SW96 05 Liberty: a new masterpiece is launched

We're honored and excited to introduce to you the newest addition to the Southern Wind Family: Liberty. The fifth unit of the successful SW96 project splashed down in Cape Town.

This yacht has been built for a second-time Southern Wind owner looking to alternate comfortable cruising in the company of his family with more performance-oriented experiences. Designed by the respected teams of Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design, the SW96#05 is a further evolution of the successful SW96 series with an additional emphasis on racing.
Leading the building team in Cape Town is Niki Jennings, the first female Project Manager in Southern Wind's history. Niki mastered this role leveraging on her 14 years experience in the company.

Godmother of the yacht, as per the owner's desires, she proudly introduces her baby: "Every yacht we build represents an adventure, and the one with Liberty has been a memorable one. This is the kind of project Southern Wind loves to build. The brief closely aligned with our own principles of building elegant performance cruisers that are practical and seaworthy. At every point of decision making, these principles were considered. That is not to say that aesthetics, and the occasional folly, did not play a role. They certainly did. Liberty would not be a true Southern Wind if she didn't have the characteristic Italian style."

Since day one, SW96#05 Liberty has been the result of fantastic and seamless teamwork. Working with the owner and his team has been an absolute pleasure. The collective ongoing feedback of the owner, his captain, an experienced superyacht sailor, and his advisor, a professional sail racer, has provided us with accurate and balanced input. The process resulted in a boat that is defined and built by sailors for smart sailors.

"To the owner and his family, may you make happy memories of your time aboard this yacht. May she bring you joy and adventures. To the captain and his crew, take good care of her, as she will of you. We christen you: Liberty!"

The yacht has been blessed by the presence of Mr. Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape Province, and Mr. Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador in South Africa. We wish to thank them for their participation and support.

SW96#05 Liberty will now undertake extensive sea trials in the waters of Cape Town before heading to the Mediterranean for her first Summer season!

The yacht's hull and deck are built in sandwich with a foam core and infused carbon skins for lighter weight. Her lightship displacement of 62 tonnes and a tall rig, grant excellent speed in light air. To enhance her performance soul, the yacht has a Hall Spars high-modulus carbon mast and carbon boom as well as EC6+ carbon rigging with double-backstay pre-configured to accommodate both pinhead and square top mainsail.

SW96#05's hull has full waterlines with straight end diagonals, a wide, low transom and full forward sections. These, together with a fixed bowsprit, a lifting keel (3.4-5.5m) and twin rudder configuration, make her easy to sail and control in a wide range of conditions.

Liberty has a Raised Saloon layout, where a sleek coachroof with panoramic windows floods the interior with light. Additional views and light come through the largest hull portlights in the series. Her deck is the first of the series to feature the latest Southern Wind "Twin Fold" transom.

The yacht features a three-guest cabin layout with a wide TV area forward of the saloon and a larger owner's suite with ample closet space forward. The aft crew area includes a large captain's cabin on portside and a crew cabin on starboard