CYGNE is a Swan 46 Centerboard Model designed by German Frers and built by Nautor Swan in Finland. She is Hull #21 out of approximately 120 Swan 46's built. The Swan 46 was one of Nautor's most successful models. It was and still is extremely popular, evidenced by its popularity on the used boat market.
CYGNE was built in 1984, shipped to the U.S., and launched in 1985. The boat was originally called WASSAIL. The original owner used her for one year, after which the boat was not used and circumstances forced him to sell. Ray Peterson purchased her in 1987. She was located in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Ray and a group of friends and his daughter Nancy sailed her from Tampa to Connecticut with stops in Key West and Ft. Lauderdale.
CYGNE's specifications are: length overall, 46.6'; draft, board up 6', board down 9.5'; beam 14.5'; the mast is a three spreader rig with a small cross sectional area. In fact, its mast has the smallest cross-sectional area that was built for any 46.
From 1987 to 1994 CYGNE was successfully raced in Long Island Sound, Bermuda Races, and the Caribbean circuit including St. Thomas, BVI, and Antigua Race Week. During this period, CYGNE made four trips to the Caribbean for the winter season.
CYGNE is a very competitive boat to race, exceptionally comfortable for cruising, and a wonderful offshore boat. She has cruised extensively from Maine to the Caribbean, and participated in several Bermuda races. During a late October passage from Newport to the Caribbean, the "window of opportunity" closed when CYGNE experienced a full-blown storm at sea about 200 miles from Bermuda. She performed exceptionally well and comfortably under trysail and storm jib. This experience qualified Ray for membership in the Storm Trysail Club.
From 1995 to 2002, CYGNE was used primarily for cruising and some local club races. In 2001, Ray and Erika moved to Rhode Island to their new home at Oyster Point. In 2002, three of CYGNE's former captains were living in the Newport area and got together with Ray and once again began to race CYGNE. CYGNE, however, had not had a major refit in several years. Starting in 2003 through 2005, with the assistance of Mike Hall, a former captain of CYGNE, all of the standing and running rigging were replaced, a new main traveler, a carbon fiber spinnaker pole, new Referig/freezer, windlass SSB, VHF, new instruments and navigational/performance software was installed. Between 2004 and 2006, a new and complete inventory of sails was purchased through Steve Benjamin of North Sails.
Through the latter half of 2003 and 2004, CYGNE's crew began to take shape. Building a racing crew that works together as a successful team requires sailors with the right skills and chemistry plus plenty of time on the water. 2005 was a very successful year for CYGNE.
If you would like to be considered part of Team CYGNE, please email us at info@teamcygne.us along with your sailing resume. Team CYGNE is welcoming new members. Our most important requirement is attitude which is more important than experience.
