2023 Southern Wind SW96 Nyumba

Nyumba is the first hybrid sailboat in the Southern Wind fleet. The fourth unit of the successful SW96 series, she was conceived for a young, hands-on owner and a passionate sailor on his third sailing yacht. He approached SWS looking for a high-performance, efficient cruising yacht to sail shorthanded around the world. An added plus would be a yacht that could successfully compete in top superyacht regattas.

After initially considering a custom construction, the client opted for a 96-foot yacht with Southern Wind’s “smart custom” offering, allowing him to reap the benefits of both the yard and the design team’s experience and reliability. He encouraged the shipyard to develop a version of a SW96 optimised to meet his request for a sexy, comfortable, reliable, and above all, sustainable yacht.

SW96#04 Nyumba is therefore the first electric-hybrid sailboat in the Southern Wind fleet. Her power and propulsion system was developed in collaboration with BAE Systems, a multinational company that designs and manufactures technology leading solutions. Their patented HybridGen® system is engineered to be compliant with the world’s most stringent environmental rules, with zero emissions capability and a HydroGeneration mode to recharge the Lithium-ion energy storage when under sail. The BAE Systems next-generation hardware provides the highest system efficiency, ensuring the vessel owner enjoys noise free zero emissions for longer.

With hull lines penned by Farr Yacht Design, this high-performance superyacht and hybrid sailboat will have a full carbon hull and prepreg side and foredeck. Lifting keel, twin rudder configuration, carbon rigging and an upgraded hydraulic winches package are just some of the ingredients that emphasise the sporty soul of Nyumba. A tender garage for a 4.5m tender and a customised extra large swimming platform make for better comfort and enjoyment at sea.

 Comfortable and cosy, Nyumba interiors feature Southern Wind’s owner cabin forward layout with two comfortable guest cabins amidships and crew quarters and galley aft. Her main saloon is a light, bright open space that will be customised to meet the needs posed by clients’ live-aboard use of the yacht. The volumes of a fourth cabin are devoted to a comfortable TV area with an extra lounging sofa.