ClubSwan 80 races at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

alt="ClubSwan 80 races at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup"/>

The ClubSwan 80 designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian makes its world premiere at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, alongside a Swan 98, after competing in two regattas earlier this month.

My Song, owned by Pier Luigi Loro Piana, competed in the 13-strong Maxi class at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo in early September. Fitted with a canting keel and a single tack-able lifting daggerboard, she won the last of the five races and eventually finished fifth in a class won by Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Reichel/Pugh 82 Highland Fling XI.

In the subsequent Rolex Swan Cup, also in Porto Cervo, My Song finished third in the Maxi class behind the Swan 90 Freya and the Swan 80 Plis-Play. Unlike most Swan models, which are built by Nautor in Finland, the ClubSwan 80 was built by Italian builder Persico Marine inland in Nembro, near Bergamo.

Persico Marine’s technology included the Coriolis robot used in the aerospace industry to laminate carbon. The construction method for the yacht was the same used for the carbon ‘arm’ on the current America’s Cup boats.

ClubSwan 80 has a 4.75m canting keel, twin rudders – as per the ClubSwan 36 – and a retractable bowsprit. While the keel is canted, the side-force appendages chosen by the My Song sailing team consist of a rotating canard for upwind performance in light air and tacking ability in tactical situations, common in Maxi fleet racing.

Marcello Persico, CEO of Persico Marine, said: This boat is built to the same standard we use for America’s Cup boats and IMOCA 60s engaged in the toughest ocean races such as The Ocean Race and Vendee Globe.”

My Song had a private launch at La Spezia on Italy’s west coast in late June, as the ClubSwan 80 joined a racing range including the ClubSwan 36, ClubSwan 50 and the ClubSwan 125, Skorpios.

Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Group, said: “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. 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 team of brilliant international minds working on this performance sailing yacht with the goal of building something unique has been quite special. The ClubSwan 80 is a pure racer but is also an incredible yacht for fast sailing, shorthanded sailing and comfortable sports cruising.”