Kiboko 4: new “hippopotamus” as a culmination of sailing experience

In May 2025, the Kiboko 4 yacht created by Southern Wind in collaboration with Farr Yacht and Nauta won the “Oscar” of the yachting industry: she was named the Sailing Yacht of the Year at World Superyacht Awards 

An interesting fact is that “kiboko” means “hippopotamus” in Swahili. Anyone divorced from African reality might find this kind of name uncomplimentary. But in fact, hippos are not that simple. Despite their massive build, they can move at an incredible speed of up to 35-40 km/h in shallow water (they don’t actually swim, but run along the bottom). In deep water, they can cover really long distances: they have swum to the island of Zanzibar more than once, crossing the 30-kilometer strait. After all, their closest relatives are whales! Despite their deceptive clumsiness, hippos are far from being timid animals, and are capable of defending their territory and offspring fiercely. Moreover, they are among the top most dangerous representatives of the Black Continent’s fauna, and even crocodiles and lions prefer not to mess with them. 

With this kind of background in mind, it is clear that when choosing a name for the yacht, the owner certainly knew what he was doing. Especially since this is the fourth "Kiboko" built by Southern Wind shipyard for him. 

А real beast of a boat!

Indeed, despite its impressive dimensions (35.51 m including bowsprit, beam max. 7.51 m) the SW108 Smart Custom model stands out for remarkable agility. Her sister, Gelliceaux, which is the first hull in this range, demonstrated her racing potential brilliantly, winning St Barths Bucket (both overall winner and in her class) and Ibiza JoySail in 2024.

The Kiboko 4’s exterior features signature Nauta style, developed for several Southern Wind’s ranges. It’s contemporary design with clean, dynamic lines and refined geometry. One can say that they have found a balance between aesthetics and rationality, and that they complement each other.

The graphite-grey hull, mast and sails contrast beautifully with the white sides of the superstructure, the outline of which resembles a lightning. As a dedicated environment protectionist, the owner opted for an alternative to natural teak. According to the shipyard, it is an “innovative natural wood sourced from durable forests”. 

Farr Yacht Design studio made sure all this beauty is robust, light and efficient. The Kiboko 4’s hull and deck are advanced composite sandwich with an outer skin of carbon/epoxy resin and a core of Corecell. The bulkheads are of honeycomb or foam sandwich structure with wooden veneers. The mast, boom and rigging are of a high-modulus carbon, while the deck fittings are titanium. As a result, the yacht is ultralight for her size, with a displacement of just 76 tons. 

The lifting keel (with a draft ranging from 4 to 6.2 m) and a twin rudder configuration ensure great maneuverability, while the reinforced rigging is meant for maximum efficiency even in light winds. During the trials, the yacht reached 20 knots effortlessly. In addition to wind power, she is equipped with diesel-electric Cummins QSB 6.7 engine of 305 hp, which ensures a top speed of 14 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots even when there is no wind. 

Deck 

However, the focus in the owner’s brief for the Kiboko 4 was not on enhanced rigging and maneuverability, but on exceptional comfort on board. “The result is a yacht that feels at home in any setting, be it racing or anchored in a quiet bay," said Nauta CEO Massimo Gino. 

Let’s start with the deck. Its design allows the crew to move safely from the helm to the transom, staying protected by coamings, which also serve as a platform for winches and comfortable seats. In the open position the transom reveals access to the “beach area” with steps on the sides: it is quite compact, but is twice larger than the fold-down swim platform anyway. 

Between the helms there is a low podium with a transparent hatch, which is a separate service entrance, leading to the crew cabins, galley and garage for a five-meter tender. Further on, the coamings expand to become large enough for skylights on top and “embrace” the guest cockpit. There is a lounge for relaxation, with sofas, folding tables and sunpads. 

For the time of the race, all the furniture is removed, and the extended crew gets a really spacious work area. The second set of winches and the runners for the front sails are located near the mast, while the bow section with two forestays is completely free (it is possible to add a third forestay for regattas). 

The low-profile and sleek superstructure looks like the roof of a racing supercar, adding elegance to the exterior. The decision to cover it with decking made moving about the deck more convenient, while natural light gets in through a wide strip of glazing in the center of the wheelhouse. The tinted glass that matches the shade of the hull allows one not only to see the mainsail, but to read the speedometer on the mast while sitting in the saloon.

 Interior layout

The layout was designed to accommodate eight guests and a crew of five. As the crew will naturally increase for the time of the races, the beds in the cabins (except the owner’s suite) are free-standing. The master suite is located in the most private, bow section, while there is a guest cabin to starboard (there can also be an office or a gym on board the SW108 as an option), and there are two more guest cabins amidships. 

The L-shaped area between them is the social space with numerous functions. There is a saloon with a dining area and a seating group amidships, which is slightly raised, with an engine room concealed below it. A few steps separate the main level from the lounge on the starboard side forward of the master suite. The plasma TV on the wall and a huge sofa – and there is a mini cinema here! 

The service areas mentioned above are separated from the guest areas by a soundproof bulkhead. There are two double cabins with bunk beds and one captain's cabin. The crew quarters are adjacent to the galley, and there is a chart table at the entrance. Everything is well thought out and ergonomic. 

Interior design

One should say a few words about the aesthetics and colour range of the interior. The source of inspiration was Mallorca with its stylish Mediterranean minimalism. The finishes feature mainly light, sun-bleached colours with warm pinkish-yellow tones and terracotta accents. 

Bleached oak is used throughout the interior, including the floor, along with details of walnut. Reddish textile patterns resemble folk weaving motifs, and there is a subtle play of textures, including a white silicone ceiling and linen-like wall coverings. The combination of copper and stainless steel refers to marine classics. 

The responsible owners opted for eco-leather instead of natural, but thanks to high quality it is almost indistinguishable from natural leather, both visually and to touch. The same refers to veined Corian, which is a composite material used instead of heavy marble in the bathrooms, but looks like a natural stone. 

The interior is also decorated with posters of dolphins and hammerhead sharks. And a special, very refined and very personal touch is the collection of half-hull models on the walls. Judging by the proportions and color, they represent the owner's personal fleet of sailboats with the inherited name of Kiboko. 

In lieu of a conclusion

The happy owner considers this boat to be a culmination of his extensive sailing experience. She covered 8000 nautical miles without any problems from South Africa to European waters, where she made her official debut and won the Sailing Yacht of the Year. Now the plans include Mediterranean cruises, transatlantic passages and definitely races. Fair winds, Kiboko!