southerly yachts wikipedia

Weather Forecast

2:00 pm, 06/12: -11°C - Partly Cloudy

2:00 am, 07/12: -4°C - Clear

2:00 pm, 07/12: -7°C - Partly Cloudy

2:00 am, 08/12: -3°C - Overcast

• Cruising Compass
• Multihulls Today
• Advertising & Rates
• Author Guidelines

British Builder Southerly Yachts Saved by New Owners

Introducing the New Twin-Keel, Deck Saloon Sirius 40DS

New 2024 Bavaria C50 Tour with Yacht Broker Ian Van Tuyl

Annapolis Sailboat Show 2023: 19 New Multihulls Previewed

2023 Newport International Boat Show Starts Today

Notes From the Annapolis Sailboat Show 2022

Energy Afloat: Lithium, Solar and Wind Are the Perfect Combination

Anatomy of a Tragedy at Sea

What if a Sailboat Hits a Whale?!?

Update on the Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda, BVI

Charter in Puerto Rico. Enjoy Amazing Food, Music and Culture

With Charter Season Ahead, What’s Up in the BVI?

AIS Mystery: Ships Displaced and Strangely Circling

Holiday Sales. Garmin Marine Stuff up to 20% Off

• Featured News

Southerly Yachts has long been a true design and build innovator in the shoal-draft, drop-keel category of blue water cruisers.  Yet, the company has ben through a few rocky patches and differetnj owners. Most recently the brand with all. the molds has been acquired from the previous owners Discovery Yachts by Concept Yachts in Southampton, England. Concept is essentially saving the Southerly brand.  Their press announcement is below.  Check out the new Southerly Yachts website here. 

In a stunning turn of events, the storied UK-based yacht building company, Southerly Yachts, finds itself on the brink of revival after being saved by the international marine contractors and boatbuilding experts, Concept Yachts. With a rich history and legacy in the Southampton region, Southerly Yachts faced an uncertain future due to various challenges in the maritime industry. However, the timely intervention of Concept Yachts has injected a much-needed lifeline into the company, rekindling hopes for a bright future.

Established in the mid-1970s, Southerly Yachts quickly gained recognition for its innovative and high-quality sail yachts. Known for their lifting keel technology, the company’s vessels became synonymous with exceptional sailing performance and versatility. Over the years, Southerly Yachts earned a devoted customer base, with yacht enthusiasts from around the world eagerly seeking their designs.

As the maritime industry evolved, the former holding company encountered escalating challenges, notably financial hardships. Despite Southerly Yachts’ longstanding reputation, its previous owners struggled to provide the brand with the requisite presence and management team it rightfully deserved.

In a twist of fate, Concept Yachts, an internationally renowned marine contractor, and boatbuilding company, recognised the immense potential in the Southerly Yachts brand. Concept Yachts has built a reputation for excellence in constructing bespoke luxury yachts, naval vessels, and commercial boats. Their expertise, coupled with a global presence, positioned them as the perfect saviour for the iconic UK yacht builder.

The acquisition of Southerly Yachts by Concept Yachts has been celebrated as a strategic masterstroke. This collaboration brings together the rich heritage of Southerly Yachts with the modern expertise of Concept Yachts, promising to usher in an era of innovation and growth for the Southampton-based firm.

As Concept Yachts takes the helm, they are committed to retaining the soul of Southerly Yachts and preserving the brand’s legacy while infusing it with new energy and contemporary design elements. By blending the traditional craftsmanship and design finesse of Southerly Yachts with Concept Yachts’ state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques and cutting-edge materials, the revived entity aims to set new benchmarks in yacht building.

Under the fresh ownership, Southerly Yachts has undergone a comprehensive rebranding and has already successfully delivered a Southerly 480 and Southerly 420 to two clients in North America. Additionally, they proudly showcased the Southerly 420 at the prestigious Southampton International Boat Show 2023. The striking vessels combines the trademark lifting keel technology of Southerly Yachts with Concept Yachts’ penchant for sleek aesthetics and advanced engineering, creating a yacht that promises exceptional performance, comfort, and versatility.

The newfound collaboration has breathed fresh life into Southampton’s maritime industry, injecting optimism and stimulating economic growth in the region. As Southerly Yachts continues to reassert its position as a market leader under the guidance of Concept Yachts, it is expected to open new employment opportunities and attract more yacht enthusiasts to the area.

