Leonardo Ferragamo, inheriting his father Salvatore’s penchant for high fashion, discovered another passion that captured his heart: sailing. This fervor, cultivated during his youth in Florence when he commenced sailing at the tender age of 15 on a Flying Dutchman, would eventually lead the fashion mogul to a significant venture. In 1998, he assumed a controlling interest in Nautor Swan, a Finnish sailing yacht builder.
Much like his astute leadership in the realm of fashion, Ferragamo envisioned a transformation for Nautor Swan. He aspired to elevate it into an “international brand” by harmonizing Finnish craftsmanship with Italian design. Over the course of 25 years, his vision has transcended even his most ambitious aspirations, propelling Nautor Swan into a brand renowned far beyond the confines of the sailing world. Nautor Swan is now renowned for crafting Maxi racing/cruising yachts exceeding 100 feet in length for its discerning clientele, alongside a series of smaller one-design race boats catering to sailors who harbor an equal ardor for competition as the Maxi owners.
Ferragamo’s acquisition of the Finnish shipyard also gave rise to ClubSwan, the high-performance arm of the company. He sought to rekindle the essence of racing, something “instinctive to every sailor,” as he aptly puts it, among Swan owners. He explains, “It existed already, but it needed to go to the next level.” Thus, he embarked on a mission to serve those who had placed their trust in Swan in the past before pursuing new clients.
This innovative approach not only led to the establishment of various Swan racing series but also offered technical support, insurance services, and exclusive perks to owners, thereby enriching the overall ownership experience. For Ferragamo, this endeavor was instrumental in Swan’s renaissance, broadening the horizons of product enjoyment.
ClubSwan has evolved into a tightly-knit community of yacht owners who convene at an array of racing series and events spanning from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.
The Swan Maxi Series, dedicated to the grandest raceboats that often venture into superyacht territory, featured seven events this year. It commenced with the RORC Caribbean 600 in Antigua in February and culminated with the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo last month. The Rolex Middle Sea Race, an arduous nonstop 606-mile challenge, is set to conclude the series later this month in Valletta, Malta.
Simultaneously, the Swan Mediterranean Series made its mark with events at the ORC Europeans in Malta, the Rolex Giraglia in Saint-Tropez and Genoa, and this week’s Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, where classic and contemporary models gracefully converge on the water. Across the Atlantic, Swan owners congregated in Newport in June for the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, forming part of the Swan North American Series.
ClubSwan has also witnessed remarkable growth in its one-design racing division, catering to sailors with a fervor for racing but not necessarily the time or resources for a Maxi yacht. The owner-driver format fosters spirited yet amicable competition.
In June, 28 race teams, led by owners of ClubSwan 36, ClubSwan 42, and ClubSwan 50 yachts, converged in Porto Cervo for the highly competitive Nations Trophy, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. These teams, comprising a mix of professionals including Olympic medalists and Volvo Ocean Race winners, engaged in coastal and inshore races, vying for individual class points while contributing to their nation’s overall score.
Ferragamo, the skipper of his ClubSwan 50 Cuordileone, holds a special affinity for one-design racing where owners and crews sail nearly identical boats, fostering neck-and-neck competition. He underscores the thrill of such races, emphasizing the focus on the human element in the competition.
This blend of competitive sailing and cherished family time on the water has propelled Swan’s growth and set the brand apart from all other sailboat manufacturers worldwide.
The future of Nautor Swan appears promising, especially since Ferragamo’s son, Edo, a 31-year-old musician, shares his father’s passion for sailing. Edo, at the helm of his Swan 36, Cuordileone, secured second place in the Nations Trophy. His vessel stands out with its futuristic C-shaped foil, offering a technical and physically demanding sailing experience, with speeds reaching 23 knots.
Ferragamo believes that beyond the company itself, Swan represents a celebration of passionate owners and their connections, a gathering that transcends boundaries. It encompasses friends, guests, crew, and even individuals drawn to Swan, even if they do not currently own one.
With the recent introduction of the ClubSwan 28, an entry-level racer, the Swan community is poised to expand further, embracing newcomers to the world of sailing and racing.
