See full version: Southerly yacht a good bluewater boat
Continuous research and development is one of the main reasons that Southerly has become recognised as world leading variable draft cruising yachts. The Southerly in-house Design Office work along side commissioned designers such as Ed Dubois, Rob Humphreys and Stephen Jones to develop new yachts, combining the qualities of the Southerly pedigree with the latest advancements in technology. more
Every detail from the shape and structure of the hull to the deck and sail plan arrangement is designed to achieve the best possible sailing characteristics to make sailing easy and rewarding. Interiors are designed for maximum comfort with practicality and safety at sea, being main priorities. Interior styling creates a luxurious atmosphere within the yacht to make living aboard a real pleasure. more
The keel, which is controlled by a hydraulic ram, is designed to bounce off a submerged obstacle. Theoretically, it can hit a coral head, swing up and clear and let the boat keep moving. The draft varies from 3’5” to 11 feet and that’s where the versatility of a shoal draft vessel meets superior upwind performance. With 11 feet down, the Southerly will point high even in a serious sea way and that made us excited for test day. Sadly, the Chesapeake Bay served up weather that would not let this 54-footer do what she does best; romp along in snotty seas and gusts to 40. here
The 540 is built for speed in bluewater. here
The Southerly 540 is a serious bluewater passagemaker with wide side decks, good handholds along the curvy coachroof and tall lifelines. The cockpit divides into two secions—the working cockpit for the crew, and the social cockpit for guest safety and comfort. In the former, twin helm stations with large consoles hold Raymarine multifunction displays, instruments and engine and thruster controls. Between the two wheels is an electric Lewmar 65 winch on the centerline to manage the mainsheet as there is no traveler. The social part of the cockpit is nice and deep to keep occupants safe even when heeling. The entire cockpit is designed so that the sole may be removed in case a repower is needed when the engine may be lifted out completely without tearing apart the interior.
This is exactly the dilemma that English builder Northshore set about addressing when they launched their first variable keel Southerly 33 in 1978. The swing keel concept caught on and since then, Southerlys have come to be known as yachts offering the best of both worlds. They’re passage-making ocean crossers that point up to 30 degrees off the wind but can slide into the skinniest water where other boats fear to tread.
The Solent rig has a keel-stepped 80-foot aluminum Selden mast with triple aft-swept spreaders. For easy upwind work there’s a self-tending jib and for light beam breezes the 145% genoa will get the job done. Both headsails are on electric Furlex furlers. The 894-square-foot mainsail comes standard with in-mast furling but traditional hoist and in-boom furling versions are available as well. Between the mainsail and the jib, the sail area is 1,443 square feet so this big boat is definitely not underpowered.
The iconic Southerly swing keel draws 10’6” and give high performance on the wind. Off the breeze, with the keel up, she draws only 3’6”, and deploys a hydraulic carbon sprit to fly a 2000 sq. ft. asymmetrical spinnaker. This rig can be sailed by two people with high performance. here
The eye-catching deckhouse on this new flagship cruiser from Southerly by Northshore Yachts invites one to admire and want to board this boat. Her high-aspect-ratio carbon rig with in-boom furling deploys a fully battened main with slab reefing. Dual roller furling jibs; one working jib, one 140-percent genoa, are supported with triple swept-back spreaders and a split hydraulic permanent backstay. here
Peter and his wife, Meredith, visited the Southampton Boat Show earlier in September and studied two large, new cruising boats, the Oyster 575 and the Southerly 57RS. I don't think Peter was in the market for a cruising boat at the outset, but according to Meredith there might be one in their future now. This was the guest blog he sent me after visiting each of these new designs.
One of my long-time boat partners, Peter Rugg, has sailed and raced sailboats during extended assignments in the U.K. and Hong Kong, as well as the United States, where he grew up sailing on Long Island Sound. In recent years, he has sailed traditional one-designs and sprit boats and also taken up doublehanded racing, winning the doublehanded division in the Newport-to-Bermuda Race.
Peter Rugg writes:
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