Seatius, the latest yacht to come out of the Southern Wind Shipyard in Cape Town, South Africa is a true bluewater thoroughbred. Unlike her sistership Sorceress, which was commissioned with racing in mind, the owners of Seatius have long distance cruising in their plans. While Sorceress has two separate cockpits with one large central sunbathing area and a more classical deck layout, Seatius has two lateral sunbathing areas divided by a central passageway that runs on one level so that guests don’t have to climb over coamings or furnishings. That’s where the differences end; what remains the same are the stunning sleek lines, powerful sail plan, and distinctive Southern Wind craftsmanship.
The general concept for Seatius was a collaboration between the world renown naval architects Farr Yacht Design along with Nauta Design, a bespoke design studio that has been involved with numerous Superyachts projects, both power and sail along with important input from Southern Wind, the builder. With the Farr office dominating the international racing scene for three decades one thing is abundantly clear; Seatius is not only a thoroughbred cruiser with distinct styling and immaculate construction, the yacht is also a high-performance sailboat that will take the owners from one destination to the next in very short order.
Let’s start at the bow and work our way aft. Seatius has a distinct plumb bow with a functional fixed bowsprit for setting the massive asymmetrical spinnaker. The forward sections are full to provide a comfortable ride in lumpy seas, and they curve aft into a wide beam and graceful stern sections. The yacht features a wide, low transom which rounds off the very streamlined and distinctive lines of the yacht.
In keeping with the design brief that encouraged simplicity, most of the deck is flush and sleek. There is ample room for sunbathing, relaxing or for water toys and the light teak contrasts very well with the dark hull giving the yacht a clean and very modern look. The cockpit features a fixed hard top bimini with removable carbon fiber biminis that can be used to provide shade for the guests. It is also there to provide protection for the crew on a long ocean passage. The on watch can huddle in comfort and safety while still being a part of the action and able to monitor the boat performance. The bimini contributes to the modern and practical look that is at the very essence of Seatius.
The yacht is 31.41 meters in length including the bowsprit. The beam is a modest 6.95 meters, and the draft is 3.4 meters at rest with a lifting keel that can be dropped down increase the draft to 5.5 meters. The yacht has a light displacement for a cruiser which will contribute to the high performance. The hull is made from an advanced composite sandwich of carbon and epoxy resin which results in a stiff and structurally sound yacht capable of taking the world’s oceans in stride.
Nauta design was fully responsible for the interior of the yacht and the company credo is to express that “simplicity is the essence of good design.” Just as the hull and deck express sleek elegance, the interior does the same. There are two ways to access the interior. One is through an aft entrance that drops down into the crew area. On the port side, there is a cabin with a double bunk for the Captain. The cabin also features an ensuite toilet and bath area. Opposite is another crew cabin that has two single stacked bunks. With access directly onto the deck, the crew can manage sailing the yacht without disturbing the owners and their guests. The aft companionway exits right at the double steering station.
Forward of the crew area on the starboard side is the galley. This allows the crew to prepare meals for themselves and the owners and their guests out of sight of the main saloon. On the port side is a guest cabin with two single bunks and ensuite toilet and shower. Further forward there is access to the engine room before heading up a few steps into the raised saloon.
The midship companionway enters directly into the raised saloon which is bright, airy and very spacious. On the port side is the dining area, an informal place to entertain guests. Opposite is a very comfortable U-shaped sofa with a coffee table. With plenty of light from the panoramic windows above and double hull portlights on either side, the whole area is bathed in warm light and is a magical place to relax and entertain.
The owners chose to have their stateroom all the way forward which is accessed through a passageway that steps down from the raised saloon to a guest area and a comfortable TV lounge with an extra large couch. There is a comfortable guest stateroom on port with ensuite shower and toilet area. The master cabin is all the way forward and is exquisite in its simplicity. There is a comfortable double bed amidships, dressing area on starboard and a shower and toilet area forward.
Throughout the yacht, there is a palette of light and dark woods that create contrasts in a very pleasing manner. The owners worked closely with the interior decorators to create the best balance between interior geometries and the colors of the refined timbers. Unlike some similar yachts, the interior is not ostentatious. Instead, the focus is on comfort and practicality, qualities of a true bluewater cruiser.
The design brief was for a true ocean-going yacht that could be easily sailed by a small crew. The design team really excelled in the way they designed and located the yacht handling systems. Most functions can be carried out at the push of a button located on a command control board in front of each helm station. Lines are led aft to winches adjacent to the steering stations leaving the deck uncluttered and easy to manage.
I can only imagine the serenity of being aboard Seatius on a long transatlantic crossing. The sun has dipped spluttering and sizzling into the ocean ahead of you and a cool night air descends. It’s time to start the night watch system. The owner and guests have retired to their staterooms and the crew take over control of the deck. The wind is from astern, and the Captain suggests that they can keep the asymmetrical spinnaker up for a while longer. The yacht is fully powered and eating up miles spitting them out into the wake. As darkness descends the Captain orders the spinnaker to be struck and it’s lowered to the deck and stowed away. During the night the yacht will run on mainsail and headsail alone, but it’s still a good combination and the boat powers through the dark ocean. The crew that are not helming or trimming sit huddled comfortably under the fixed bimini safe and secure. Seatius rides like the wind, like a true bluewater yacht in its element.
