Uncharted Luxury with Nyumba’s Artful Dance Between Precision and Passion
There is a quiet, profound beauty in gazing at the SW96 Nyumba, where minimalistic elegance flows effortlessly into the warmth of her interiors, and sleek practicality whispers of her potential. Though launched only this year, she has already tasted the vastness of the seas, journeying from the shipyard in Cape Town to the Monaco Yacht Show—a passage spanning more than 4,702 nautical miles. Nyumba is the fourth in the renowned SW96 series, and like her predecessors, she carries the soul of adventure. Her owners, seasoned voyagers on their third newly constructed sailing yacht, once considered a custom build. But in the end, it was the wisdom gleaned from years of travel that led them to this smart, 96-foot creation—one that balances bespoke craftsmanship with the expertise of both the yard and design team. Nyumba is the culmination of a life spent at sea, finely tuned to the desires of those who understand what it means to journey across the world’s oceans.
Effortless Practical Handling
Nyumba’s effortless grace on the water is the result of meticulous engineering, her hull lines carefully sculpted by Farr Yacht Design. Crafted from full carbon with prepreg fibers forming her sides and foredeck, she is astonishingly lightweight for her imposing size. This mastery of form allows her to glide with ease through challenging routes, a vessel whose agility belies her decadent proportions. Her design draws inspiration from the award-winning offshore racing yachts of the SW96 line, echoing the performance of her predecessors with a narrow bow, fine waterline, and an optimized transom built for speed.
At the heart of Nyumba’s handling lies her hull, a marvel of engineering, described by the vice president of Farr Yacht Design as having “minimal wetted surface,” achieved through the use of circular sections below the waterline. This, combined with a narrow overall beam, enhances her efficiency. Her wide, low transom is shaped to maximize effective length, ensuring that Nyumba maintains her speed even when faced with the most demanding environmental conditions. Every aspect of her design, from the appendages to the rig, has been meticulously placed to achieve a precise aerodynamic and hydrodynamic balance, resulting in both ease of handling and minimal drag.
When Nyumba enters the competitive arena of high-end regattas, her true potential will emerge. Massimo Gino of Nauta Design highlights the owners’ focus on an “uncluttered positioning of deck equipment,” allowing for easy circulation on board—a simplicity that, while silent, will resonate powerfully when tested under the intense pressure of competition. Her lifting keel, twin rudder configuration, carbon rigging, and upgraded hydraulic winches were all chosen with a competitive spirit in mind, reflecting the owner’s desire for a vessel capable of excelling under pressure. Yet Nyumba is also designed for more than the racecourse. One of her owners, a seasoned sailor, sought efficiency and reliability with minimal crew, envisioning a yacht capable of venturing ‘off the beaten path’ while maintaining her ability to perform at the highest levels.
First Serial Hybrid Diesel-Electric Sailing Yacht in the Southern Wind Fleet
Nyumba stands at the forefront of innovation, the first in the Southern Wind fleet to embrace the hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. Her power is the result of a collaboration with BAE Systems, a multinational leader in cutting-edge technology. The heart of her propulsion lies in the patented HybriGen system, engineered to withstand the most demanding environments while offering a glimpse into the future of sailing: zero emissions and a hydro mode that recharges her Lithium-ion energy stores as she glides across the sea. Borrowing from the rigorous demands of land-based transit technology, Nyumba complies with RINA Charter Class requirements, merging proven systems with a vision of sustainability.
Her hardware is a masterpiece of efficiency, enabling long stretches of noise-free, zero-emission sailing. The AC electric propulsion motor is seamlessly connected to the propeller, driven by a high-voltage battery and an integrated starter generator. Nyumba’s system operates across three primary modes, each adapting to the shifting demands of the voyage. In hybrid mode, both the starter generator and high-voltage battery feed power into the propulsion motor, ensuring a constant, agile experience under sail.
In silent and sailing modes, the system sheds its hybrid complexity, operating with refined simplicity. Silent mode draws directly from stored energy, offering quiet, emission-free passage, while sailing mode harnesses the very power of the wind. Here, Nyumba becomes a symphony of efficiency—at 12 knots, she surrenders only half a knot to drag while generating 15 kilowatts of energy. At 15 knots, she can produce up to 30 kilowatts, replenishing her batteries within a mere 15 to 20 minutes, a testament to her intelligent design.
Photos: Southern Wind Media | Words: Guadalupe Bosh
