1984 Nautor Swan 391

On deck, the 391’s cockpit feels secure yet open enough to move smoothly from helm to winch, even with a full crew working the rail. The primary winches are well within reach of the driver, so short-tacking or trimming in a puff feels instinctive rather than acrobatic. Forward, the long, clean foretriangle invites a proper headsail inventory, and the bow layout makes setting a kite or asymmetric surprisingly civilized for a boat of this vintage. Down below, the seagoing galley is tucked where it’s most usable on passage, and the nav station has the kind of real desk space modern designs often sacrifice. Ventilation, handholds, and sea berths all speak to a yacht drawn for actual miles, not just marina appeal.

For these waters, the Swan 391 hits a sweet spot between passage-making confidence and local performance sailing. The moderate size keeps berthing and haul-out manageable, yet the hull form and deep, efficient keel reward you when the afternoon breeze builds and the chop turns short and confused. You can thread into tighter anchorages than larger Swans, but still enjoy the range and tankage for longer hops between harbors. In the light, shifty stuff often found near shore, the 391’s sail plan and balanced helm keep you moving while heavier cruisers wallow. When the weather turns up, the structure, hardware, and underwater shape let you shorten sail, settle in, and keep making real miles in comfort.