We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. This month Tracy Edwards nominates The Swan 65Tracy Edwards says her heart will always belong to Maiden, the 58ft Bruce Farr-designed maxi she raced round the world in the 1989\/90 Whitbread Race, now restored and being sailed as part of the Maiden Factor project. \u201cBut if I had to choose another one it would be the Swan 65.\u201d
\nA legendary design in its own right, the Sparkman & Stephens-designed Swan 65 became lastingly famous name in the first ever Whitbread Race in 1973\/74. When it was won by Ram\u00f3n Carlin\u2019s Sayula II, finishing in 133d 13h.
\nSwan 65 Sayula II
\nThis was the first of many honours for the design: in the following Whitbread three other Swan 65s finished in 2nd, 4th and 5th positions.
\n2nd placed Kings\u2019 Legend was skippered by Nick Ratcliffe (Skip Novak was the navigator) and beat Conny van Rietschotens Flyer and Clare Francis\u2019s Swan 65 ADC Accutrac.
\nWhen the Swan 65 was first built at Nautor in Finland in 1972 it was easily the largest glassfibre yacht on the market.
\nTracy was first bewitched by the design when she sailed on a 65 in the early 1980s. \u201cThey are so beautiful, and gorgeous to sail. The interior makes this a boat you could live on forever \u2013 the woodwork is sublime.\u201d
\nSwan 65 stats rating:
\nTop speed: 14 knots
\nLOA: 19.84m
\nLaunched: 1971
\nBerths: 12
\nPrice: \u20ac500k
\nAdrenalin factor: 60%
\nTracy Edwards
\nTracy Edwards MBE skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race.
\nIn 2014 she recovered her maxi Maiden in the Indian Ocean, restored her and launched The Maiden Factor to sail round the world and raise awareness for girls\u2019 education.
\nFor more on the charity see Maiden Factor project<\/p>\n
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We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. This month Tracy Edwards nominates The Swan 65Tracy Edwards says her heart will always belong to Maiden, the 58ft Bruce Farr-designed … <\/p>\n