The acquisition of Southerly Yachts by Concept Yachts marks a pivotal moment in the history of UK yacht building. The marriage of tradition and modernity holds great promise for the future of the Southampton-based company, ensuring that its legacy endures for generations to come. As the revamped Southerly Yachts sets sail towards new horizons, it does so with the unwavering support of a global partner that shares its passion for excellence in yacht building.

Website here.

Established in 2003, Concept Yachts delivers excellence as a world-class, internationally mobile superyacht and marine contractor company. Often hailed as ‘a mobile shipyard,’ We take pride in providing contractor teams encompassing all key marine trades, ensuring one-to-one customer service and personalised attention to detail throughout every project.

Responding to industry demand led us to establish Concept Yachts Shipyard, featuring expansive 20,000 square foot facilities. Here, we not only manufacture Southerly Yachts but also extend our support to companies seeking full turnkey outsourced manufacturing solutions for their builds.

Author: George Day

Leave a reply cancel reply.

• Competitions
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues

Your special offer

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting today!

Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting!

Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just £39.95

BOAT TEST: SOUTHERLY 435 (WITH GALLERY)

Southerly Yachts resurgence continues and their new 435 is the latest of their swing keel yachts to enjoy a rebirth. Sam Jefferson takes her for a spin  

I suppose before I start this review I should declare that I am an avowed fan of the swing keel. A few years back I owned a fairly peculiar boat in Poole Harbour that had this arrangement and I vividly remember the great joy of sailing at speed through Blood Alley, a narrow channel, while a selection of sailors watched in disbelief from their anchored yachts gesturing wildly for me to make an about turn. It’s a great feeling and, certainly in tidal waters of the UK, it opens up whole new vistas to explore. Stretches of water that you would never dare to go near if you had a fixed keel yacht.

Anyway, that dewy eyed narrative brings me seamlessly to the new Southerly 435 which, with her swing keel is an ideal vehicle for illustrating my point as she draws just 2’9” with the keel raised. Now, some of you may be thinking that the 435 seems awfully familiar and that’s because when I say she’s new, I’m only half telling the truth. Her hull dates back to 2008 when this design was first launched as the Southerly 42 RS (Raised saloon). It’s a long story, but a series of wranglings at Southerly saw the boatbuilder go out of business in 2013 before being brought back to life by the Discovery Group two years ago.

This news was greeted with a good deal of relief as Southerly always had an excellent reputation and also an extremely loyal following among discerning cruisers who appreciated the shallow draft capabilities of the Southerly range. Their sudden departure also left a gaping hole in the market as, all of a sudden, there was no availability for a GRP production swing keel yacht. The only options were the French aluminium ‘go anywhere’ style cruising yachts. Although there are undoubtedly excellent at what they do, they have a certain idiosyncratic and individual styling that doesn’t appeal to everyone.

It don’t mean a thing…

Southerly’s were always more palatable to a mainstream audience. Rob Humphreys has always known how to draw up a nice harmonious hull and the 435 is a decent looking yacht. I was wondering whether the boat might be looking a bit dated given that her lines date back to 2008 but it wasn’t immediately obvious. I guess the trend these days is for a bit more of a plumb bow and less inverse rake on the transom, but ultimately, she just looks like a yacht that isn’t slave to passing design fads. After all, the plumb bow is a bit daft if viewed in the cold light of day. Anyway, the key design features are as follows: She’s got a cast iron swing keel weighs in at 3,400lbs and lifts on a hydraulic ram. She draws a substantial 8’11” with it down, which points to decent upwind performance. The hull itself has plenty of beam kept well aft to give her good internal volume. There is a good deal of rocker and twin rudders with a relatively short foil profile – combine this with the heavily rockered hull and they do not even touch the ground when she dries out. The engine is on a saildrive and the prop is protected by its own skeg.

In terms of the cockpit and deck arrangement, the deck plug remains the same as the old 42 but there have been some cosmetic tweaks here. The old 42’s deck saloon had very distinctive teardrop shaped windows at the side but these have been replaced with a wraparound which provides more light in the saloon and also ensures that the exterior of the yacht has a more contemporary style to it. The cockpit is a centrally located which is ideal for blue water cruising and has a nice enclosed yet comfortable feel to it. The old Southerly 42 came with the choice of either a single helm position or twin helms. At present, the new version is only available with a single helm.

