The famous name on the yacht racing circuit, Kiboko, has taken a new shape this month with the completion of Southern Wind’s latest unit in its SW105 miniseries, Kiboko Tres. The 32.2-metre carbon fibre sloop was launched in Cape Town harbour earlier this summer and is now undertaking a testing maiden voyage up the west coast of Africa to reach the Mediterranean as her first port of call.
Photo: Southern Wind shipyard
Kiboko Tres follows in the footsteps of Satisfaction, Southern Wind’s first SW105 yacht which was completed last year, though Kiboko focusses more on performance compared to her older sister’s laid-back cruising setup. “I was looking for a high-performance yacht to race within the Superyacht regattas on the world circuit,” comments her owner, “at the same time looking for a place to spend precious time with my large family and completely disconnect from our daily commitments”.
Photo: Southern Wind shipyard
Photo: Southern Wind shipyardThe project brought together the South African shipyard’s skilled craftsmen and women, Farr Yacht Design who provided the naval architecture of the yacht, and Nauta Design who is behind Kiboko’s deck and interior design. 
Photo: Southern Wind shipyard
Photo: Southern Wind shipyardThe motto of the new Kiboko is simplicity, and the owner challenged the yard to build a yacht that is advanced in design and construction, but minimalistic and reliable in its use. “The owner wanted to add some touches from the SW-RP 90 All Smoke and to capture the same sensation of lightness that we achieved on this yacht,” explains Massimo Gino from Nauta Design. “We lightened and simplified the interior furnishings and left the interior hull sides and bulkheads exposed for a result that is beautiful and innovative.”
Photo: Southern Wind shipyardThanks to the raised saloon configuration of this unit, Kiboko’s interior is filled with light and is made even brighter through the beautiful Mallorcan-styled decor in the saloon. White-washed woods and light fabrics create a beach-house vibe that will perfectly suit Kiboko’s surroundings. “We have worked closely with Nauta and the owner’s wife to create an elegant and modern interior design that is physically and aesthetically light”, explains Nauta’s Marco Alberti, Southern Wind’s General Manager and Technical Director.
Photo: Southern Wind shipyard
Photo: Southern Wind shipyardEight guests are accommodated for overnight in two twin cabins, a double VIP stateroom and the master suite that is placed forward. A crew of five will operate the vessel. 
Photo: Southern Wind shipyard
Photo: Southern Wind shipyardOn a more technical note, Kiboko is ready for racing with a twin-rudder configuration, increased sail area compared to Satisfaction and a fixed keel that provides extra righting moment without any compromise to the interior layout. “Starting with the configuration of the base SW105 with a telescopic keel,” explains Jim Schmicker, Vice President of Farr Yacht Design, “we added 2% more sail area and 3 tons of weight to the 4.5m fixed keel. This calculation of additional sail area and weight provides 3.5% more stability and a higher sail area/displacement ratio.”
Photo: Southern Wind shipyardKiboko is currently sailing towards Palma de Mallorca where she will be based.
Stay tuned for more news from Southern Wind, as the November/December issue of SuperYacht Times features an exclusive interview with the owner of Kiboko Tres.