ClubSwan 80 “My Song”: new racing maxi yacht launched

ClubSwan 80 is the first yacht in the new shipyard’s range which has been recently launched in La Spezia. The 80-footer is aimed at showing the public the Nautor’s Swan yard’s ability to offer different yachts in terms of style, speed, innovation, technology and competitive potential. The first hull, named “My Song”, shares some features with the smaller 36-footer such as easy handling, hull shape, sail plan and innovative underwater appendages.

“The launch of this pure 80ft racer marks another important milestone for us. We have broadened our range to get closer to meeting every need and lifestyle choice of our customers,” said Giovanni Pomati, CEO of the Nautor Group – The market is always asking for something different, out of the box, and our ClubSwan Yachts range can offer a fresh, bold and innovative solution, setting the bar high. The CS80 is a pure racer but is also an incredible yacht for fast sailing, shorthanded sailing, and comfortable sports cruising”.

The ClubSwan 80 was built by Persico Marine, an international shipyard located in Nembro, Italy, which used state-of-the-art technology such as the Coriolis robot, normally used in the aerospace industry in carbon lamination. The boat’s construction method is the same as that used in the carbon ‘arm’ of the boats that compete in the famous America’s Cup.

Marcello Persico, CEO of Persico Marine: “The launch of a new boat is always a significant moment, in the case of the ClubSwan 80 we are particularly honoured by the trust placed in Persico Marine by the owner, a very experienced yachtsman, and Nautor’s Swan. This boat is built to the same standards we use for America’s Cup boats and IMOCA 60s engaged in the toughest ocean races such as The Ocean Race and Vendée Globe.”

The ClubSwan 80 is designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, designer of all the ClubSwan Yacht projects. “The ClubSwan Yacht division is growing, and I am very excited about the arrival of this new member of the family, which I’m sure will make a difference in the racing landscape,” said Juan K. “She is such an impressive boat and I can’t wait to see her on international race courses competing.”

In order to give the ClubSwan 80 lightness and power, the team built a 4.75-metre sloping keel, while at the same time managing to reduce the draft and allow the boat to land in most Mediterranean ports. The My Song team chose side appendages consisting of a rotating canard to increase upwind performance in light air, while also allowing tacking in tactical situations, common in Maxi races. What’s more, the bowsprit is retractable, ensuring safety upwind and extending to hoist the spinnaker and, as on the 36-footer, there are twin rudders.

The project was managed by Vittorio Volonté and involved engineer Giovanni Belgrano, designer Scott Ferguson, who worked on the rig, and Nauta Design for the interior.

“The ClubSwan 80 design answers a specific brief: a fast Maxi optimised to race in the Mediterranean as well as offering accommodation to enjoy life at sea and fun shorthanded sailing,” said Mario Pedol of Nauta Design. “We were called upon to manage, from a design point of view, the ‘second life’ of this racing machine: a super-fast and fun yacht also capable of cruising in comfort with a few modular superlight components, built to the highest technology by Persico Marine.”

ClubSwan 80 ‘My Song’ will take part in its first regatta from 4 to 10 September at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, while it will be possible to visit it in person at its world premiere at the Monaco Yacht Show, from 28 September to 1 October.