This 68 footer was developed by Håkan Södergren in 2008 as a taller sister of Swede 55. At first sight it is the same boat, just bigger, due to the sailor’s saying. Actually, the Swede 68 is nearly 16 feet (4.80 metres) longer and nearly 4.6 feet (1.40 m) wider. It would come with a raised freeboard. This would offer more room below deck.
A rendered view into the main cabin of Swede 68 – Oscar Södergren
Swede 68, a dream for the Cruising Square Metre Boat sailor
Södergren looks back on almost 300 designs today, including codesigning the Swedish IAAC America’s Cupper Tre Kronor and a 93 foot cruising yacht. As one of the leading Scandinavian naval architects, he is known for his Helmsman Range, the 38-footers Carrera and Sirena, and the 41-foot Cayenne. As an accomplished engineer with four decades of background, Södergren started working on Swede 68 in 2007. Similar to his Helmsman yachts, he gave Swede 68 a fairly full-bodied run, an aesthetic deviation from Swede 55. Thus, the design obtained a counter similar to an Etchells instead of a Soling.
Despire its low freeboard Swede 68 offers comfort and full standing height due to length – Södergren Yacht Design
Further, the concept obtained a modern U instead of the V-shaped hull of the Knud Reimers-designed Swede 55. Swede 68 should easily travel at 13 knots. As an elegant owner’s boat, she comes with three well-separated cabins. The master bedroom is aft below the cockpit, a guest/pilot cabin is on the starboard side with two bunks above each other, and a V-berth in the forward cabin. The engine is located near the centre of gravity and easily accessible from all sides for convenient maintenance.
Stretched sheer line and mahogany-clad deckhouse – Södergren Yacht Design /Oscar Södergren Design
The design is ready to be built at Rosättra Varv AB in Norrtälje east of Uppsala. This well-reputed yard is known for its Linjett range of medium-sized, quality sailboats. In case Swede 68 is launched with the planned displacement, the high SA/D ratio/Segeltragzahl similar to contemporary race boats would be promising. In 2014, the price tag on this eye-catching racer was 2.2 million € plus VAT.
Håkan Södergren Design # 268
2007-8
Length over all
68 ft
20.78 m
Design waterline
53′ 6”
16.20 m
Beam
14′ 4″
4.40 m
Draft
9′
2.75 m
Planned Displacement*
38,800 lbs
17.6 t
Ballast
15,563 lbs
7.1 t
Ballast ratio*
40%
Sail area upwind
2.217 sq ft
206 m2
Main
1.378 sq ft
128 m2
Jib
839 sq ft
78 m2
Length/Beam ratio
5.4
SA/D ratio*
30.95
Segeltragzahl**
5.5
55 HP/41 kW Volvo Penta D2-55 F 4-Cylinder with Saildrive 130 S
Freshwater
79 US Gal
300 l
Fuel
79 US Gal
300 l
* The Sail Area/Displacement Ratio is used in the US to determine the agility of a boat based on imperial numbers. It is calculated by the sail area in sq. ft. divided by displacement in cubic feet to 2/3. Reference: 16–18 heavy offshore cruisers; 18–22 medium cruisers; 22–26 racing boats; over 26 advanced racing boats.
** The Segeltragzahl is common in German-language countries and calculates the agility of a sailboat based on metric numbers as 2√sail area in m² / 3√displacement in metric tonnes. The higher the number, the more sail area the boat has in relation to its displacement. Cruising yachts ≈ 3.5–4, modern boats ≈ 4.3–5. Race boats above that.
Swede 68 was initiated by Olof Hildebrand, who developed Swede 55 in 1974-5.
Five remarks on the Swede 68
The Swede 68 is a dreamboat for the aesthetic-minded fraternity of sailors. However, I would like to share some practical points based on decades aboard my Swede 55.
21 m in length and a draft of 2.75 m limit the use in many waters of the Baltic Sea, obviously not in the Mediterranean.
Sail areas of this size are not handled easily by two people. The mainsail of the Swede 68 comes with nearly 130 m2, the jib almost 80 m2. The 44 m² mainsail and 30 m² jib of the Swede 55 are manageable. Furling systems (in the boom and around the forestay) are expensive, heavy, maintenance-intensive, and prone to wear and tear.
A boat displacing 39,000 lbs/18 tons does not favour the common use as a day sailer.
Increased beam and added accessories do not fit to the concept of agile sailing. Here the thrill of the dinghy-like sailing is lost.
The painted mahogany surfaces are beautiful and match the style of the boat. Thanks to extended sanding and refreshing intervals of modern paints, the effort is no longer as great as it used to be. Solvent owners can afford this maintenance (or have it done) repeatedly eventually.
Some of these topics can be solved when planning the manufacture of the Swede 68.
Swede 68, so far a nicely rendered design ready to build – Södergren Yachts/Oscar Södergren Design
