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Swan 39
Designer: Ron Holland  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Swan 39

Designed by renowned naval architect Ron Holland during his prolific late-1970s period, this elegant 39-footer represents classic Finnish craftsmanship from the prestigious Nautor yard. Built between 1978 and 1980 with only 33 hulls produced, the Swan 39 embodies the exclusive character that defines the Swan lineage. Holland's design showcases a sleek fin keel and spade rudder configuration that delivers responsive handling and impressive windward performance. The masthead sloop rig provides versatile sail handling options, while the substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio of 44% ensures excellent stability and seaworthiness for extended offshore passages. With a moderate comfort ratio of 28.45, this yacht strikes an appealing balance between performance and livability. The Swan 39 excels as a serious cruising yacht capable of ambitious offshore voyages, yet retains enough athleticism for spirited coastal sailing and club racing. Its fiberglass construction has proven durable over decades, while the classic proportions and timeless styling ensure these boats remain highly sought after in today's market. For sailors seeking a proven blue-water cruiser with racing pedigree and unmistakable Swan character, this Holland design delivers exceptional capability wrapped in understated elegance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.30 ft / 11.98 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
Beam 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
Max Draft 7.20 ft / 2.19 m
Displacement 18,000.00 lb / 8,165 kg
Ballast 7,900.00 lb / 3,583 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 761.00 ft² / 70.70 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ron Holland
Builder Nautor
First Built 1978
Last Built 1980
Number Built 33
Related Sailboats J39 · X 119 · Baltic 40 · Farr 395 · Passport 40
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 84
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.79
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 43.89
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 257.09
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 28.45
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.91
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.52 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.18
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,406.91 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.8
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 54.00 ft / 16.46 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 47.50 ft / 14.48 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.30 ft / 4.05 m
SA Fore 445.50 ft² / 41.39 m²
SA Main 315.88 ft² / 29.35 m²
SA Total (100%) 761.38 ft² / 70.73 m²
Est. Forestay Length 56.46 ft / 17.21 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-108
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 32 gals / 121 L
Water Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 40, Farr 395, J39, Passport 40, X 119

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 39 ★
39.3 ft
Baltic 40
39.3 ft
Farr 395
39.4 ft
J39
39.4 ft
Passport 40
39.4 ft
X 119
39.4 ft
LWL
Swan 39 ★
31.5 ft
Baltic 40
32.8 ft
Farr 395
34.1 ft
J39
32.5 ft
Passport 40
33.4 ft
X 119
33.6 ft
Beam
Swan 39 ★
12.5 ft
Baltic 40
12.8 ft
Farr 395
12.2 ft
J39
12.4 ft
Passport 40
12.7 ft
X 119
10.7 ft
Displacement
Swan 39 ★
18 lbs
Baltic 40
14 lbs
Farr 395
12 lbs
J39
12 lbs
Passport 40
22 lbs
X 119
11 lbs
Ballast
Swan 39 ★
7 lbs
Baltic 40
6 lbs
Farr 395
4 lbs
J39
5 lbs
Passport 40
8 lbs
X 119
4 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 39 ★
761 sq ft
Baltic 40
803 sq ft
Farr 395
—
J39
799 sq ft
Passport 40
762 sq ft
X 119
794 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Swan 39 ★
84 s/nm
Baltic 40
84 s/nm
Farr 395
33 s/nm
J39
—
Passport 40
141 s/nm
X 119
57 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 39 ★
17.8
Baltic 40
21.2
Farr 395
—
J39
23.3
Passport 40
15.2
X 119
25.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 39 ★
43.9 %
Baltic 40
41.2 %
Farr 395
36.6 %
J39
—
Passport 40
37.3 %
X 119
42.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 39 ★
28.5
Baltic 40
22.5
Farr 395
—
J39
20.1
Passport 40
34.0
X 119
21.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 39 ★
1.91
Baltic 40
2.07
Farr 395
—
J39
2.12
Passport 40
1.79
X 119
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 39 ★
257
Baltic 40
190
Farr 395
140
J39
—
Passport 40
272
X 119
134
Hull Speed
Swan 39 ★
7.5 kts
Baltic 40
7.7 kts
Farr 395
—
J39
7.6 kts
Passport 40
7.8 kts
X 119
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 39 ★
2.2
Baltic 40
3.3
Farr 395
—
J39
3.9
Passport 40
1.9
X 119
4.7
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