Diesel-electric hybrid Gelliceaux is the first unit in Southern Wind’s SW108 Smart Custom series. The yacht's naval architecture was made by Farr Yacht Design and exterior and interior design by Nauta. 



Nauta Design co-founder Massimo Gino speaks about the 35.41-meter yacht’s design: “From a design point of view Gelliceaux is the latest in the ‘GT’ series of Southern Wind bluewater sailing yachts that started the SW105 Taniwha and then the SW96 Nyumba. During this creative evolution the exterior lines have been tailored to  become more sporty and dynamic with the owner’s involvement. Gelliceaux’s deckhouse is clad in teak with a huge central skylight and the teak side decks aft morph into ‘floating’ bench seats that also provide a handy platform for winches. It’s a feature we’re very proud of that has been ‘borrowed’ by other designers.”



Another defining exterior detail is the Z-shaped composite coaming of the deckhouse that looks like a stylized lightning bolt. It lends the yacht a low-rise, agile look when viewed in profile. 



“The owners were closely involved in the whole design process: he mostly for the technical specifications and deck layout, and she more for the interior design. What really won them over was when they saw our section render of the split-level saloon. We were on the same page in terms of taste, but we were given free rein to come up with styling proposals and that made the creative process all the more rewarding,” continues Gino.



“The words ‘calming’ and ‘Mediterranean fresh’ cropped up a lot in our discussions and I think you can see that in the natural colour palette, fabric-lined walls, and contrasting light and dark veneers in Alpi wood composite. Everything is very easy on the eye and the overall ambience is classy but cool, understated but sophisticated, stylish but warm.”



Nauta Design proposed to have the fixed furniture to appear more as freestanding, and not built-in, as the furniture units don’t run right up to the bulkheads and look separated from walls – which makes for a cozier feeling, normally typical of an open space interior design. There are no stainless steel accents in the yacht’s interiors. Instead all the bathroom fittings, handrails and other accessories are in satin-finished black, which not only looks very contemporary also – last but not least – makes cleaning easier for the crew.



Since her delivery in October 2024, the yacht has already sailed almost 12.000. After a 7500 miles Maiden Voyage from Cape Town to Lanzarote, the owners decided to Cross the Atlantic heading for the Caribbean in time for the winter season. An undisputed test for the boat.



Southern Wind is a boutique bluewater sailing yacht shipyard founded in Cape Town in 1991. Since its foundation, SWS has specialized in the production of semi-custom high-performance superyachts. 
 
Credits: Nauta Design

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