Other than that, there are a pair of modest lazarettes aft of the cockpit for putting fenders etc in and then a huge locker at the bow that would swallow up all manner of junk if you wished it to. There is also a modest locker in the cockpit itself. The side decks are a touch on the narrow side, but that is about the only criticism I can come up with.

An extra string to your bow

In terms of. The sail plan, this has clearly been drawn up with blue water cruising and short handed sailing in mind. It’s a relatively modest plan that utilises the ‘slutter’ rig set up, with a fairly small self tacking jib set slightly aft of a much bigger overlapping headsail. This is a very versatile rig that gives you the best of all worlds – the only real drawback is that you have to furl the genoa in order to tack as the gap is too narrow between the stay for the jib. In contrast to the old 42, there is also a fixed bowsprit that has the blocks in place for a Code 0 and also houses the anchor roller.

The mainsheet is set just abaft the helmsman which I always think is the most effective set up and you can fine adjust to your heart’s content while at the helm. On this particular model, the mainsail was an in mast furling job and absolutely all the winches were push button electric ones which made things somewhat effortless. The keel was adjusted via the control panel on the steering pedestal and went up and down noiselessly with a little indicator showing its relative angle. There was also a very nice chartplotter integrated into the steering pedestal.

Down below  

So far, so good; nothing revolutionary here, but still a thoroughly practical and comfortable space. Heading down below, things started to contrast more sharply compared to the old Southerly 42. I suppose the first and most striking contrast was simply the quality of the fit out. Southerly is now owned by Discovery Yachts and the company has always been noted for the high quality of the carpentry and this was immediately evident when you stepped into the saloon; lots of high quality wood beautifully put together. Southerly Yachts were always well put together, but this is a step up. The other striking thing is the vast amount of natural light thanks to that raised saloon. The big wraparound deckhouse window offers splendid 270 degree views of the great outdoors. The raised saloon is a pretty common feature on many yachts these days, but Southerly actually needs it for very practical reasons, as there needs to be space to hide the lifting keel mechanism. This works very well and the remainder of the keel casing is hidden in the saloon table which also provides good access to an inspection hatch.

The layout has changed somewhat from the old Southerly 42 which used to geature the galley at a lower level from the main saloon and was situated longitudinally to starboard. This was a very self contained area but it did feel somewhat divorced from the saloon. The new layout features the galley to port and aft of the main saloon. Even though it is at a lower level again, it somehow means the cook feels more involved and connected with the saloon. It is also a nicely self contained space; very secure with everything to hand. The ddrawback is that the galley is now closer to the owners cabin, so more dangers of cooking smells intruding in here. I guess it all depends on what the chef is cooking as to whether this is a problem!

The main saloon seating/dining area is also to port and the chart table is aft to starboard and gives excellent views out to sea while also providing a commanding position. There as an extra bench seat to starboard where the galley used to be located. This could easily be converted into a pilot berth for night watch with the addition of a lee cloth.

The interior of the 435 feels huge given the relative size of the yacht and this is partly achieved because the forward cabin is a relatively modest double. That said, it does have am ensuite that, thanks to two separate entrances, also doubles as the day head.

Head aft through the galley and you find yourself in a palatial owner’s suite; very comfortable and light with plentiful headroom. Those broad hindquarters mean that this feels like a cabin that belongs to an altogether larger yacht. The sheer size is underlined when you head around to starboard and discover a very generously dimensioned heads with a separate shower cubicle. There is a watertight door set into the bulkhead here which also allows for walk in access to the engine room – surely something of a welcome novelty on a 42’ yacht. Overall, the interior was amazibngly roomy, thoughtfully laid out and pleasant. I guess the only criticisms I has were that the fore cabin was a tad on the modest side size wise and I didn’t like the colour of the upholstery – something that can be very easily remedied.

It was time to get out on the water and the weather gods had blessed us with blinding sunlight and a gently 10kn breeze that never got above 13kn. Back in the day, Southerly used to have a bit of a reputation for skittish handling under power with the keel up. Those days are gone. The introduction of bow and stern thrusters meant that there was absolutely no reason for concern as we nudged out of a relatively tight space in Lymington and headed out. Heading upwind, we initially opted for the self tacker with full main which, on a relatively short beat made sense but with 10kn of breeze meant she was a tad underpowered, although she slipped along well enough and we were all grateful for the ease of tacking as we closed with Hurst Castle and the Needles. The tight sheeting angle of the self tacker was also a bonus and the 435 proved herself close winded and nimble in the conditions.

