The first sail boat for her owner, the SW105GT Taniwha is a smart custom yacht, personalised in close partnership with the owner, conceived to be like a Gran Turismo automobile, perfect for speed over long distance yet also fun for shorter distances. This is a “bluewater cruiser” designed by Nauta Design together with the South African shipyard, Southern Wind, based on the naval architecture of Farr Yacht Design.

Its sporty personality can be seen in the configuration of the GT deck, with reduced space for the deckhouse so as not to affect the streamlined hull, an ample cockpit on a single level, helm decentralised toward the slope to improve visibility, and the sun deck under the manoeuvring cockpit. “This new deck design – explains Massimo Gino, co-founder of Nauta Design – has a clean and innovative aspect given by the construction processes and the typical style of racing yachts.”

To optimise the weight, the owner asked for the use of lightweight high-tech materials, both for the exterior and interior, evaluated also based on their potential contribution to the improvement of righting moment and longitudinal inertia. So, for example, all the deck accessories (grommets, rods, bollards, fairleads, etc.) are in titanium, just like the components of the keel, anchoring system, and the fittings for the mast and boom.

The hull, instead, is made in carbon fibre, with the bow deck and pilot cabin in Nomex® (flame and heat resistant meta-aramide material), and in pre-peg, fibre-reinforced and pre-impregnated composite materials. Technical research also led to using a “high modulus” carbon fibre mast and boom, with special Ecsix cables, made of the same resistant, high performance material.

Nauta Design also worked on designing the interiors, laid out with the owner’s cabin to the stern, VIP cabin with private bathroom and walk around bed, double guest cabin with private bathroom, a study with bathroom to the bow, with space for five staff members (in addition to a garage capable of housing a four-metre tender).

“The interior design – notes Massimo Gino – is completely new. This is the result of a well-planned mixture of materials and geometry that we have developed in our most recent yachts. It is elegant and sober, but never taken for granted.” A large part of the aesthetic choices were made by the owner, in a difficult challenge between an “at home” effect and lightness, both visual and in weight. Particular attention was then paid to the choice of eco-compatible materials.

After the launch, the crew of the SW105GT Taniwha, together with the Southern Wind team, will do a one month test sail, before leaving the waters of Cape Town.