Two-Person Keelboat (Swallow), Men

The Swallow class is a one-design keelboat that was raced at the Olympics for the only time in 1948. Now often called the National Swallow class, it is usually raced with three crew members. The Swallow was very similar to the Star class, but with a smaller sail area. In 1948, it was one of two two-person keelboat classes, along with the Olympic standard Star class. The Swallow was designed by Thomas Thornycroft as a possible replacement for the Star, but never became as popular. Thornycroft competed in the 1908 Olympics in the motorboating events, winning two gold medals. The Swallow was raced on a 10 nautical mile (18.5 km) course, slightly more inshore than the course used by the Dragons and 6-metre boats.

After six races, the British crew of Stewart Morris and David Bond, aboard “Swift”, had a comfortable lead over the Portuguese crew of Duarte Manuel Bello and Fernando Bello, racing on “Symphony”. Nobody else was close to these two teams. Bello and Bello won the final race, but Morris and Bond hung on for the gold medal, despite placing fourth. This was the first of five Olympic appearances for Duarte Manuel Bello, and four for Fernando Bello, but this silver was their only Olympic medal.