Halcyon Roots Meets GT Style
Grace, style, and speed – this is what happens when two worlds collide, and a slick sailing yacht meets gran turismo synergy. Out on the water, the 105-foot Taniwha takes its inspiration from the classic GT racing car, a beautiful blend of clean lines, balance, pedigree, and performance. A wonder in white with dreamy dark blue sails holding taut in the breeze, Taniwha takes yachting back to its Halcyon roots where the open water and the horizon aroused a sense of freedom like no other.
Nauta Design has truly pulled off something impressive with this lofty racing style aesthetic paired with grounded structural science. As Massimo Gino of Nauta Design noted, “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 Gran Turismo design will be a successful new style because it rests on a solid base of concepts which are the expression of a pure design”.
Classic Charisma Meets Forward Thinking Finesse
The name Taniwha oozes with magic and mythology. It comes from the Maori and is a word used for guardians of the rivers and seas that were called home. One glance at the silhouette of sails against the blue water and you know that Taniwha was born from a pure love of the ocean. Farr Yacht Design were responsible for the naval architecture of this speedy number. With racetrack delights in mind, they created a yacht that blends the world of classic charisma with forward-thinking finesse.
There’s a full carbon hull, a mast and boom made from high modulus carbon, and a lifting keel that comes down from 12.5ft to 19ft. Everything has been designed with lightness and play in mind as this yacht is here to cross the horizon with time on its side. A minimal coach roof and single-level wide cockpit grant the yacht its streamlined and sleek shape, adding to its ability to cruise with the light-footed lore of Hermes across the surface of the water.
Finding Solace in the Feeling of Space, Sea, and Sky
The solid teak deck is one of the crowning glories on this yacht that echoes with a pure love for al fresco ocean living. Seamlessly bending parallel from the hull to run along the interior side of the deck, the result is a spectacular foundation for enjoying every inch of outdoor space. Seating is more than ample, and the layout has been designed for as much space and socialization as you could wish for. The honeyed deck sets the mise-en-scene for comfy cream-colored sprawl spaces on either side scattered with nautical blue and white cushions for kicking back, gazing at the surrounding sea-views and sipping chilled glasses of Chablis in Sunday fashion. At night the LED rope lighting brings a note of romance, especially when casting a soft glow on the inky black waters. This is a deck that seemingly stretches on for miles – wherever you flop, you can be sure that each spot encompasses the feeling of space, sea, and sky, so you feel fully immersed in the grandness of mother nature.
In the interest of keeping everything as light and flowing as can be, even the details on deck such as the rails, pad eyes, fairleads, and cleats are all crafted from titanium. The mast and boom fittings are also titanium, as is the submarine anchor system. Forget any kind of weighty wonder, not even a tender garage will disrupt the flow of Taniwha thanks to the clever creation of an underdeck fold-down storage solution. This was possible due to tweaks being made to previous SW105 DS and RS models such as moving the helm positions closer to the gunwales, along with the cockpit and reduced coach roof changes. Not only have these changes allowed for that tender garage to be tucked away but it’s also given way for a sunbathing area below the cockpit and for a larger eyeline of the ocean for drinking in those surging saltwater and sunset views.
