Gelliceaux: a hybrid sailing superyacht

Every model in Southern Wind’s sailboat series is designed with further customization in mind. But in case of SW108 Hybrid the variety of options that a customer can choose from is just unprecedented

The model is the firstborn both for the HYBRID and Smart Custom series: offering the owners a choice of several deck layout options, superstructure configurations, rigging, cabin number and functionality, the shipyard gives them an opportunity to “put together” a boat to their liking. 

The first sample out of these newest ranges has already been launched and christened the Gelliceaux. The customers had been dreaming of a sailboat for family ocean voyages together with their teenage children. In fact, they wanted a house on the water with some special requirements for speed to be able to take part in regattas. Well, Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design studios that the shipyard involved in the development of the project do specialize in racer/cruiser sailboats. 

The Gelliceaux exterior has all the features of a racing yacht: a vertical bow, a low coachroof, an open cockpit divided into work and seating areas, two helm stations. The hull of 32.77 m (35,41 m including bowsprit, 29.78 m at waterline) and the beam of 7.51 m are made of advanced composite sandwich with carbon inserts for the parts subject to maximum loads. The mast and the rig are of carbon, too, while the deck equipment is of titan, so the vessel is ultralight of her size with the displacement of 79 tonnes.  Compared to the standard SW108 version the sail area has been increased by 7%. Downwind the Gelliceax can deliver 20.8 knots. Thanks to the lifting keel the draft changes from 4 to 6,2 m, other available options are a telescopic keel (3.65 – 5.6 m) and a fixed keel (4.5 m). 

Out of three superstructure options – Raised Saloon, Deck Saloon и Gran Turismo – the owners chose the last one and added a large central skylight to the coach roof design, to be able to keep an eye on the mainsail from the saloon. The transom of the Gelliceaux serves as an entrance to a 5-metre tender garage, as well as a bathing platform, which features fold-down sections as a "magic transom" option. 

The yacht can accommodate eight guests and a crew of five. A spacious split-level saloon is home to a lounge with a sofa and pouffes, a dining area and a TV lounge. The master suite and the VIP cabin are located forward, and as for Gelliceaux, the latter has been converted into a gym. There are two more guest cabins amidships with a walkway between them that leads further aft, where there is a galley, some storage and utility space and three crew cabins. By the way, there is a second access to the deck from the crew quarters.

As for the propulsion, it is clear from the name of the model, the SW108 Hybrid, that it is a hybrid propulsion system of the latest generation from British BAE Systems, which is made up of twin Cummins QSB 4.5 L 112 Kw engines, generators, a lithium battery bank and BAE HybriGen control system, which chooses the most efficient fuel consumption mode for various speeds. Under power the vessel uses a diesel-electric mode, while the fuel consumption is controlled by smart ‘software’.

Under sail the propeller is used in a hydrogeneration mode, delivering about 35 kWt at a speed of about 16 knots. At anchor and when maneuvering a silent mode turns on: all the onboard systems are powered by the accumulated electric energy, thanks to which the emissions have been reduced so considerably that the yacht got IMO Tier III certification.