Kalantis: a luxury cruiser with a sporty character

South African Southern Wind has never pursued mass production, releasing a maximum of three yachts a year and focusing on quality rather than quantity 

Even the production models are never 100% identical, as the shipyard initially conceives them with a variety of numerous options. Not only the interior, but layouts, superstructure, keel configuration and rigging are tailored to the owner’s needs. 

Thanks to the individual approach, SW yachts have gained the reputation of top-notch vessels with not a single model being “passable”. In this respect, the yachts from the SW108 series are a perfect embodiment of Southern Wind credo: there are just three of them, but each may be referred to as a genuine pearl of the world sailing fleet.  

The concept of the 35-metre SW108 Hybrid was unveiled in 2021. Construction on the first unit started at the end of 2022 in Cape Town, and just a year later the Gelliceaux was delivered to her owners. She demonstrated her racing qualities immediately, winning both regattas that she took part in in 2024 (St Barths Bucket and Ibiza JoySail) and being nominated for the World Superyacht Award as the best sailing yacht. In 2025, she won Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and Superyacht Cup Palma, and got the title of the best Sailing Yacht of the Year in the category of 24-40 m from the International Superyacht Society.  

The second SW108 unit with an exotic name of Kiboko 4 has already been described in detail by ilodka.com in the article “Kiboko 4: new ‘hippopotamus’ as a culmination of sailing experience”. She was named the Sailing Yacht of the Year at World Superyacht Awards 2025.

And now the fourth sister, the Kalantis. She was launched at the end of last year and after the successful completion of sea trials in spring she headed for the Northern hemisphere in order to take part in the Palma International Boat Show in Mallorca running from April 29 to May 2, where her world premiere was scheduled. However, she managed to profile herself ahead of the debut, as the voyage of over 7,000 nautical miles from the southern tip of Africa across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean is the best demonstration of the yacht's capabilities. 

The SW108 series is designated as Hybrid and Smart Custom, as it gives an opportunity to install an innovative hybrid propulsion system and fits the concept of semicustom design, allowing for an almost unique boat for each owner with a shorter delivery time and significantly cheaper than building a boat from scratch. 

Just like the entire SW108 series, Southern Wind created the Kalantis in collaboration with Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design that it’s been working with for decades. The vessel was designed by New Zealander Bruce Farr, one of the top racing yacht designers, while Milan-based Nauta Design studio, with its impeccable Italian sense of taste, was in charge of style and made the Kalantis not only ergonomic, but beautiful. 

The owner, who is a young, but experienced yachtsman, dreamed of a versatile boat. According to Marco Alberti, Southern Wind CEO, “The brief of the owner was very clear and ambitious: to enjoy full comfort while exploring remote parts of the world, and, at the same time, to compete on the race courses with real intention. This duality pushed us even more to refine our solutions for versatility and performance, aiming for the Perfect Balance. Kalantis not only extends the boundaries of the SW108 platform but also shows how far Smart Custom can go when guided by a clear and forward-looking vision”.

 The basic characteristics of the construction remained unchanged: a hard-chine full carbon fibre hull with a length of 32.77 m (total length including the bowsprit of 35.51 m and waterline length of 29.78 m), a beam of 7.51 m and a light displacement of 74,200 kg. Thanks to the lifting keel with a bulb, the vessel’s draft ranges from 4 to 6.2 m (as an option, the SW108 can be equipped with a telescopic keel ranging from 3.65 to 5.6 m or a fixed keel of 4.5 m). The twin-rudder design allows the yacht to keep her manoeuvrability and speed when heeling both upwind and on tacks. Farr Yacht Design experts optimised the high-modulus carbon mast and EC6 carbon rigging supporting a square-headed mainsail to meet the ORC International standards.

However, the shipyard has considerably reimagined the exterior, the deck layout and, certainly, the interior of the third hull in order to meet the owner’s requirements.

One of the Kalantis’s most noticeable differences is the versatile Seaside Lounge aft. When folded, the transom fits seamlessly the yacht’s sporty silhouette, but when unfolded at anchor, the aft turns into a broad beach club at water level. Effortlessly shifting in mood and purpose, the Seaside Lounge may turn into a sun-bathing spot, a relaxed sea-facing lounge framed by generous seating, an intimate corner for a quiet coffee or a cinema under the stars. 

Another interesting design solution is the custom-designed foredeck recess for storing a tender. The stowage spaces under the Seaside Lounge are meant only for the water toys and sport gear, while the 5.2-metre Williams Sportjet is stored forward. When it is on the water, the empty space can be used as an extra lounge if you throw some pillows there. The recess was integrated without using the interior volume of the vessel, as it occupies the technical space between the deck and the ceiling of the living spaces. 

Another feature that is worth mentioning is the large skylight in the centre of the superstructure. The owner wanted to have as much as possible natural light inside, but did not want the portholes to fragment the clean lines of the exterior. As a result, the saloon can boast abundance of natural light and excellent visibility. 

The saloon’s layout is traditional. The C-shaped sofa on the starboard side is designed for relaxation, while the dining area is to port. A long sideboard along the aft bulkhead serves both as a bar and as an additional serving table (the galley is positioned aft area entirely dedicated to the crew service areas). A compact TV room serves as an extension of the saloon on the starboard side towards the bow, on the way to the owner's cabin. 

The owner’s suite that is located forward, in the quietest part of the vessel, is quite spacious. IN addition to a double bed, there is a large sofa, a vanity table, numerous stowage systems. The bathroom has a large skylight, so that in the afternoon one doesn’t have to turn on the light in it.

The Kalantis has a four-cabin layout, but the number of guests does not always have to be eight. Next to the owner’s suite, there is a space that the owners refer to as Petit Salon, which may perform different functions: it can be a double or even a VIP cabin, transform into an office or a playroom. 

There two standard guest cabins (double and twin) located amidships, and there are crew quarters, storage rooms, navigation station and a separate access to the deck aft.     

One should definitely mention the Kalantis’s warm interiors that are really pleasing to the eye. “When we started designing this yacht, the owner asked for something very special: an interior that felt organic, smooth, detailed, modern and natural, but also something carrying the echo of ancient civilisations, a space that felt timeless, almost mythical. We shaped everything through curves, warm tones and inviting textures. Nothing sharp, nothing cold. Just a soft, flowing environment where every surface feels intentional and alive," said Silvia Sacchi, interior technical coordinator at Southern Wind. 

The milky white of the walls, ceilings and furniture is complemented by the muted brown shades of natural leather and walnut, which is in places broken up into vertical slats, adding rhythm and structure to the entire space. The materials were chosen based on their tactile properties: not only the sofas, but also the entire wall panels are upholstered in exclusive fabrics from Loro Piana Astratto Grey Dune and Lodge Biancore collections.

There is no doubt the Kalantis will get numerous awards from the professional community. This boat is a unique blend of a sporty spirit with the aura of a luxury cruiser, once again confirming Southern Wind’s status of a benchmark sailing brand.