Honor tradition. And drive innovation.

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.

Launch of the One-off custom project RP-NAUTA100 by Reichel Pugh Yacht Design and Nauta Design.

Outstanding performance, innovative design and advanced technology: these are the ingredients that go to making the SW108 Hybrid a proper smart custom yacht.

SW105 Taniwha awarded for her “Outstanding exterior Design”

Launch of SW96 Nyumba, the first electric-hybrid sailboat in the Southern Wind fleet.

Stemming from the DNA of Southern Wind, the new SW100X will combine all the knowledge and experience gained from the construction of nearly 40 performance sailing yachts in the 90-110 feet range.

Launch of the SW108 Hybrid Smart Custom project

SW123, the largest yacht built to date by the yard, will be the lightest performance cruiser in its range, delivering the perfect balance between high-performance and comfort.

In 2025 Southern Wind rebranded, giving a modern look that mirrors 30 years of heritage, quality, and values while better communicating the spirit behind every yacht.