2021 Southern Wind SW105 GT Taniwha

SW105 GT Taniwha, is the fourth unit of our successful mini series of SW105 blue water sailing yachts. Just like a classic Gran Turismo car is designed for speed across long distances, this project is conceived as an elegant and fast bluewater sailboat that can also be enjoyed for shorter jaunts. Taniwha can be considered a Southern Wind smart custom yacht with strong character and an elegant and unmistakable style.

SW105 GT yacht Taniwha offers a light configuration with a generous sail plan; she features a lifting keel with a 3.8 to 5.9m draft that includes a reduced bulb weight resulting in a fine-tuned balance between upwind and downwind performance. SW105 GT has a full carbon hull and Nomex and prepreg foredeck and cockpit. The SW105 GT is a fast bluewater sailboat devoted to performance. To optimise weight savings the owner implemented materials that are high-tech and lightweight both in the interior and exterior. The hydraulic and electric power-management systems are carefully engineered and designed for a lightweight and efficient yacht.

SW105 GT yacht Taniwha has a completely new deck layout, carefully conceived by Nauta Design to meet the owner’s brief. When compared to our SW105 DS and RS models, the SW105 GT has a wider cockpit area on a single level. The helm positions have been moved closer to the gunwales for better views forward and aloft.

The SW105 GT’s interior will feature Southern Wind’s most popular owner’s cabin forward. Aft of the saloon SW105 Taniwha has two cabins, an en suite VIP cabin with a walk-around bed, and a second en suite twin guest cabin. A day head and studio are placed forward of the saloon. With a deep sofa and a large desk, this space can convert to an en suite double cabin. The crew area aft is an efficient working environment for five. The owners contributed greatly to the yacht’s interior decoration where the main challenge was to keep the furniture as lightweight as possible while still allowing for the small details that make a yacht “home-like”. Particular attention was paid to choosing eco-friendly materials.