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Swan 56
Designer: German Frers  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1996
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About the Swan 56

Designed by renowned naval architect German Frers and built by Finland's prestigious Nautor shipyard, this elegant 57-footer represents the pinnacle of performance cruising from the late 1990s and early 2000s. With only 46 hulls completed during its ten-year production run, the Swan 56 exemplifies the builder's commitment to exclusivity and craftsmanship. The yacht's sophisticated fin keel with bulb and spade rudder configuration delivers exceptional sailing performance, while the masthead sloop rig provides versatility for both spirited coastal sailing and serious offshore passages. Her fiberglass construction incorporates Nautor's legendary build quality, ensuring structural integrity for demanding blue water voyaging. At 43,000 pounds displacement with 13,700 pounds of ballast, she strikes an ideal balance between stability and performance. The generous sail area of 1,492 square feet translates to impressive light-air capabilities, while her low comfort ratio of 33.23 indicates a relatively stiff, performance-oriented design that won't sacrifice speed for comfort. This Swan appeals to experienced sailors seeking a fast, capable yacht for serious cruising or competitive sailing. Her pedigree makes her equally at home racing around the buoys or crossing oceans, embodying the Finnish builder's philosophy of uncompromising performance wrapped in timeless elegance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 57.51 ft / 17.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 49.48 ft / 15.08 m
Beam 15.52 ft / 4.73 m
Max Draft 8.86 ft / 2.70 m
Displacement 43,000.00 lb / 19,504 kg
Ballast 13,700.00 lb / 6,214 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,492.00 ft² / 138.61 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer German Frers
Builder Nautor
First Built 1996
Last Built 2006
Number Built 46
Related Sailboats ["Swan 55" · "Oyster 56" · "Baltic 58" · "Xp 55" · "X56"]
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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
 -13
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
 19.53
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
 31.86
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
 158.46
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
 33.23
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
 1.78
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. 9.43 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
 3.59
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. 2,743.90 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. 19.52
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 74.15 ft / 22.60 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 20.57 ft / 6.27 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 66.60 ft / 20.30 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 21.88 ft / 6.67 m
SA Fore 762.63 ft² / 70.85 m²
SA Main 728.60 ft² / 67.69 m²
SA Total (100%) 1,491.23 ft² / 138.54 m²
Est. Forestay Length 76.95 ft / 23.45 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Model 4JH2-UTBE
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 96
Fuel Capacity 105 gals / 397 L
Water Capacity 225 gals / 852 L
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 58, Oyster 56, Xp 55

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 56 ★
57.5 ft
Baltic 58
58.5 ft
Oyster 56
57.3 ft
Xp 55
56.5 ft
LWL
Swan 56 ★
49.5 ft
Baltic 58
47.6 ft
Oyster 56
47.5 ft
Xp 55
48.8 ft
Beam
Swan 56 ★
15.5 ft
Baltic 58
16.6 ft
Oyster 56
16.2 ft
Xp 55
15.7 ft
Displacement
Swan 56 ★
43 lbs
Baltic 58
41 lbs
Oyster 56
57 lbs
Xp 55
37 lbs
Ballast
Swan 56 ★
13 lbs
Baltic 58
18 lbs
Oyster 56
17 lbs
Xp 55
14 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 56 ★
1 sq ft
Baltic 58
1 sq ft
Oyster 56
1 sq ft
Xp 55
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 56 ★
19.5
Baltic 58
21.6
Oyster 56
15.3
Xp 55
27.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 56 ★
31.9 %
Baltic 58
43.2 %
Oyster 56
—
Xp 55
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 56 ★
33.2
Baltic 58
30.3
Oyster 56
43.2
Xp 55
28.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 56 ★
1.78
Baltic 58
1.91
Oyster 56
1.68
Xp 55
1.88
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 56 ★
158
Baltic 58
173
Oyster 56
—
Xp 55
—
Hull Speed
Swan 56 ★
9.4 kts
Baltic 58
9.2 kts
Oyster 56
9.2 kts
Xp 55
9.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 56 ★
3.6
Baltic 58
3.6
Oyster 56
—
Xp 55
—
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