Swede 55

[Slowboat]

I always thought the Swede 55 was a cool boat. Knud Reimers was a very talented designer, and I have always liked the look of the Square Meter boats.

Anybody sail one of these things? 53ft long and only 9'8" wide!

 

[KRC]

Interesting...like a giant Etchells or Soling maybe. Doesn't look very roomy down below for cruising. Never been on one, but wouldn't mind a ride!

Seems like it would look better as a yawl.

 

[Slowboat]

One more picture:

The Square meter boats are known for a very high aspect rig (short boom tall mast).

 

[Devoforedeckus]

Temptress won the Pac cup I don't remember when (maybe the late 80's). Nice boat. Did very well in the Danforth series as well. The front end would oil can upwind in the breeze, so ring frames and hat sections were installed, after that it was bullet proof.

 

[SW Dropout]

Gotta love boats where the boat is longer than the mast. There was always one of these at my Club as a kid and I never saw it out. Ah well.

 

[wingman]

I agree, I really like the look of these boats. They just look efficient to me. The fact that the rig is small for the hull just looks right. I liked the idea of a square meter boat - measure the sail area and try to get as much boat under it as possible. I wish these boats would have been more popular rather than the International Rule or Meter boats - square meter boats were the original ULDBs.

There is one on yachtworld for $97K.

Never sailed one, but raced against one in Detroit way back in the late 70's. If there was any type of reach they would horizon the whole class.

 

[Ross]

looks like a great boat, but it need like 25 more feet of mast, and freakin longer boom, fathead main, aw man, dont get me started....

 

[sam_crocker]

I too love the square meters. Never seen an ugly one. And Knud Reimers is one of my favorite designers, that guy had an eye for beauty and speed.

Brooklin Boat yard did a rendition of the Swede 55 (named Vortex) a few years ago and made a beaut - saved a couple thousand pounds over the glass version. Makes ya wanna go sail one (in heavier air of course):

http://www.brooklinboatyard.com/boats.html

Interior not much different than your basic layout A, 35 foot cruiser of the 70's with opposing settees and V-berth/head forward and galley aft. They did have a double bunk for the kids back aft of the cockpit.

A Swede 55 (The Contessa, shown with Spinny up in an earlier post) finished first in her doublehanded division in this year's Pacific Cup.

 

[drunkenSailor858]

There is one in Cape town and is sailed by a whole crew who are over 75. They have a small bow sprit and sail with A sails. they do pretty well. they won this weekends Comp.

Still impressed as the bowmain is 85+

 

[Lars P]

There is a new version of the Swede 55 with higher rig and a new underwater body. I have sailed it and think it is a wonderful boat, very fast and points extremely high upwind. Is is also very well balanced. I knew Knud H. Reimers and he told me yhat he had made both the Swede 55 and the smaller S30 a little under rigged. The latest development of the Swede 55 has, I believe, the right amount of sail.

 

[sam_crocker]

There is a new version of the Swede 55 with higher rig and a new underwater body. I have sailed it and think it is a wonderful boat, very fast and points extremely high upwind. Is is also very well balanced. I knew Knud H. Reimers and he told me yhat he had made both the Swede 55 and the smaller S30 a little under rigged. The latest development of the Swede 55 has, I believe, the right amount of sail.

 

No fair telling us about porn and not providing a link

 

[Slowboat]

I agree the boat looks like it want's a bigger main. With the running backs there wouldn't be any reason not to put on a big roached main.

This shot gives you an idea of how narrow she is.

 

[Haji]

I raced the old Temptress (modified Swede 55) in a few races back in the 80's, including the Doublehanded Farallones. We won our class and hit a solid 19kts in smooth water...it was blowin. Really great boat offwind in a blow but a little gutless upwind. A more modern version with a higher ballast ratio and perhaps a bulb would be cool.

 

[JSoup]

The Contessa, a Swede 55, won the double-handed division of this year's Pacific Cup.

The Contessa

 

[mark washeim]

i have a swede 55, sort of. it might be more accuate to say that it has me. i sail a lot (for a living) & this is one of the bex=st sailing boats i've ever laid my hands on.

 

[mark washeim]

pics

pics

 

[mark washeim]

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[tuf-luf]

i have a swede 55, sort of. it might be more accuate to say that it has me. i sail a lot (for a living) & this is one of the bex=st sailing boats i've ever laid my hands on.

Jeez! I bet that aft berth is highly contraceptive.

Lovely boat.

 

[jsmin]

guy at our club has one - loves it and sails it more than most ever dream of sailing of their boats. i have been out on it a couple of times and is fun stuff. great reaching of course and beautiful down below.