The search results provide good information for the Swan 68.
Here's a breakdown of what I found and how I'll use it:
- Designer: Germán Frers is consistently named as the designer.
- Production Years: 1992-2004 (from), first built in 1991. Production started in 1992 (JSON). Number built: 24 (JSON).
- Purpose: Described as a "blue water cruiser-racer," a "high-performance cruiser," combining "style, space and sailing prowess".
- Variations: The boat was built with two different transom designs: "angled and reverse" and "traditional counter". The also mentions "Also available with a traditional counter. See SWAN 68 (TRAD)."
- Interior Layout: Generous, with a center-line double aft owner's cabin and two double guest cabins forward. Often described as 3-cabin, 3-head, plus crew or 4-cabin, 4-head, plus crew. Special-order red teak interior joinery is mentioned. Traditional owner aft layout offers privacy.
- General Reputation: Stunning sailing yacht, well-maintained examples available, top-of-the-line, exceptional balance of performance, elegance, and reliability.
- Owner's Perspectives/Common Issues: While some general articles on "Common Issues With Nautor's Swan Sailboats" exist, they are not specific to the Swan 68 and mention issues on much older models (Swan 47, Swan 36). There isn't enough specific, recurring information for the Swan 68 to warrant a dedicated "Owner's Perspectives" section. I will likely omit this section due to lack of specific grounding.
Calculations for Sailing Performance:
ratio_sa_disp(Sail Area to Displacement):- Sail Area Reported: 2164 sq ft (JSON)
- Displacement: 88184 lbs (JSON)
SA/D = (SA / (D / 64))^0.667(where D is in lbs and 64 is the density of saltwater)- SA/D = (2164 / (88184 / 64))^0.667 = (2164 / 1377.875)^0.667 = (1.5705)^0.667 = 1.359.
- Correction: The standard formula for Sail Area to Displacement Ratio (SA/D) is SA / (Displacement in lbs / 64)^0.667. Let's recalculate with the standard formula.
- SA (sq ft) = 2164
- Displacement (lbs) = 88184
- Displacement in cubic feet = 88184 lbs / 64 lbs/cu ft = 1377.875 cu ft
- SA/D = 2164 / (1377.875)^(2/3) = 2164 / 123.77 = 17.48. This is a more typical value. (>18 suggests better light-air performance)
ratio_bal_disp(Ballast to Displacement):- Ballast: 35274 lbs (JSON)
- Displacement: 88184 lbs (JSON)
- Ratio = 35274 / 88184 = 0.3999, which is approximately 0.40. (>0.40 indicates stiffer, more stable)
ratio_disp_lwl(Displacement to Length):- Displacement: 88184 lbs (JSON)
- LWL: 54.72 ft (JSON)
- D/L = Displacement / ((0.01 * LWL)^3)
- D/L = 88184 / ((0.01 * 54.72)^3) = 88184 / (0.5472^3) = 88184 / 0.1639 = 538000 (This is an extremely large number and incorrect. The standard D/L ratio formula is D / (0.01L)^3 where D is in pounds and L is LWL in feet, and then divided by a constant, often 2240 for tons, or a simpler one is displacement in long tons / (0.01 LWL)^3 where LWL is in feet. Let's use the common simplified form: D/L = Displacement (lbs) / (0.01 * LWL (ft))^3).
- Correction: The correct common formula for Displacement-Length Ratio (D/L) is: D/L = Displacement (long tons) / (0.01 * LWL (ft))^3.
- Displacement in long tons = 88184 lbs / 2240 lbs/long ton = 39.367 long tons
- D/L = 39.367 / (0.01 * 54.72)^3 = 39.367 / (0.5472)^3 = 39.367 / 0.1639 = 240.19. (lower number <200 lighter, more performance; >300 heavier, traditional cruiser)
Now I have enough information to start drafting the article. I will ensure all sentences referencing search results have citations.