Club Swan 42 - New club racer

Boat Test - Club Swan 42

Can one-designs save club racing? Barry Henson talks with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Ian Treleaven.

What do you think it would cost for you to purchase and competitively campaign a boat in the summer offshore series? $200,000? 400,000? Think again.

With many of the latest offerings of IRC boats costing in excess of $400,000 new without sails, instruments, cat 1 or 2 safety gear, and general ‘stuff’ you would need to have on board, a more realistic minimum budget for someone looking to get into offshore racing would be $550,000. Keep in mind that the above price is for a ‘base boat’. Once you add a carbon fibre mast, boom, spinnaker pole, PBO or Spectra standing rigging, Dyneema running rigging, and decent instrumentation (what is generally referred to as the ‘race or performance pack’) a more likely price would be close to $750,000. Depending on the make and model boat you choose, this price could easily be doubled or even tripled.

Some might argue that you can do it for less with older designs, others might say the aforementioned budget is on the low side. While we can argue about the entry price, I think most of us can agree that when we're talking these types of sums, the entry price is a barrier to the growth of the sport.

The problem, according to racing legend Robin Knox-Johnston, is that racing has become more about the technology you can afford to buy and the depth of your pocket-book than about measuring the skill of the sailors. Taken to the extreme as with the America's Cup and Knox-Johnston's reaction is severe. “The America's Cup has lost the plot” Knox-Johnston said in a recent interview with the author, “They’ve killed the golden goose”.

The answer, according to Knox-Johnston, is one-design racing.

There are numerous one-design racers: the Farr 40, the Mumm 36 and Sydney 36 and 38 immediately come to mind. In this article Australian Sailing + Yachting looks at one of the newer options available for clubs interested in one-design offshore racing, the Club Swan 42.

In late 2005 the New York Yacht Club commissioned a competition for a one-design offshore racer. The boat had to work well under IRC rules, be a safe and competitive offshore racer, but with the amenities that would allow it to be cruised comfortably.

In terms of size the NYYC wanted a boat in the low 40's so it could be sailed with minimal crew. It had to have the latest equipment, but above all it had to be price competitive so significant numbers of club members could join this one-design group.

This was the ninth one-design class the NYYC had commissioned, so they were pretty clear on what they wanted.

While the competition for the commission was fierce, Nautor and German Frers teamed up to win the competition with the CS42 or Club Swan 42. In all 25 boats were ordered by club members and another 17 by associates. There are now over 50 CS42's racing worldwide.

In addition to commissioning the CS42, the NYYC drafted and approved a Swan Class association set of rules and constitution that would govern competitors. One of the first rules they drafted was ‘no paid crew’. The CS42 class was to be a true amateur class.

The reasoning, according to the NYYC's rear commodore at the time, was that there is an untapped audience of people who want to sail high performance boats, but have no interest in having professional crew.

According to Ian Treleaven of Nautor Swan Australia, part of Vicsail, the issue of paid or professional crew is less relevant here, but it still raises its head occasionally.

“Of course people want to win,” said Ian, “But our goal is to create a class of boats that opens up the sport and having paid crew goes against that goal.”

Looking through the specifications of the CS42, it's obvious that Nautor Swan and German Frers have designed a boat with “everything you need and nothing you don’t”.

In other words, following IRC rules they've given the CS42 a comfortable, yet minimalist interior when compared to what you would find on our more expensive models.

The goal, according to Ian Treleaven, is to deliver Swan performance at an affordable price.

“The beauty of the CS42 is that you have a high quality IRC offshore racer-cruiser with a quality set-up, including a double-spreader carbon fibre rig, B&G H3000 race pack and full sails by North Sails and that's it - you don’t have to invest more, you don't have to chase the latest technology. The class rules and constitution are all in place. You’re set to go”.

The CS42 is 12.98 metres LOA with a beam of 3.93 metres. The draft is 2.7 metres. The Club Swan including all equipment and sails specified in the class rules and specifications is being offered by Nautor Swan Australia for $699,000 all in.

According to Ian, Nautor are actively seeking to promote the CS42 class in Australia through an international invitational supported by none other than the New York Yacht Club.

Will the CS42, a one-design offshore racer/cruiser entice more people into sailing? That question is still unanswered. What is clear, however, is that sailing as a sport needs more affordable options and the CS42 may be one solution.

For more information contact Ian Treleaven or Brendan Hunt at Nautor Swan Australia on (02) 9327 2088.

Specifications

LOA    12.98m
Beam    3.93m
Draft    2.7m
Price New    $699,000