Our Story
On May 12th 2018, Willy Persico, Southern Wind founder and CEO, suddenly passed away. Thanks to his vision and his great passion Southern Wind is today one of the leading players in the luxury superyacht market. His heritage is in each of the yachts he delivered, in the eyes of all the owners he has made happy over the years and in the pride of his team.
Since its foundation, SWS has specialized in the production of semi-custom high performance superyachts. Each of the projects launched over the shipyard’s history has given rise to successful mini-series each of which has contributed in its own way to consolidating SWS solid reputation.
Investment in research, product development and the latest construction techniques has been of paramount importance to SWS’s technological innovation over the years. As a result, the shipyard is entirely selfsufficient in all aspects of yacht manufacturing, from lamination and steelwork to carpentry, painting and interior assembly.
The story begins. Willy Persico chooses South Africa to build his own yacht assisted by Antonio Minniti, interior designer
The yard when purchased by Willy Persico in 1991
Fibreglass and vinylester wet lay-up, male plug for the hull and female mould for the deck
SW72 mini-series: the beginning of the collaboration with Farr Yacht Design and Antonio Minniti.
10 yachts launched in 10 years
Epoxy resin has much better mechanical properties than vinylester
SW95 and SW93 mini-series: the beginning of the collaboration with Nauta Design
The use of carbon fibre allows for stiffer and lighter yachts
The use of the pre-preg in the lamination of rudder stocks and other components allows for even lighter construction
Launch of the SW80 mini-series
TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 210
The use of infusion in the lamination process makes for the best fibre/resin ratio, reducing weight and granting more rigid and resistant constructions
SW100 mini-series: the mini-series that made SWS the leading builder of 100’ yachts.
13 yachts launched in 6 years
One-off SW72 by Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design and Antonio Minniti
This revolutionary hull construction process allowed workers to laminate on an almost horizontal rather than on an upright surface for better quality infusions in less time
The use of carbon in the construction of some interior components such as countertops and floor bearers allowed for lighter and state-of-the-art interiors
Launch of the SW94 mini-series
One-off SW110, Southern Wind’s flagship by Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design
Launch of the SW102DS mini-series
Launch of the SW82 mini-series
Winner of the 2015 edition of the World Superyacht Awards for her “quality and value”
This Reichel/Pugh 90’ is a custom-built project with deck and interior bulkheads built in pre-preg Carbon and Nomex honeycomb, for weight optimization and stiffer construction
Launch of the One-off custom project SW-RP90 by Reichel Pugh Yacht Design and Nauta Design
Launch of the SW96 mini-series
Launch of the SW105 mini-series
Willy Persico passes the helm to a group of shareholders and his trusted team of managers
SWCAT is a high-end 90′ performance sailing catamaran that widens our offering of composite superyachts.
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Services
Charter
A charter with a Southern Wind allows you to live an ultimate cruising experience. Discover our Charter fleet.
Brokerage
Our Brokerage team has been responsible for most of the purchases of SWS yachts for sale. Browse our Brokerage fleet.
Customer Care
