BoatsSwan 76

Swan 76

Masthead Ketch · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1979–1981

A Sparkman & Stephens masthead ketch built by Swan, offering a heavy-displacement, stable platform for blue-water cruising

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, built by Nautor.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Swan 76, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Living For Sail

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 46 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 46
CoastalBluewater

At 1.65 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.65
LightHeavy

191 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 191
EasygoingPowered-up

15.5 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.5
TenderStiff

24% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 24%

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

  • Heavier than ~91% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~95% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 150 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Swan 76, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Swan 76 is a Sparkman & Stephens-designed masthead ketch built by Nautor from 1979 to 1981. This sailboat model measures 23.26 meters LOA with a 5.80-meter beam and a 3.66-meter draft, displacing 44,770 kg. Its hull features a fin with a rudder on a skeg. The Swan 76 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 15.5 and a comfort ratio of 45.9. Aboard *Living For Sail*, the Swan 76 was briefly inspected at the Annapolis Boat Show.1:01

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
24.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.5
Displacement / length
191.0
Comfort ratio
45.9
Capsize screening
1.65
Hull speed
10.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
4170
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1979–1981
Units built
5
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Nautor

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Hallberg-Rassy 6922.22 mSame hull family1.0 m shorterA German Frers-designed flagship featuring a fractional rig and dual rudders, built for high-comfort blue water cruising
Hallberg-Rassy 69. "Bluewater Cruiser of the Year" 2024. A yacht delivery from France to Sweden.3:09from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Oyster 6820.57 mSame hull family2.7 m shorterA Holman & Pye designed cutter built for serious blue-water passage making with a stable, skeg-mounted rudder
How We Get Paid to Sail in Paradise (Full-Time Boat Life)5:23from Untide
Swan 82 S24.89 mSame hull family1.6 m longerA German Frers-designed performance cruiser featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for rapid offshore passage making
ONE WEEK to Prepare for 16 Days at Sea (Atlantic Crossing)1:43from Sailing La Vagabonde
Jeanneau Yachts 5717.78 mSame hull family5.5 m shorterA Philippe Briand-designed bluewater cruiser built for comfort and stability on long-distance passages
Jeanneau 57 - Getting ready to sail this beautiful yacht on delivery from Hamble to Corfufrom Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Oyster Yachts 56518.09 mSame hull family5.2 m shorterA Humphreys-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a high-performance fractional rig, dual rudders, and a bulb keel
Oyster 565 - A Yacht Delivery from Croatia to UK12:33from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Hallberg-Rassy 5718.44 mSame hull family4.8 m shorterA 18.44-metre flagship featuring a bulb keel and dual rudders for high-speed, stable long-distance cruising
Halberg-Rassy 57 - An epic yacht delivery through the Norwegian Fjords2:27from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Swan 57 S&SA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop designed for blue-water cruising with a heavy, stable displacement hullSwan 76 DHA Sparkman & Stephens deckhouse ketch featuring a keel/centreboard configuration for versatile deep-water cruisingSwan 77A 24-metre masthead sloop built from 1992 to 2003, featuring a high comfort ratio for long-range offshore cruisingSwan 86A 26-metre masthead sloop featuring a wing keel and a high comfort ratio for stable, long-range blue water cruising

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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