New Swan 45 Makes A Stunning Debut To Australia

by Rob Mundle Promotions on 6 Aug 2003 After an impressive debut in the Sydney to Southport race the new Swan 45 One-Design cruiser/racer Joe is to target the Hog's Breath Regatta at Airlie Beach and Hahn Premium Race Week at Hamilton Island this month.

Despite facing a last minute rush to be ready for the Southport Race, the German Frers designed Joe survived testing conditions to register a creditable 15th place across the line and sixth on handicap in IRC Division A. And even more notable was the fact that in a boat-to-boat battle to the finish Joe was only 23 minutes astern of Bob Steel's similarly sized and highly successful Grand Prix level racer, Quest.

Well-known Sydney sailing enthusiast John David owns Joe. His son Steven, who was aboard for the Southport race, said the yacht exceeded everyone's expectations, especially after having gone close to missing the 384-mile event due to delays while being shipped to Sydney from Europe.

John and Steven David assembled a top-line crew for the dash to Southport, including sailmaker Michael Coxon who took on the role of sailing master. Coxon heaped praise on the yacht: ‘It's a credit to the builders, Nautor's Swan, and the design that we could literally take a yacht out of the box and do so well.

Most new boats that have had no preparation time would have struggled to get to the finish in the conditions we faced.

‘For me it was an enlightening experience to come out of Grand Prix level racing and step aboard a yacht with teak decks, a superb teak interior and comfortable accommodation then achieve the result that we did. It says everything about the pedigree of the design.’

Nautor's Swan's Australian agent, Michael Bell, said that Joe had sailed for only three hours before the race start, and most of that time was spent tuning the rig: ‘The first time we set a spinnaker was at the start and out first gybe was at Sydney Heads. And while we were being tested from the outset by a wind that at times exceeded 25 knots, and awkward seas, everything functioned perfectly. It confirmed what everyone expected - the Swan 45 is an exciting cruiser/racer.’

Bell, himself a highly experienced offshore racing yachtsman, said comments from the crew during the race said everything about the design. One said, ‘Wow, I get my own cabin’ while another quipped, ‘I've never raced on a fast yacht with curtains before.’