Nautor Swan DARK HORSE Sold After €3.7m Asking Price

Fourth and final Swan 80FD changes hands

Northrop & Johnson has announced the sale of DARK HORSE, the fourth and final Nautor Swan 80FD built. Yacht broker Sean McCarter represented the buyer, and the yacht was last offered at an asking price of €3.7 million.

Delivered in 2013, DARK HORSE sits at the performance end of Nautor Swan’s large sailing-yacht output. Her full-carbon construction and flush-deck configuration were developed around a programme that combines fast cruising with competitive sailing rather than prioritising interior volume alone.

Carbon structure extends through the sailing package

The yacht was constructed using SPRINT and pre-preg carbon technology and carries a high-modulus carbon Hall Spars mast and V-boom. Her deck specification also includes carbon and titanium hardware plus upgraded hydraulic carbon winches.

That equipment keeps weight concentrated where it provides structural value while reducing unnecessary mass in the rig and deck systems. On a performance sailing yacht, those savings influence stability, acceleration and sail-carrying ability rather than simply reducing displacement on paper.

Racing record supports the performance brief

DARK HORSE has recorded class wins including the Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach race and Ibiza JoySail. Northrop & Johnson also says the hull was 3D-scanned and underwent weight and stability analysis by an ORC naval architect as part of the yacht’s performance development.

The programme therefore extends beyond standard cruising maintenance and cosmetic preparation. Rig servicing, engineering review and attention to weight distribution are central to preserving the performance potential of a carbon yacht that continues to be raced as well as cruised.

Nine guests remain accommodated below deck

Despite the performance emphasis, DARK HORSE accommodates nine guests across three double cabins plus an additional Pullman berth in a separate office. Dedicated crew quarters are positioned forward, allowing the yacht to retain practical cruising capability alongside her race-oriented deck plan.

Northrop & Johnson says the yacht has been professionally crewed and serviced annually through Nautor Swan Global Service. Recent work included mast servicing and refinishing, rig-cable inspection and re-braiding, furler servicing, transom repainting and mechanical-system attention before the sale.