The Rolex Swan Cup returns in September
In Porto Cervo from the 14th to the 19th, a record-breaking event to mark the shipyard’s 60th anniversary
Key points
The next edition of the Rolex Swan Cup – the 23rd in its history – organised in collaboration with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, celebrates 60 years of Nautor’s unrivalled excellence in sailing. The regattas will take place in Porto Cervo from 14 to 19 September, and the programme also includes a number of events on dry land.
Record number of participants
Since its first edition in 1980, the Rolex Swan Cup has become one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated events on the international sailing calendar. Thanks to the long-standing partnership between Rolex, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Nautor Swan, and with 160 yachts already confirmed and new entries coming in every day, the competition remains the world’s most important single-make event for offshore yachts.
Three souls, one spirit
The participants are grouped into three divisions: ClubSwan Legacy brings together the yachts that forged the Swan legend. For the first time, designs by Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers will be racing side by side, celebrating the timeless elegance, innovation and craftsmanship that have defined six decades of leadership. ClubSwan Spirit welcomes owners of modern Swans, divided into the Swan and Maxi classes, united by a passion for sailing, adventure and the pleasure of being together. Within this division, a category with simplified rules allows yachts to compete without having to adopt a racing trim, preserving their authentic cruising configuration and on-board lifestyle. Participation is in the spirit of friendly competition. ClubSwan Racing remains at the heart of one-design competition and will feature the ClubSwan 50, ClubSwan 43, ClubSwan 42, ClubSwan 36 and ClubSwan 28, with close-fought and thrilling races at the very highest level. The remarkable balance of the fleet, comprising 44 Swan yachts, 40 Maxi yachts, 33 Legacy yachts and 43 one-design boats, embodies the essence of ClubSwan. From historic yachts to the latest high-performance models, each division helps to create a community where different ways of experiencing the sea come together under the same values and the same passion.
A genuine community
“A Swan is never just a yacht: it becomes part of people’s lives, their adventures and their stories. It becomes a family legacy, passed down from one generation to the next. This is what ClubSwan truly stands for,” explains Gianguido Girotti, CEO of Nautor Swan. No other shipyard creates so many opportunities for owners to meet, sail, learn and share experiences throughout the year. Our regattas are much more than just competitions: they are occasions to forge lasting friendships, exchange knowledge and celebrate the pure joy of sailing. For sixty years, Swan has been building extraordinary yachts that have sailed all over the world, from the icy polar regions to the sun-kissed Galápagos. The next chapter in our story is not just about creating new yachts, but also about building an even stronger community around them.”
A tribute to the fleet’s ‘veteran’
Leading the fleet will be Tarantella, Swan 36-001, the first Swan ever built and the boat that marked the beginning of Nautor Swan’s extraordinary history. Expertly restored to her original splendour, she will be on the Porto Cervo race course as a symbol of the brand’s heritage, linking six decades of innovation to remind the sailing world where the Swan legend began. This anniversary’s impressive fleet offers a journey through the evolution of Swan design, showcasing yachts that represent every era of the shipyard’s history. Alongside Tarantella will be the two Swan 128s, BeCool and Raijin, masterpieces of engineering, technology and contemporary elegance. Making its first appearance within the Nautor family following its world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the brand-new Swan 80 will be on the starting line alongside the shipyard’s first 80-footer, thus creating a powerful dialogue between the new and the recent past, both built on innovation. The same spirit of continuity will be embodied by the Swan 51 family, where the new Swan 51 will compete alongside Formosa, the original model from the 1980s, and Nautor Swan’s 1,000th hull. The celebration of Swan’s evolution will continue amongst the larger yachts. Further Beyond, the Swan 98 launched earlier this year, will compete alongside the magnificent Swan 131, the largest Swan ever built.
