod Stephens or someone he trusted before delivery. You can imagine what an effort that was! In the 1970s, the journey from New York to the north of Finland took around two days.
Such close co-operation between designers and shipyard would be unthinkable today.
What characterised this collaboration?
I think it was the trust that Rod Stephens, one of the most respected sailors of his time, had in the shipyard founder Pekka Koskenkylä - and vice versa.
Finland was a rather poor country in the middle of the 20th century and Pietarsaari was hardly on the yachting map. S&S, on the other hand, was in demand worldwide. How does that fit together?
Yes, that's right. This meant that the shipyard had to start from scratch for many things. If they needed a certain screw, they had to make it themselves.
Series production with GRP was also new territory.
That's right, at that time working with it was still a great adventure. The composition of the components was a completely undiscovered field. Initially, incorrect mixing ratios led to explosions. So they enlisted the help of experts from abroad. This enabled them to produce everything in-house. The best materials were used, which is reflected in the quality of the boats.
More from Nautor Swan:
What role did shipyard founder Pekka Koskenkylä play?
Pekka wanted Finland to be known for more than just its paper. England had its Rolls-Royces, he wanted the same for Finland, only with boats. Rod Stephens believed in the crazy Finn. Even though he had no money, as he realised when they met in 1966. So one condition of the collaboration was that Pekka had to sell the first yachts in advance. He succeeded. In Italy we say:
He was able to sell glass to the Inuit.
Even today, the bond between Swan owners and the shipyard is still considered strong. Why?
I think that's because the shipyard has been building boats for six decades. Incidentally, the bond also applies to owners of classic and modern yachts from Nautor Swan. You notice this at the Swan meetings in the Mediterranean, for example.
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Modern and classic Swans differ considerably, both technically and visually.
Yes, the S&S swans were designed to be safe in rough seas and in winds over 20 knots. Today the market is different. People don't want to cross oceans or sail in strong winds. They need space to sunbathe. No wonder you hardly see the modern boats in the Fastnet or Sydney Hobart Race. I think they have lost their poetry and perfection.
The S&S Association
The association brings together owners of classic Swans drawn by Sparkman & Stephens. It gives members free access to an extensive archive. At the same time, it is a forum for purchasing, maintenance, regattas and much more.
More information: classicswan.org
