Design and Construction
Frers designed the RS as a cruising monohull, built by Nautor’s Swan in Finland. The same hull moulding was later used for the S and FD versions of the Swan 100, confirming that the RS was the progenitor of the line rather than a late variant.
Launched as the 100RS, the boat was conceived as a cruiser—not a racer or a flagship motoring hull. Its one-off status also places it outside the volume-production model of smaller Swans.
Rig and Auxiliary Power
The RS carries a masthead cutter rig, a conservative and capable arrangement for ocean cruising. Its cutter sail plan has a luff perpendicular of 110%, giving it a working jib that overlaps the mast station modestly without reaching full-genoa territory.
A 265 hp Perkins engine provides auxiliary power, sized in keeping with the boat’s length and cruising role.
Cruising Role and Legacy
The RS was the first launch in the Swan 100 series. Its hull tooling provided the basis for the later S and FD developments, making this single boat the original expression of the series and the foundation for the variants that followed.
Known Issues
No structural, mechanical, or systems defects are known for the Swan 100 RS. However, only one hull was built, and it was the first boat from this mould line. The absence of reported problems therefore reflects a single boat’s service history rather than evidence from a broad fleet survey.
The Verdict
The Swan 100 RS is a singular Frers-designed cruiser: one hull, launched in 2002 and built in Finland by Nautor’s Swan. Through its shared hull moulding, it also became the source of the later S and FD sister designs.
Its masthead cutter rig and 110% luff perpendicular define a measured ocean-cruising sail plan, backed by a 265 hp Perkins engine for passage-making autonomy.
Pros
- The only RS hull built and the progenitor of the Swan 100 S and FD line through shared hull moulding
- Frers-designed Finnish Swan cruiser, launched in 2002
- Masthead cutter rig with 110% luff perpendicular
- 265 hp Perkins auxiliary engine
Cons
- Single-unit production limits fleet knowledge and spares commonality
