Swan Classic RH, now you can celebrate your Swan signed by Ron Holland

At a time when, at long last, heritage and shipbuilding history are finally coming to light, not a few brands are looking to their past by deciding to officially celebrate their milestones.
So while this year’s Vele d’Epoca introduced us to the newly formed Swan Classic (which will already participate in the 2025 edition), another novelty cannot go unnoticed.
It is about the other major association announced in Imperia, the Swan Classic RH, that is. the new entity intended to celebrate the more than 280 Swans signed by the great Ron Holland. And not only that.

Swan Classic RH

To get to the Swan Classic RH Association, however, let’s take a step back and look at the acronym, RH, short for Ron Holland.
Trained as both a builder and a designer, Ron Holland is one of those prominent figures who has been able to make a profound mark on the history of sailing.
From his very first designs, at just 19 years old, to the classics of the Golden Age of Sailing, such as Eygthene, Golden Shamrock, Condor or NCB Ireland, to name a few, Holland has been able to demonstrate great versatility, moving steps in all directions, including the America’s Cup (NZL).
In addition to the emblazoned one-offs, however, it has also left behind remarkable designs destined for serial production, resulting in exceptional hulls, important for their ability to contain specialized know-how while demonstrating its qualities even in a field not directly its own.
It is precisely in one of these transitions that we find Holland at Nautor, where he gave birth to designs destined to become great classics.
Those great classics that, today, the Swan Classic RH wants to celebrate, pursuing a discourse aimed not only at the preservation and sharing of beauty and quality, but also capable of carrying beyond even much broader values.

The boats involved

Before addressing the Classic RH, however, let us first start with a key point: what are the yachts designed by Ron Holland? There are 6 designs, built between 1978 and 1990.
Specifically, they are the Swan 371, 39, 391, 42, 43 and 441-with the 43 also known as the 432, to distinguish it from the eponymous Swan 43 signed by S&S in 1967.
Altogether, a range of hulls between 11.28 and 13.52 meters, for a fleet of about 280 boats built.

The Swan Classic RH Association

Having defined the boats involved in the initiative, the crux of the matter: here is the Swan Classic RH, a major novelty of this late 2024 season.
In fact, the Swan Classic RH was born at arm’s length with the “general” Swan Classic fleet (S&S, Holland and Frers), a parallel that marks perhaps its conception but not its form.
Well established, as we know, there already existed the Sparkman & Stephens Swan Association, joined in more recent years by the Swan Classic By Frers.
On this juncture, there was a lack of dedicated representation for the Auckland designer, to which the RH now arrives, on the strength of the approval of the master himself, as well as that of the Swan yard.
Thus was born the Swan hat and subsets, independent and interconnected.
A not inconsiderable heritage network.
Now, however, what does the association specifically consist of? The Swan Classic RH Association was born out of a desire to unite two distinct elements.
On the one hand, it finds its roots in the desire to broaden the mandate of celebrating “classics” to include IORs and fiberglass, and on the other, from the desire to celebrate the designs of the New Zealand architect.
All this, while also being a spokesperson for those values that, sailing, sometimes seems to be losing.
In the context in which Nautor also moves its steps in the celebratory direction of its Heritage, the astral conjunction seems perfect, and the whole thing takes hold.

The purpose is thus one, to aggregate the owners of RH-branded Swan hulls (more than 280) into a whole capable not only of sharing and celebrating these same hulls and their respective experiences, but also capable of advancing and growing a discourse aimed at the dissemination of classic sailing and principles related to seamanship, sustainability and respect. “Celebration alone is not enough. It takes spreading, sharing and an underlying spirit. We don’t just want to celebrate but also to sow seeds, open ourselves to others and share passion and history. The culture of the beautiful, which must coincide with the culture of the good. So in sharing, in behavior and in being. Valuing and sharing sailing and its fundamentals, because culture belongs to everyone.” This is how Riccardo Ghidella, the one who presides over the association (based in Turin), summarizes it all, flanked by secretary general Giuseppe Guarna and Mario Quaranta and Oliviero Carducci, themselves founders.
The technical committee, meanwhile, includes figures such as Beppe Zaoli (Zaoli Sails) and Paolo Sasso (FIV).
Serving as flag bearer for the two projects (Swan Classic and Swan Classic RH) at the Vele d’Epoca di Imperia 2024, the Swan 43 (432) Triboulet, hull number 01 of the series signed by Holland and the first brick of the nascent association.
An important presence to demonstrate the concrete commitment behind the project, as well as a foretaste of the new biennial event dedicated to Classic Swans atImperia International Sailing Week, co-organized by the three independent entities and Assonautica Imperia with Nautor Swan starting in 2025.
For more information regarding the Swan Classic RH Association, here is the contact channel: info@swanclassicrh.com