Southern Wind SW96#05 Liberty Begins Its Maiden Voyage to Europe
Following her launch in February, the Southern Wind SW96#05 Liberty has set sail from Cape Town and started her 7500-mile maiden voyage to Europe.
The yacht’s hull and deck are made with a sandwich structure that includes a foam core and carbon layers applied through an infusion process. It has a light weight of 62 tonnes and a tall rig, which provides great speed and acceleration in lighter winds. For better performance, it features a high-quality carbon mast and boom from Hall Spars and carbon rigging with a double-backstay, set up to work with both pinhead and square top mainsails.
Farr Yacht Design crafted the SW96#05 Liberty with a hull that shows off full waterlines, straight end diagonals, a wide, low transom, and full forward sections. These features, along with a fixed bowsprit, an adjustable keel (3.4-5.5m), and a dual rudder system, make it easy to handle and sail in various conditions.
The yacht, called Liberty, has a raised saloon deck layout with a sleek roof and large windows that light up the main living area with natural light. It’s the first in its series to have larger windows and a ‘twin fold’ transom design by Southern Wind.
The owner, a European yachtsman on his second Southern Wind Yacht, expresses his satisfaction after his initial sailing experience in Cape Town: “The final product has fully met my expectations of building a performing yet very stylish yacht. Being at the helm for the first time in the beautiful setting of Cape Town’s bay was fantastic, the culmination of a long process where all parties involved brought to the table their professional skills as well as their enthusiasm and passion for this kind of project. I was very pleased with all the choices that we made and I’m looking forward to sail her extensively with my family this summer in the Med”.
Liberty epitomizes the type of project where Southern Wind excels. As Niki Jennings, the yard Project Manager for Liberty, explains:“The brief closely aligned to our own principles of building elegant performance cruisers that are practical and seaworthy. At every point of the decision making, these principles were considered. That is not to say that the aesthetics, and the occasional folly, did not play a role. They certainly did. Liberty would not be a true Southern Wind if she didn’t have the characteristic Italian style”.
Inside, there’s room for three guest cabins, a large TV area in front of the main living space, and a big master suite with plenty of storage at the front. The back of the yacht includes the crew area with two cabins that have their own bathrooms, a navigation station, kitchen, and a dining area for the crew with easy access to the technical and engine spaces.
Once again, Nauta Design was responsible for both SW96#05 Liberty ‘s interior and exterior design. Massimo Gino, Nauta partner, confirms: “The fifth unit of the lucky SW96 project benefits from many deck styling and detailing updates introduced over the years. For example, new teak and coaming finishing are clearly recognizable when looking at the beautiful pictures from Cape Town. Below deck, the bright and calm wood colour palette gives the boat a contemporary elegance and welcoming ambience”. This feeling is enhanced by the soft fabrics and nuanced texture details introduced by Ebony Design, a Cape Town interior design firm, responsible for the yacht’s decoration.