The Swan 88, 26.54 metres long with bowsprit, is to be the Italo-Finnish shipyard into a new era. "DreamCatcher" is the first unit in a new model series and Swan's first hybrid drive. The Finnish yacht builders developed it in partnership with Torqeedo. Details such as the hydrogen generation were not disclosed. The Deep Blue hybrid system is likely to have been used, which essentially consists of a high-voltage electric motor, diesel generator for direct feeding into the 360 V high-voltage system and 24-volt lithium-based batteries as an energy buffer. The Bavarians are advertising Deep Blue for yachts up to 120 feet in length.
On the construction side, Nautor once again worked together with Germán Frers and his Argentinian office. The exterior design was created by Italian architect Lucio Micheletti. Together with his team from Micheletti + Partners, he took on the deckhouse, as he did for the Swan 108, but also reinterpreted the beach club for Nautor. DreamCatcher" also features a new stern architecture for Swan. Two wide steps lead to the bathing platform, which folds down in two sections to form a long walkway.
The Swan 88 was designed as a high-performance cruiser for chartering
The Swan 88 was designed with chartering in mind and measures 23.99 metres from stem to stern. The hull length of just under 24 metres brings a number of regulatory advantages and requires compliance with less stringent MCA charter regulations. Nautor Swan says it wanted to offer a high-performance cruiser on an efficient platform that minimises management costs and simplifies the charter certification process.
The appendages make the cruising claim clear: the twin rudders are offset by a fixed T-shaped keel with a moderate draught of four metres. As an option, Nautor offers a 3.60 metre fixed keel or a telescopic keel with a draught of three to 4.60 metres. The carbon mast is 40 metres above the waterline with a three-degree rake. On the wind, 432 square metres of sail should be in the wind, of which 196 square metres are accounted for by the headsail and 236 square metres by the main.
The Swan 88 represents the 360-degree approach and the DNA that has made our boats recognisable worldwide for 58 years" (Giovanni Pomati, CEO Nautor Group)
The second unit will follow shortly
Nautor used Sprint technology from the Swiss composites group Gurit to laminate the hull and deck. This also involves prepregs, i.e. fibres pre-impregnated with resin, which have to be stored deep-frozen, processed individually and precisely and only harden in a vacuum at an elevated temperature. But unlike conventional prepregs, the carbon fibres completely enclose the inner layer of epoxy resin. Fully loaded, the Swan 108 has a displacement of 54.1 tonnes.
Giovanni Pomati, CEO of the Nautor Group, commented on the launch: "This important new model, of which we will be launching the second unit in a few days, represents Swan's 360-degree approach and the DNA that has made our boats recognisable worldwide for 58 years. We are very proud of this."
The Swan 88 will make her worldwide debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival from 10 to 15 September and at the Monaco Yacht Show from 25 to 28 September.
