The “Tarantella” has been launched again in Pietarsaari (Finland). In 1967, the Swan 36 was the first yacht to be built by Nautor was built. Following a complete restoration at the Finnish shipyard, the boat is now returning to the Gulf of Bothnia, where it first touched the water 59 years ago. The return marks a highlight of the celebrations marking the shipyard’s 60th anniversary. Pekka Koskenkylä founded the company Koskenkylä & Co. on 23 September 1966, which became Nautor AB in 1970. His decision to collaborate with the renowned design firm Sparkman & Stephens and to opt for GRP was groundbreaking at the time. The material was regarded as the technology of the future in yacht building. Since 1967, the shipyard has built almost 2,400 yachts. The “Tarantella” will now sail as an ambassador in major regattas, representing the brand and its values.
Restoration and Partners
The restoration of the Swan was supported by a number of technical partners. These include North Sails and North Sails Italy for the sails, the Navico Group with B&G for the electronics, and Mastervolt for the electrical systems. Universe Yachting, Essma and Seldén supplied further technical components. Gottifredi & Maffioli, via Velamania, contributed the rigging, whilst AXXON and Gori were also involved. Fixafell, Sail Tech and Spinlock provided deck equipment. Cabin Denmark, via Broxe GmbH & Co. KG, and Olcese Ricci contributed to the interior fittings. Harken and Harken Italy supplied fittings, whilst Kiwigrip and Scandinavian Teak Deck were responsible for the deck design. TOVAB Wi-Bo Metal, Promarine, Autonautic Instrumental S.L. and Hella Marine rounded off the list of partners. The launch took place during the celebrations marking the shipyard’s 60th anniversary. Representatives from the authorities, staff, partners, sailing enthusiasts and members of the local community were in attendance.
Regatta programme across Europe
The Tarantella will undertake an extensive programme throughout the sailing season. After leaving the shipyard, the yacht will sail to Sandhamn in Sweden to take part in the Gotland Runt. The route then takes her to the Nautor Swan Global Service base in Badalona, Spain. There, at the beginning of September, the shipyard’s founder, Pekka Koskenkylä, will come on board and sail along. From Badalona, the journey continues to the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo. At this regatta, the Tarantella will accompany a fleet of more than 130 Swan yachts. This number of participants exceeds the turnout for the brand’s 50th anniversary and represents the largest gathering in Nautor Swan’s history. After the Rolex Swan Cup, the yacht will sail on to Saint-Tropez for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. A stopover in Bonifacio is planned for this leg. Participation in Cowes Week is also planned.
Major clubs are on board
The project is supported by prestigious yacht clubs. The Royal Swedish Yacht Club, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and the Royal Yacht Squadron are all involved. These connections strengthen the link between the historic voyage of the “Tarantella” and the international sailing community. The launch also marked Gianguido Girotti’s first public appearance as Chief Executive Officer of Nautor Swan. The former Beneteau manager succeeds Giovanni Pomati, who had been a key supporter of the project. “The refit and the launch of the ‘Tarantella’ are of great significance to the company and to me personally,” says Pomati. After eight years of complete dedication to the Nautor Swan brand, he is handing the helm over to Gianguido Girotti. This will give him time for new challenges and more time to sail his own Swan.
Swan under new management
Girotti explains: “Sailing aboard a Swan is a dream for many sailors, and it has always been one of mine. Today, I have the privilege of taking the helm of this company and steering it into the future.” It is a role he accepts with a great sense of responsibility. He is inheriting an extraordinary legacy of expertise, craftsmanship and reputation, built up over decades by his predecessors. He can now fulfil one of his greatest dreams: to help build the most beautiful boats in the world. Massimo Perotti emphasises: “I am proud to be here today and to see the first yacht to bear the wonderful Swan name. I could really feel what makes the Swan world so remarkable: the emotion, the deep connection with the sea and the power of an authentic heritage.” He said he was proud to see the community continue to grow, thanks to the refit team, all the partners who supported the project, the yacht clubs and everyone who had helped make this brand a legend.
The shipbuilding tradition in Pietarsaari
The founding of Nautor Swan in the 1960s coincided with a centuries-old shipbuilding tradition that was undergoing an era of transformation. Pekka Koskenkylä brought together local craftsmen whose knowledge was deeply rooted in wooden boatbuilding. He combined this expertise with the possibilities offered by modern materials and designs. Since 1966, almost 2,400 Swan yachts have been built in Pietarsaari. Each one is different, each one continues to evolve, yet all are linked by something deeper than mere design: a continuity of knowledge, care, responsibility and craftsmanship that has never been interrupted, but has been passed down from generation to generation. Long before Nautor Swan, long before the language of modern yacht design, the coast of Pietarsaari was already renowned for shipbuilding. As early as the 16th century, maps of the Jakobstad region bore the annotation “hic fabricator navalis” – “ships are built here”. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the wider region of Eastern Bothnia had established itself as one of the most important centres for shipbuilding and seafaring in Northern Europe. Nautor Swan was born out of this heritage, and the Tarantella now pays tribute to this heritage as she returns to the sea.
More on the topic of Swan
- A special boat: a profile of the “Tarantella”
- Nautor launches its flagship
- Nautor now also manufactures in aluminium
- Tom Cruise orders a Swan
- Nautor Swan: What makes Sparkman & Stephens’ Swans so special
- Swan 51: A luxury cruiser of the highest quality put to the test
- Swan 88: Nautor creates a self-sufficient sailing yacht thanks to electrification
- Swan 98: Timelessly modern design
- Swan 73: Nautor’s new 22-metre model
- Swan 128: First images of the Nautor flagship
- The largest swan: Nautor Swan launches the Alloy 44
- ClubSwan 28: The smallest production boat built by Nautor, as tested by YACHT
- YACHT Test: ClubSwan 36 – a fast racer for ambitious owners
- New racer-cruiser: ClubSwan 41
- ClubSwan 43 review: A true racer, yet still a cruiser
- ClubSwan 43: Nautor’s new Transformer model
- A union of two queens: Sanlorenzo takes over Nautor
Fridtjof Gunkel
Deputy Chief Editor YACHT
