So a 1973 Swan 44 came back to shine

Some of the sailboats we see sailing in our seas – such as the Classic Boat – have several years on their shoulders, and for this very reason they possess a unique charm that cannot be compared with that of a new boat: they are two completely different objects. If you own one of these boats, you will know that in order to keep its charm intact, but more importantly its safety and integrity, it is necessary to take care of it with a serious and complete refit, relying on experienced craftsmen. Today we tell you how a beautiful 1973 Swan 44 model has returned to its former glory thanks to work done at the shipyard
Shipyard & Marina Sant’Andrea
with the collaboration of Studio Cossutti Ganz Design.

What boat is the Swan 44 (S&S)

For her fiftieth birthday (1973-2023) this Swan 44 decided to give herself a makeover and resume sailing in all her elegance. The boat is one of the most highly regarded of those designed by Sparkman & Stephens for the Pietarsaari shipyard, Nautor Swan (back in the day Nautor’s Swan with the iconic swan inserted in the S). With a length of 13.41 meters and a width of 3.83 meters, the 76 produced examples of this 44-footer have been-and still are-steadily among the top rankings in regattas and rallies. The secret is its particularly apt water lines, and the overall balance that makes this boat a specimen at once elegant, marine and fast.

The construction site of the Marina Sant’Andrea

The list of work that needs to be done in preparation for a refit is long and detailed, but there are some work that is essential for the safety and functionality of the boat. Priority should be given to all activities that aim to safeguard the structural integrity and watertightness of the hull, the soundness of the mooring and anchorage bearing structures, the noncorrosion of the bulb studs, the tightness of the sea intakes, and the functionality of the steering organs. All these parts need to be worked on with great care (and patience) to have a boat in a flawless state of repair.

Lo
Shipyard & Marina Sant’Andrea
definitely has in the shipbuilding part the flagship of all its activities. Located in the North Adriatic, in San Giorgio di Nogaro, within the Marano Lagoon, the shipyard has several travel lifts, cranes and large sheds equipped to make the expert workers it can count on work to the best of their ability. This is the right place to fulfill requests of all kinds, from paint jobs and those involving mechanical parts, engine, electrical or frigorifer systems, and electronics. Carpentry work can be done on wood, composite materials, upholstery, steel and alloys, but also sandblasting and osmosis prevention/remediation, not to mention rigging assistance.

In addition to all the work that can be done and an area of over 200,000 square meters, the site can count on experienced and recognized craftsmen, it is enough for you to know that Shipyard & Marina Sant’Andrea has become – over the years – Official Service Center of some of the most important brands in international shipbuilding, such as Solaris Yachts, CNB Yachts, San Lorenzo Yachts and just Nautor Swan. The shipyard can carry out all kinds of work, from routine or extraordinary maintenance to minor refitting and complete refits. Through various collaborations with experts in the field, the site is then also able to offer specialized service with designs , designs, plan studies, installation studies, VPP simulations and technical drawings.

The Swan 44 refit – production year: 1973 / refit year: 2023

The refit project for a boat as legendary as this 1973 Swan 44 took a full year, but it allowed the boat-and its owner-to come back to life. The desire was to maintain the soul of the boat thus safeguarding its lines and history, but adapting the equipment and fittings (rigs, rigging, deck, hull) to allow it to still sail fast and elegant for a long time.

In fact, style and performance were the two tracks that guided the work of the refit, which was completed in 2023 and allowed this Classic Boat to return to the water in perfect shape on the occasion of its 50th birthday. The following is a – partial – list of work involving Shipyard & Marina Sant’Andrea and Studio Cossutti Ganz Design.

• Complete boat scanner (hull and deck) for milling PVC components to be applied to the hull to give the new shape to the hull
• Optimization of deck equipment layout
• Replacement of all covered equipment
• Installation of the new suspended rudder, modification of the deadwork in the aft area to fit the new rudder
• Resurfacing part of the teak deck
• Modification of sail plan by fitting a Pauger carbon mast. Verification of structures and displacement of moorings on deck
• Complete repainting of hull and deck
• Overhaul of all systems with replacement of tanks, engine overhaul, replacement of all electrical and electronic systems
• New sail plan design, deck plan study and planning, rating optimization, VVP simulations
• New rudder blade, installation design
• Drawings of the lamination

• If you would like to make your boat as good as new and would like refit information, please visit marinasantandrea.co.uk

• Or write to info@marinasantandrea.it

*editorial in collaboration with Marina Sant’Andrea