The christening for Taniwha over the weekend was extra special for her owners. The fourth hull in the SW105 series from Southern Wind Shipyard is their first-ever sailing yacht.
Although she follows in the footsteps of other SW105 deliveries, like Satisfaction, Taniwha is still different. Nauta Design, which is responsible for the styling of the series, tailored the deck configuration to the owners’ requests. The studio refers to it as a GT design, a.k.a. Gran Turismo design. Just like the sports cars bearing that name, this design is sleek. Taniwha specifically has a lower-profile coachroof and a wider cockpit on one level. These racing-yacht-style looks help make her looks match her intention, that being a strong performer.
In terms of performance, Farr Yacht Design, her naval architect, gave her a single rudder and a lifting keel. Draft therefore ranges from 12’5” to 19’4” (3.8 to 5.9 meters). Further featuring a 10-foot-long (3.12-meter-long) bowsprit, the sailing superyacht should please her owners both upwind and downwind.
Additionally ensuring Taniwha delivers that performance, the owners paid close attention to using lightweight materials both on deck and inside. For instance, titanium is the material of choice for fairleads, cleats, toe pads, and more gear. The mast and boom fittings use it, too, as do the keel head and submarine anchor components.
In terms of interior layout, Taniwha features Southern Wind’s popular owner-forward arrangement. Therefore, guests go aft of the saloon in a VIP and a twin cabin. If the need arises, a study forward of the saloon, with a day head, can convert to an extra stateroom as well. Harkening back to the lightweight need, the owners chose the study’s desk, along with all furnishings, with this in mind. They also chose eco-friendly materials (although Southern Wind isn’t elaborating at this point).
The owners and their five-person crew are looking forward to a month’s worth of sea trials. Following that, Taniwha will depart the shipyard’s Cape Town, South Africa base. Certainly, the owners will then look forward to taking the yacht cruising, using her 14-foot (4.2-meter) tender, and using her generous sunpad, among other things.
Farr Yacht Design farrdesign.com
Nauta Design nautadesign.com
Southern Wind Shipyard sws-yachts.com
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