South African yard Southern Wind's fourth SW105 sailing superyacht Taniwha has departed on its maiden voyage following delivery.
The 35.39 metre yacht was launched in Cape Town in April after being sold to a first time Southern Wind customer described as “a passionate yachtsman”. Designed by Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design, the yacht is penned as an “elegant and fast bluewater cruiser”. It follows the third hull in the series christened The Power of 2.
Taniwha features a GT (Gran Turismo) deck configuration, “generous sail plan” and “light configuration”, including a lifting keel that reduces the yacht’s draft from 5.9 metres to 3.8 metres.
Nauta Design's Massimo Gino said: "This new deck design has an innovative and clean look that is driven by the methods of composite construction and by racing yacht styling. We think that our GT design will be a successful new style because it rests on a solid base of concepts which are the expression of a pure design."
The yard has paid particular attention to weight optimisation on the yacht, resulting in a full carbon hull. The hydraulic and electric power management systems have also been kept intentionally lightweight. These changes have resulted in a displacement reduction of more than three tons in comparison to the first three hulls in the series.
Accommodation on board is for a total of six guests in three cabins; an owner’s cabin forward and two guest cabins aft of the saloon, one VIP and one twin. All guest cabins are ensuite. The crew area aft meanwhile allows accommodation for five staff, including an ensuite captain’s cabin. Described as "home-like", the interior features a number of eco-friendly materials.
Gino added: “The interior design is 100% new. It's the result of a well-planned mixture of materials and geometries that we have developed on our most recent yachts. It’s elegant and understated but never predictable."