There are seasons that mark a trajectory. This happens in sport, in art, in industry. And it also happens in yachting. From this perspective, 2026 promises to be a watershed year for Southern Wind.
The signs are clear. The calendar kicked off with the delivery of Kalantis, the third model in the successful SW108 series, a project that has consolidated the Cape Town shipyard’s reputation in the high-end performance cruiser segment. In the coming months, it will be the turn of the new SW96, the sixth entry-level model in the range, confirming its status as one of the most popular platforms on the international sailing scene.
Then, in early October, the brand new SW100X will make its debut, a model destined to further expand the range and redefine the brand’s ambitions. A busy schedule that tells much more than just a roadmap: it speaks of a solid industrial strategy and a rapidly growing shipyard, with an expanding order book in one of the most competitive and selective segments of the nautical industry, that of sailing superyachts.
A success that has its roots in a well-balanced recipe, the ingredients of which emerge clearly when looking at Kalantis. The 32-metre yacht — which becomes 35 metres including the bowsprit — represents a new and successful chapter in the collaboration between Farr Yacht Design, responsible for the naval architecture, and Nauta Design, responsible for the exteriors and interiors.
As is traditional with Southern Wind, performance is at the heart of the project. The hull, deck and bulkheads are made entirely of carbon fibre; the mast and bowsprit are made of high-modulus carbon fibre to ensure rigidity and lightness; while selected titanium elements emphasise the boat’s racing pedigree. Yet on Kalantis, the distance between racing and cruising is shortened to the point of almost disappearing.
On board, the innovative Seaside Lounge makes its debut, a new configuration of the transom that opens up to transform into a beach club with seating directly overlooking the sea. The management of space also reflects this dual nature. The tender, a 5.20-metre Williams Sportjet, is housed in a dedicated teak-finished recess in the bow, which, once launched, transforms into an elegant lounge area. This solution is integrated into the structure without sacrificing interior volume, as it makes use of the technical space between the deck and the headroom without interfering with the below-deck areas. One of the owner’s requests was to maximise the entry of natural light without altering the elegance of the external profile. The result is a new glass surface positioned in the central part of the deckhouse: it opens towards the bow and extends sideways, allowing light to filter below deck and interact with the two large hull windows.
The large living area thus comes alive following the rhythms of the day, in a continuous play of reflections and perspectives on the horizon. Kalantis can accommodate up to eight guests in four cabins. The owner’s suite, in keeping with Southern Wind tradition, is located in the bow and is preceded by the Petit Salon, a versatile space that can be transformed into a study, single cabin or double cabin with bunk beds. Two additional guest cabins complete the sleeping area amidships. Performance, innovation and liveability coexist in a carefully studied balance. Kalantis is not just a high-performance yacht: it is the synthesis of a vision that combines sporting spirit and sailing culture, confirming Southern Wind as a benchmark brand.
Matteo Zaccagnino
