Tarantella returns to the sea: The first Swan sails again

Tarantella returns to the sea following a complete restoration in Pietarsaari, Finland © Nautor Swan

There is one date that marks the beginning of the Nautor Swan story: September 23, 1966, when Pekka Koskenkylä registered Koskenkylä & Co., the company that would later become Nautor AB in 1970.

What followed is now part of sailing history: a remarkable journey built on quality, performance, longevity, innovation and vision. From the outset, Pekka introduced a revolution in yacht construction by commissioning the world's most renowned naval architects, Sparkman & Stephens, to design a fiberglass yacht at a time when the material was still considered a pioneering technology. Building the future of a shipyard around fiberglass was a bold and visionary decision.

The first yacht launched in 1967 was Tarantella, a Swan 36. Since then, Swan has come to represent "the sailing yacht" in the imagination of generations of sailors and has become an iconic name recognized far beyond the sailing world.

Today, 59 years after her first launch, Tarantella has returned to the water in Pietarsaari, ready to sail once again as if it were her very first day at sea. Welcoming her back was the Gulf of Bothnia, with the same unique atmosphere of nature, craftsmanship and maritime tradition that surrounded her birth nearly six decades ago.

The restoration and sailing program have been made possible through the support of a distinguished group of technical partners, including North Sails - North Sails Italy, Navico Group - B&G, Mastervolt, Universe Yachting, Essma, Seldén, Gottifredi & Maffioli - Velamania, AXXON, Gori, Fixafell, Sail Tech & Spinlock, Cabin Denmark - Broxe GmbH & Co. KG, Olcese Ricci, Harken - Harken Italy, Kiwigrip - Scandinavian Teak Deck, TOVAB Wi-Bo Metal, Promarine, Autonautic Instrumental S.L., and Hella Marine.

The project will also honor prestigious yacht clubs, including Royal Swedish Yacht Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, and the Royal Yacht Squadron, further strengthening the connection between Tarantella's historic voyage and the international sailing community.

The departure took place during the shipyard's 60th anniversary celebrations, bringing together authorities, employees, partners, sailing enthusiasts, and members of the local community, reflecting the strong bond that continues to unite Nautor Swan with its heritage, its people, and its supporters.

A Journey Through History and the World's Most Iconic Regattas

Tarantella will embark on an extraordinary program throughout 2026, participating in some of the world's most prestigious sailing events alongside historic yacht clubs and sailing institutions.

After leaving the yard, the yacht will sail to Sandhamn, Sweden, to compete in the Gotland Runt. She will then arrive to Nautor Swan Global Service base in Badalona, Spain, where, in early September, Nautor Swan founder Pekka Koskenkylä will join the project and sail aboard the yacht.

From Badalona, Tarantella will continue to the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo, where she will lead a record fleet of more than 130 Swan yachts, exceeding the participation achieved during the brand's 50th anniversary and marking the largest gatherings in Nautor Swan's history. Following the regatta, she will sail onward to Saint-Tropez to honor Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, with a scheduled stop in Bonifacio along the route.

The yacht is also expected to participate in Cowes Week in 2027.

"I am proud to be here today and to see the first yacht carrying the wonderful Swan name," said Massimo Perotti. "I could truly sense what makes the Swan world so remarkable: the emotion, the deep connection with the sea, and the strength of an authentic legacy. I am proud to see our community continue to grow, thanks to the refit team, all the partners who supported this project, the yacht clubs, and everyone who helped transform this brand into a legend."

The relaunch of Tarantella also marked the first public appearance of Gianguido Girotti as Chief Executive Officer of Nautor Swan, succeeding Giovanni Pomati.

Giovanni Pomati, who strongly supported the project, said:

"The refit project and the departure of Tarantella hold great significance for both the company and for me personally. After eight years of full dedication to the Nautor Swan brand, I am pleased to pass the helm to Gianguido Girotti, allowing myself time for new challenges and, certainly, more time to sail my Swan. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, and I will continue to support this remarkable brand and the entire team as they sail forward. Thank you for sharing this journey with us."

Girotti added:

"Sailing aboard a Swan is a dream for many sailors, and it has always been one of mine as well. Today, I have the privilege of taking the helm of this company and helping guide it into the future. It is a role I embrace with great responsibility, as we inherit an extraordinary legacy of expertise, craftsmanship, and reputation built through decades of dedication by those who came before us. I can now fulfill one of my greatest dreams: helping build the most beautiful boats in the world."

A Legacy Rooted in Centuries of Shipbuilding

When Nautor Swan was founded in the mid-1960s, a centuries-old shipbuilding tradition encountered a moment of transformation. Looking beyond established methods, Pekka Koskenkylä brought together local craftsmen whose knowledge was deeply rooted in wooden boatbuilding and combined that expertise with the possibilities offered by modern materials and design.

Since 1966, nearly 2,400 yachts have been built in Pietarsaari. Each one different, each one evolving, yet all connected by something deeper than design alone: a continuity of knowledge, care, responsibility, and craftsmanship that has never been interrupted, only passed from one generation to the next.

Long before Nautor Swan, long before the language of modern yacht design, the Pietarsaari coastline was already known for shipbuilding. As early as the sixteenth century, maps of the Jakobstad region carried the annotation hic fabricator navalis — "ships are built here." By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the wider Ostrobothnia region had established itself as one of Northern Europe's most important centers of shipbuilding and seafaring.

It is from this legacy that Nautor Swan was born. And it is to this heritage that Tarantella now pays tribute as she returns once again to the sea.