Taniwha has a GT (Gran Turismo) deck configuration custom designed for the owners.
“This new deck design has an innovative and clean look that is driven by the methods of composite construction and by racing yacht styling. We think that our GT design will be a successful new style because it rests on a solid base of concepts which are the expression of a pure design“, says Massimo Gino from Nauta Design.
Similar to a classic Gran Turismo car, designed for speed across long distances and enjoyment on shorter runs, this project is conceived as an elegant and fast bluewater cruiser that can also be enjoyed for brief jaunts.
This new GT version is characterized by a minimal coach roof, which gives the yacht sleek lines and a wider cockpit area on a single level. The helm positions have been moved close to the gunwales for good views forward and aloft, which allows for a generous sun pad area just below the maneuvering cockpit as well as for a garage for a 14ft/ 4.2m tender.
With Naval Architecture by Farr Yacht Design, the yacht has a full carbon hull with her foredeck and cockpit in Nomex and pre-preg. Lightweight and with a generous sail plan, the mast and boom are in high modulus carbon with EC6 standing rigging.
Taniwha has a single rudder, an extended fixed bowsprit and a lifting keel goes from 12 ½ ft/3.8 to 19ft/5.9m draft. These features combine to give her a fine-tuned balance between upwind and downwind performance.
Deck fittings such as pad eyes, toe rails, cleats and fairleads are in titanium, as are keel head components and the submarine anchor system. Mast and boom fittings are also in titanium. The hydraulic and electric power management systems are carefully engineered and designed for a lightweight and efficient yacht.
The interior features the owner’s cabin forward. Aft of the saloon Taniwha has two cabins, an en suite VIP cabin with a walk-around bed and a second en suite twin guest cabin. A day head and studio are situated forward of the saloon. With a deep sofa and a large desk, this space can convert to an en suite double cabin. The crew area aft is an efficient working environment for five.
The owners contributed greatly to the yacht’s interior decoration where the main challenge was to keep the furniture as lightweight as possible while still allowing for the small details that make a yacht “home-like”. Particular attention was paid to choosing eco-friendly materials.
“The interior design is 100% new. It’s the result of a well-planned mixture of materials and geometries that we have developed on our most recent yachts. It’s elegant and understated but never predictable” adds Massimo Gino.
Taniwha’s crew and the Southern Wind team are now ready for an intensive month of sea trials before the yacht leaves Cape Town.
