Form and function are beautifully aligned on this artfully designed and crafted Southern Wind 108, Kiboko 4. So named as the fourth Southern Wind yacht for this seasoned owner, Kiboko 4 is the second of three 108s built by the yard based in Cape Town, South Africa, with sales, marketing, and customer care based out of Genoa, Italy.
The first hull of the Southern Wind 108 was Gelliceaux, surprising the yachting world by winning the Saint Barth Bucket on her debut. The third hull, Kalantis, delivered in March of 2026, placed third overall in the Southern Wind Trophy, held alongside/within the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, finishing just behind Liberty Squared and Gelliceaux.
The Owner’s Brief
Kiboko 4’s owner says this yacht will be primarily a family boat, but his brief listed priorities of weight optimization, performance, and aesthetics. He also specified a contemporary, functional, marine-inspired interior.
The owner commented, “Compared to my earlier yachts, I’ve taken a leap toward performance with a lifting keel, an enhanced sail plan, and a performance mast and rigging package which I hope will make her highly competitive in regattas,” suggesting that racing is not out of the realm of possibilities.
The captain worked quite closely with the shipyard on the build, providing input on systems and mechanical details that not only reflected the owner’s expectations, but also proved helpful in prioritizing and executing pleasing requests.
Kiboko 4 By the Numbers
Kiboko 4 measures 32.87 meters LOA, 35.51 with the bowsprit, and 29.78 at the waterline. She has a 7.51-meter beam, and a draft of 4.0 to 6.2 meters with the lifting keel, carrying 76T displacement.
Kiboko 4 is powered by a Cummins QSB 6.7-305hp@2600 rpm engine. Her hull is advanced composite sandwich construction and her inner skin is a carbon/epoxy resin. The interior is constructed of a honeycomb/foam sandwich structure with wood veneers.
Built by Southern Wind, the naval architecture was penned by Farr Yacht Design of Annapolis, MD. Interior and exterior design came from the talent at Nauta Design of Milan, Italy.
She has a full carbon hull, deck, and bulkheads, and a high modulus carbon mast and boom with carbon rigging. Kiboko 4 is fitted with a twin rudder configuration that, with the lifting keel and increased sail plan, enhances both speed and agility.
Accommodating eight guests and a crew of five, the owner’s cabin aboard Kiboko 4 sits fully forward in the quietest part of the yacht. The three guest cabins sit amidship.
Outstanding Features
As a dedicated environmental protectionist, the owner requested an alternative to natural teak for the decking. North American maple, chosen for physical properties required by the punishing marine environment, is an experimental material. It has been heat treated to maintain the deck’s integrity.
Exterior design displays a GT look, with a fresh deck layout that is pure geometry, clean and understated. The dark hull and pale grey superstructure present a bold aesthetic on Kiboko 4’s streamlined profile.
An innovative transom opens to reveal a tender garage for a 5-meter dinghy. There is an option to select the magic transom, which transforms into an attractive beach club, enticing guests for a swim or water sports activity enjoying an intimate connection with the sea.
The Interiors
Spacious, L-shaped social areas offer space for living, dining, and TV viewing. Fresh, warm, and welcoming, the light oak veneer is accented with walnut. Upholstery throughout is handwoven artisanal Mallorcan fabric, inspiring a summer mood that links to tradition.
Aft of the fully forward ensuite owner’s cabin, an ensuite twin cabin sits to port, with the TV lounge to starboard. Further aft, the dining and living areas span full beam with abundant natural light from glazing and skylights. Further aft, two ensuite guest cabins are matched, port and starboard. The crew areas with galley and crew mess sit fully aft.
On the Deck
Twin helms are well positioned and designed on the aft deck, with a cockpit area that facilitates separation from the busy working parts of the boat. The cockpit offers the perfect space for comfortable socializing along upholstered sofas with adjustable tables. A crew hatch just forward of the helms allows service without disrupting cockpit guests.
Attractive lighting is thoughtfully placed to illuminate just the right areas without being intrusive for guests enjoying the night sky. The low-slung coach house keeps the profile sleek and defined, while the skylights atop provide excellent daylight below.
Fully forward, a big, open, flush deck invites social activity, sunbathing, or star gazing, without obstruction. There is a massive sail locker on the bow with access to the submarine anchor, which keeps it out of sight by putting it under the hull. The chain locker is on the starboard side. A watertight bulkhead separates the locker from the cabin areas.
A central longitudinal locker built into the deck accommodates the staysail, storm jib, or other sails. Four winches around the mast base and a transverse jib track make managing sheets easier, with pistons that move sheets in and out, up and down, to facilitate just the right sheeting angles. Life raft lockers sit behind the recessed cockpit areas while special line stowage compartments keep the decks ultra clean. Titanium hardware finishes the deck with style.
Kiboko 4’s hinged transom opens up a nice beach club platform with dual stairs up to the deck. When it is time to stow the tender, a winch system pulls the craft into place, closing up nicely and tucking it into the garage.
A Boat For All Reasons
The owner maintained Kiboko 4 would primarily be for family, noting, “She will be perfect for enjoying Mediterranean summers and, for the first time, sailing across the Atlantic to explore the Caribbean.”
Southern Wind CEO Marco Albert remarked, “I’m thrilled to see another yacht come to life. It has been an honor to build the fourth yacht for this owner—not only for the trust and confidence he has placed in us, but also for the opportunity to deepen our friendship.”
In the end, that kind of friendship, steeped in shared passion for the sport of sailing, might be the ultimate reason to build such a fabulous high-performance racer/cruiser.
Photos: Oriol Esteve - Photo Nautic | Words: K.L. Turner
