Frers’ influence is clear in the completely smooth hull, free of skegs and creases. The beam carries aft, while the transom corners taper away in a manner common to his designs. The 56 R also reflects Nautor’s enduring partnership with the Argentine designer, who became the yard’s primary naval architect in the early 1980s.
Design and Construction
The Swan 56 R has a single-skin, uncored hull built with Kevlar hybrid fibers in the laminate, while the deck combines a hybrid laminate with a Divinycell foam core and fiberglass-over-foam longitudinal stringers stiffen the hull. Polyester resin is used throughout the structure.
The cast-lead keel is alloyed with antimony for hardness, with substantial stainless-steel keel bolts cast into it. The rudder is glassed-over foam, carried on a tubular stock made from E-glass composites.
A composite maststep won’t rust or corrode like a conventional metal step, reflecting Nautor’s attention to long-term structural integrity beneath the rig.
Dimensions, Displacement, and Performance
The Swan 56 R has an LOA of 56'5", a waterline length of 49'6", and a beam of 15'6", giving it an L/B of 3.63.
With all tanks topped, the cruiser/racer displaces 47,400 pounds and carries 13,700 pounds of ballast. Its D/L ratio is 174. The regatta version displaces 43,200 pounds, carries 14,600 pounds of ballast, and has a D/L ratio of 166.
Both versions have tall rigs. The cruiser/racer carries 1,491 square feet of sail and has an SA/D ratio of 18.21. Its loaded draft is 9 feet. The regatta version draws a shade more than 11 feet when loaded, giving the racing variant a deeper bite to windward. Its rudder is also set farther forward than on the standard version.
Rig and Handling
Frers’ specifications call for an aluminum mast with three sets of spreaders, although many owners of the cruiser/racer choose carbon fiber instead. The cruiser/racer rig has an inner forestay and a babystay. These clutter the foredeck and make close tacking somewhat laborious.
By contrast, the regatta version has a fractional rig, a single forestay, and a prebent spar with no additional stays forward. Its mast stands slightly farther forward, and the rig has an extended E dimension.
The mast is supported by substantial discontinuous rod rigging and running backstays, along with a Navtec backstay tensioner. Both the backstay and the Navtec vang are hydraulic and controlled from a cockpit panel. All running rigging is Spectra.
Steering is by chain and cable. Test sailors found it light, with a well-balanced helm. A three-bladed Max-Prop feathering propeller is standard and helps with maneuvering in reverse.
Accommodations and Tankage
In the standard layout, the aft owner’s cabin has its own head. Forward, a guest cabin is served by a separate head and shower. The regatta version removes accommodations from the ends of the boat to reduce weight and pitching moment, favoring racecourse performance over liveaboard comfort.
A door folds down to create a spacious swim step. The Swan 56 R carries 224 gallons of fresh water in four tanks and 105 gallons of fuel in two or three tanks. Its 24-volt electrical system is more efficient than the 12-volt systems found on most American boats.
Engine and Deck Equipment
Standard power comes from a Yanmar 4JH2-UTBE diesel. This turbocharged, intercooled engine is rated at 96 horsepower, which period reviews described as ample for the easily driven hull.
The standard toerail is anodized aluminum. A teak version is more popular, but it also requires more maintenance.
The Verdict
The Swan 56 R is a serious Frers-designed cruiser-racer. Its single-skin Kevlar-glass hull and foam-cored deck provide structural refinement without excess weight, while the two configurations allow an owner to choose between comfortable two-stateroom cruising and a stripped-down racer with a strong windward focus.
In a period review, the tester found the cruiser/racer’s additional forestays troublesome during tight tacks but described its helm as well balanced.
Pros
- Single-skin Kevlar-glass hull, foam-cored deck, and a composite maststep that avoids the corrosion associated with a conventional metal step
- Light, well-balanced chain-and-cable steering
- Feathering propeller that helps with maneuvering in reverse
- Deep regatta draft and tall rig with strong performance metrics
- Generous 224-gallon water and 105-gallon fuel capacities
- Efficient 24-volt electrical system
Cons
- The cruiser/racer’s inner forestay and babystay clutter the foredeck and make close tacking harder
- The regatta version sacrifices accommodations in the ends of the boat, limiting its liveaboard appeal
- The teak toerail option requires more upkeep than the standard anodized-aluminum rail
