The 32.3 metre sailing yacht Sørvind has departed Southern Wind’s facilities in Cape Town and is currently undertaking her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean.
This comes after the yacht was launched by the South African yard in March 2022.
As the fifth unit of the successful SW105 mini series, the sailing yacht has been built to a proven design brief that called for high-performance blue water cruising - a quality she is putting to the test now on her journey, which spans around 7,000 nautical miles.
The yacht has been named after the Norwegian word for Southern Wind, in a fitting tribute to the yard which built her.
Alongside performance, the design brief called for pared-back styling and superior comfort, with a view to optimise her for the charter market.
“The owner wanted a sailing yacht where he is still in touch with the ocean, a sensation that sometimes gets lost with bigger boats,” said captain Timothy Anderson. “I think we really hit a nice size of boat and a great style. Everything is uncluttered, smooth and clean”.
Her design represents a collaboration between Southern Wind, Nauta Design and Farr Yacht Design, who worked closely with the owner to develop a sleek-looking yacht with an aggressive edge.
As with all Southern Wind builds, weight played an important role in her construction, and the finished result is a 69,500kg yacht that can sail in lighter wind conditions with reduced dependency on engine power.
The yacht’s hull, decks and bulkheads are built in full carbon, while the synthetic teak has been used on the decking. Stanchions, pulpits and cleats are constructed in aluminium.
“Sørvind represents a further development that benefits from the experience gained in building nearly thirty Southern Wind yachts in this size range,” said Marco Alberti, Southern Wind’s director and general manager.
In terms of living spaces, Sørvind features a trademarked Raised Saloon (RS) configuration that contributes to a sporty, streamlined profile and allows in plenty of natural light. Here, guests will find dining, seating, a television screen and a bar.
Accommodation is offered for a total of eight guests and up to six crew members. A full-beam owner’s suite is located forward, while a VIP cabin sits aft of the owner’s cabin, with two further double en-suites amidships. Crew accommodation is split between three cabins.
The interior styling has been dubbed ‘Nordic Cool’ by the design team, which comprises Nauta and Dutch firm Studio Hermanides. “Because of the owner's Nordic background we looked at the colours of nature from the Nordic landscape: long dark nights combined with bright white snow,” commented Studio Hermanides' founder Jeroen Machielsen.
“We really wanted a good contrast between the different colours of veneer, to get a more homey look and feel. The dark veneer doesn't make it dark because we combined it with a lot of very light colours and materials to get a fresh look.”
Sørvind is expected to join the charter fleet and will make her debut appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show 2022.