Design and Construction
Frers' Swan 59 was offered in two distinct underwater configurations. The standard fin-keel version draws 11.18 feet, while the optional stub-keel and retractable centreboard version draws 9.75 feet with the board down and just 4.0 feet with it raised anchor. The centreboard model also carries a shorter mast than its fin-keel sister, a necessary trade for the shoaler profile. Solid fiberglass hull and deck construction, with lead ballast, anchor the build in traditional Nautor practice of the early Frers years. A capsize screening value of 1.65 and a comfort ratio near 45 describe a hull tuned for passage-making rather than all-out racing.
Rig and Deck Layout
As a masthead sloop, the Swan 59 separates work from leisure in a way few yachts of her size attempt. She has two cockpits: the forward one is the main working area for sailing, holding the wheel, winches, jammers, cleats, and instruments anchor, while the aft cockpit is given over to relaxing, socializing, and taking in the view, furnished with a table and a bimini for shade. The split keeps crew operations clear of guests and gives the helmsman a clean command post forward. An optional aft companionway lets the aft cabin open directly onto that leisure cockpit.
Accommodations
Below, the Swan 59 sleeps six. Two forward cabins each hold a pair of bunk beds, while the main cabin offers both an L-shaped and a U-shaped settee for sitting room. The aft cabin is built around a central island double berth, and an optional aft companionway connects it to the cockpit. The galley sits to port just abeam the companionway ladder in a C-shaped layout with a three-burner stove, ice box, and double sink, and the navigation station faces it to starboard. Two heads serve the plan: one in the forepeak and one on the port side of the aft cabin.
The Verdict
The Swan 59 is a thoughtfully divided cruiser for a couple or family who want real sailing control forward and quiet relaxation aft. The centreboard option broadens her range into shoal waters without surrendering the Frers sea-keeping profile, and the separate cockpits remain a genuine asset at anchor and under way. With only 21 built, she is a rare find, but the layout and construction speak to a considered bluewater brief.
Pros
- Two-cockpit split keeps sailing operations apart from guest space
- Centreboard version opens shoal draft cruising with board retracted to 4.0 ft
- Sleeps six with distinct forward cabins and an island-berth aft stateroom
- Solid glass hull and lead ballast in the Frers-Nautor lineage
Cons
- Fin-keel draft of 11.18 ft limits some anchorages
- Only 21 built, so available examples are scarce
- Centreboard version carries a shorter mast than the fin-keel model
