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 the sailor saying. Actually, Swede 68 is 15 feet (4.57 metres) longer, nearly three feet (80 cm) wider and designed with a raised freeboard. This would offer more room below deck.
Swede 68, a dream for the Cruising Square Metre Boat sailor
Södergren looks back on almost 300 designs today, including the Swedish IAAC America’s Cupper Tre Kronor and few 80 to 90 foot cruising yachts. As one of the leading Scandinavian naval architects he is known for his Helmsman Range, the 38-footers Carrera and Sirena or the 41-foot Cayenne. As an accomplished engineer with four decades 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 with 13 knots. As an elegant owner’s boat, she comes with three well separated cabins. The master bedroom aft below the cockpit, a guest/pilot cabin 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
20.60 m
Design waterline
53′ 6”
16.20 m
Beam
12′ 6″
3.81 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
* 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 is marketed by a company named Classic Swedish Yachts, founded by Olof Hildebrand and is now run by successors. Hildebrand initiated and developed Swede 55 in 1974-5.
Swede 68, so far a nicely rendered design ready to build – Södergren Yachts/Oscar Södergren Design
