Yacht Elvi Debuts as First Swan 80, to Cruise, Race, & Maybe Even Circumnavigate

Even though most sailing superyachts run with professional captains and crew, plenty of buyers still like to take the wheel themselves. The launch of the first Swan 80, the yacht Elvi, is proof. Simultaneously, she has the bluewater and regatta capabilities that Nautor Swan customers seek.

A “mini maxi” from Nautor Swan, the series is the successor to the Swan 78. She’s therefore the entry-level model, at 79 feet (23.99 meters). Naval architect Germán Frers, a longtime partner of the Finnish shipyard, designed her to be a nimble performer. This holds true whether owners are purely pursuing leisure cruising or vying for top racing honors. Additionally, to suit both owner-operators and full crews, all controls and winches are in proximity to the twin helm stations. The nearly flush deck area aft, clad in teak, makes movement easier, too.

Speaking of that area, the cockpit aboard the yacht Elvi adapts to what the owners want to do. On family trips, for instance, it’s an ideal alfresco lounge and dining area. The transom folds down to create a big swim platform/beach area, so it also suits all-day use. If the owners enjoy regattas as well, the cockpit turns into an open racing spot.

This philosophy of multiple uses extends below decks, too. The Swan 80 series is semi-custom, so tailorable configurations are possible. The yacht Elvi, for example, has four staterooms, with the master suite and a VIP forward. (Notably, future series buyers can request that one of the two aft guest staterooms converts to a media lounge. Yet another possibility for that room: an extra dining area.) The saloon on the newly launched superyacht is open plan, featuring a dining area and a TV lounge with a daybed. Whatever layout customers ultimately prefer, Nautor Swan and Frers group all technical systems beneath the saloon to preserve a sense of volume.

The Cannes Yachting Festival in September will mark the global premiere for the yacht Elvi. Following that, look for her to race in the Rolex Swan Cup, further commemorating Nautor Swan’s 60^th anniversary.

Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering germanfrers.net

Nautor Swan nautorswan.com