Golden Galiana: the Swan 55 preparing to race around the world
, 2022-12-12 00:21:04,
Katy Stickland sails the Swan 55 Galiana in Helsinki and meets the Finnish crew and her skipper, as the boat is prepared for the 2023 Ocean Globe Race
Galiana romps along like a thoroughbred racehorse, her new white hull gleams under the Baltic sunshine as she cuts through the waves cleanly, leaving foaming sea in her wake on our voyage from Kajholmen island back to her home port in Helsinki.
This most classic of Swans is almost spiritual to sail; you are almost overwhelmed by her beauty and performance, especially upwind.
If you were not converted to Swans before, you certainly are after a few hours of sailing in the Gulf of Finland.
Designed by the pen of Olin Stephens, the Swan 55 was first launched in 1969. Galiana was built in 1970.
Initially called Barbarossa, and sporting a red hull, she sailed for two seasons in the UK before being sold.
Galiana will be sailing in the Adventure Class in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race for yachts between 47ft-56ft. Credit: Ville Norra
Her name changed to Asia, and then Golden Aura before the yacht ended up in the United States of America; 23 years ago British sailor Patrick Green bought her and returned her to the UK, where she was renamed Galiana and used for chartering and racing alongside her sistership, Valhalla.
Galiana was up for sale just as Finnish skipper Tapio Lehtinen was coming to the end of his 2018 Golden Globe Race.
After 322 days alone at sea, he was already thinking about what to do next.
Race chairman Don McIntyre told…
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