Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino

Vincenzo Onorato’s passion for beautiful boats and in particular for the Swan brand is well known. The founder and soul of Mascalzone Latino Team, is also owner of a beautiful Swan 38’ S&S, named ”Mascalzone Latino XXXIII”

It was not a surprise when we were called by Vincenzo Onorato to follow the refitting of the 1974 Swan 38’ S&S “Gaylark”, based in Newport RI, already winner of several regattas in the States, including the Newport-Bermuda, biennial 635-Mile Trophy. 

The boat arrived in the spring of 2013 at the Cantiere dell’Argentario by Federico Nardi, well known for the high quality of craftsmanship, vast experience and knowledge of classic boats, in order to start with a complete internal and external refitting, with the aim to bring back to the original style and also to fashion the interiors, preserving as much as possible the original woods. 

The target was the 2014 edition of the Swan Cup in Porto Cervo. Therefore we started a review of keel and rudder reshaping the original ones, eliminating the unnecessary internal accessories, making a complete review of all plumbing and electrical systems with engine replacement, adding new instruments and developing a simplification of the deck layout.

The result was indeed beautiful, both outside and inside; eventually the boat named “Mascalzone Latino XXXIII” became ready just a few days before the Swan Cup, where she finished 3rd, showing excellent performances in light medium winds but suffering against bigger boats or older and better suited for IRC rules, like the Swan 36’. 

Therefore, for the 2016 edition of the same race, this time to be raced under ORC rating system, a second step was approved, with the replacement of the original masthead rig with a new, fractional one, and a completely new sails inventory. This step gave the boat a more modern look, but perfectly in line with the pure racing boats of the mid 70’ that saw the rebirth of the fractional, dinghy style rigs. This time the result was a 2nd place behind a bigger Swan 44’.

Finally, the 2022 edition of the event sees the “Rascals” prevail after a hard-fought series, compared to the Swan 65’ “Shirlaf” and the 36’ “Josian”, already winner in the 2014 edition.

Having found the ideal set-up, the 38′ returns to racing in 2023 as part of the challenge between the Swans designed by the Sparkman & Stephens studio held on the island of Elba at the end of June 2023; this appointment signs another success for Vincenzo Onorato’s crew, ahead of their eternal rival “Josian”, in a series of regattas held in very different weather conditions, even quite harsh.

Photo © Carlo Borlenghi