This yacht was born in 2005, a very special year. New York Yacht Club announced a competition to design a cruising and racing yacht for club members: the boat had to be fast, well driven and have a successful IRC handicap. Several designers presented their projects to the yacht club's committee and in the end Nautor and Hermann Frerr's joint project was chosen.
The resulting vessel is one design, fast enough for racing and comfortable enough for cruising. The success of the Swan 42 CS with members of the New York Yacht Club has contributed to the growth and worldwide popularity of the boat, although this was not the original goal.
