Southern Wind Shipyard
History
A story of passion
The Southern Wind shipyard is the realization of the dream of a man who has always breathed the sea air. Guglielmo Persico, known by everyone as Willy, spent his youth in Naples, one of the most beautiful and buzzing Italian coastal cities. He has lived the experience of shipyards from when he was a boy, following his father's work: a world made up of smells, bustling workers, and mysterious objects that gradually took shape to become big, fascinating ships.
His degree in engineering and passion for naval construction took him, when the opportunity arose, to head Cantieri Navali Rodriguez, famous for the production of hydroplanes and fast ships. But his true love is sailing: he has sailed for a long time, taking part in numerous races, and the purchase of boats built by legendary shipyards, such as Swan and Sangermani, helped to mould the taste and experience needed to recognize the best that the market can offer.
In 1990 the time was right to construct his own boat: he chose Ron Holland as naval designer and involved the architect Antonio Minniti, also Neapolitan and a long-standing friend, in the design of the interiors. Having acquired the project, only the choice of the shipyard was missing. On one of his many work trips, recommended by Holland himself, he visited Cenmarinein Cape Town, a small boatyard specialized in the construction of customized boats, where the staff showed notable naval skills. Agreement was soon reached: the construction of Aga Jari began, followed shortly afterwards by that of a 72' designed by the Farr studio for a friend. When the construction of the boats was well advanced, in 1991, the yard reached a turning point: personal problems forced the owner to close. Willy Persico grasped the opportunity immediately: he bought an industrial area to convert into a shipyard, selected the best staff and founded a new company. This is how Southern Wind Shipyard was born, almost by chance, like many of the best things. Aga Jari, built in aluminum, remained a one-off; but the Farr project, elegant and innovative for its time, immediately aroused great interest, also because it represented one of the first examples in which the great designer, famous for his infinite number of race victories, tackled a hull for long-range cruisers.
The years that followed with the launch of Farr 72’s were the period of formation for the shipyard. Building one boat a year, Willy had the time to conduct research, to select specialized personnel, as well as to train a management group that was to become a fundamental asset for the company. In a few months, the employees increased from seven to thirty. As other South African shipyards gradually closed because of the government's changed export incentives policy, Southern Wind, against the trend, hired new staff: Willy thus managed to concentrate a group of great experience, the best personnel available in South Africa. In addition, he organized for the heads of each section full work experience at some of the best European shipyards, with which Willy Persico had always had a friendly relationship. The Farr 72’ was also the terrain on which all the most important design concepts that would characterize the Southern Winds were developed, solutions derived from Willy's and often his friend Minniti’s direct experience, acquired sailing and living board for long periods. As Minniti recalls: "We were in Sardinia during one of the long periods spent showing off the boat. One night, we were both sleeping in the large stern master cabin, and at a certain point the wind picked up: light waves began to swash below the surface, an orchestra! We both turned on the light at the same time, we looked at each other, and Willy said,” On the next one, I want my cabin afore”. This was the start of the classic Southern Wind layout: simply the result of our own experience". Far Cape, 72’ hull number 3, was the first Southern Wind with a guest zone afore and the crew area astern. So many other things started this way: the organization of the hardware, the division in two clearly distinct cockpits, the selection of certain components: all choices that developed in the field. "We also began to build ,with obsessive care out of necessity, the engine room and the technical systems; elements usually undervalued on sailing yachts: there is nothing that ruins a cruise like a technical system that does not work properly" says Persico.
The Farr 72’s brought Southern Wind rapid fame. But a single model is not enough to represent a shipyard worthy of the name. In addition, the quality level attracted many boat owners who wanted larger boats. There were numerous requests to construct large custom boats, but Willy had other ideas: Southern Wind had to grow by presenting its own models. Each project thus had to be adapted to the creation of a small series. In this direction, the encounter with the Milan studio Nauta was a good omen. The stimulus for collaboration was the design of a splendid 95' blue water cruiser, the ideal for owners that really intend to sail around the world. Willy saw it, bought it, proposed it. A client was quickly found: Maya Ray, Southern Wind's first maxi, began this adventure. The hull lines, again by Farr, were hidden by the elegant classical forms, but it could also take on more sporty looks: this gave shape to Thalima, the first Farr Nauta 93’.
The maxis also entailed inevitable growth of the shipyard, new sheds and facilities were created and staff increased progressively. The South African know-how was no longer enough: competencies were required that only Europe could offer. The first to arrive, in 1994, was Marco Alberti, the current general manager of the boatyard, with years of experience in luxury maxi yachts. The leap in quality in the lamination department came with the composite wizard Stefan Falcon; then came the project managers, the internal design department and experts in various sectors. Willy Persico never let an opportunity slip by: he immediately involved some of the best professionals available on the market; after a trial period, they often became so enamored of the shipyard and the location that they also moved their family there.
In all these years, Willy Persico has always managed relations with customers directly, establishing a relationship of complicity. The reason is simple: he is one of them.