Easing off the breeze a bit, we took in the self tacker with minimal effort and switched to the larger overlapping genoa. With the breeze also filling in a touch, we were soon trucking along very nicely indeed. The steering had decent feel and the boat itself was very easy to sail with all the controls so close to hand. Even with the genoa up, the winches were easily accessible from the helm and it was easy enough to single hand even with the bigger sail. I’d like to say that we lifted up the keel and sailed onto the beach at nearby Newtown Creek but that would be a big fat lie. Nevertheless, the knowledge that we could do it was always there in the back of my mind and it was a good feeling to have.

Sam’s verdict

The Southerly 435 is a good follow up to the 42. The most striking change is down below, where the layout has been improved to my mind while the general quality and ‘feel’ is superior to the old boat in my opinion.

Meanwhile, the swing keel is an obvious boon and it has been tried and tested over the years, so we all know it works a treat. I would say that this is a really good practical sized yacht for a couple who are perhaps hosting friends once in a while. It would also make a great blue water cruiser while also being a brilliant yacht for cruising the English Channel where  the vagaries of tide mean that swing keel comes into its own.

• Comfort: 4/5
• Blue water ability: 4/5

Specifications

LOA 42′ 2″ (12.85 m.) LWL 36′ 5″ (11.10 m.) Beam 13′ 3″ (4.04 m.) Draft 2′ 9″/8′ 11″ (0.84/2.72 m.) Working Sail Area 793 sq. ft. (73.7 sq. m.) Displacement 24,802 lb. (11,250 kg.) Ballast (including keel) 8,091 lb. (3,670 kg.) Ballast/D 0.33 D/L 229 SA/D 14.9 Water 64 gal. (290 l.) Fuel 74 gal. (355 l.) Mast Height 61′ 5″ (18.7 m.) Engine 56-hp. Yanmar Designers Rob Humphreys/Stephen Jones

Price (sailaway): £545,000

discoveryyachtsgroup.com

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Flying Mantis: Foiling Trimaran Seeking New Investor

Boat Test: C-Cat 48

Boat Test: Bali Catsmart 38′

Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice.

• British Yachting Awards 2022
• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

• Practical Boat Owner
• Digital edition

Southerly Yachts folds again

• August 28, 2014

It comes just 13 months after the brand was ‘rescued' from an earlier receivership

One of the biggest sailboat names in British boat building, Southerly Yachts, has folded again, writes Barry Pickthall.

This latest debacle comes just 13 months after the brand had been ‘rescued’ from an earlier receivership with debts of £1,972,520.

The builder, which once employed 165 people at Itchenor Shipyard and its moulding operation in Havant, went down with the loss of 50 jobs.

A creditors meeting held at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel on 22 August was told that efforts to refloat the building arm of the business had failed and that once three yachts currently under construction for customers were completed, production of the Southerly brand would cease.

Chris Stephens from FRP Advisory was once again appointed receiver but, like last year, when the assets available to offset debts amounted to little more than the office furniture and a database of potential clients, there are precious few pickings.

A spokesman for FRP Advisory refused to divulge the list of outstanding creditors for Southerly Yachts Ltd or its level of indebtedness to Boating Business, stating that this will eventually be published by Companies House.

The land and buildings at Itchenor are owned by Sunchalk Ltd and the mouldings, intellectual property rights to the Southerly, Fisher and Vancouver yacht brands together with equipment and machinery, all remain outside the grasp of the receiver.

Northshore Yachts was formed in 1971, and purchased by Lester Abbott from founder Bryan Moffatt for a reputed £4.5m in 2003. Mr Abbott invested heavily in expanding the Southerly range, building two new factory buildings – the latest of which was opened by Princess Anne in 2010.

After this crash, Mr Abbott also faced criticism from within the marine industry for leaving key suppliers high and dry. Their reluctance to supply the new Southerly Yachts business with vital parts forced Mr Abbott to pay off past debts, and companies like Iron Brothers which manufactured Southerly’s unique swing keels, and was owed £59,000, is owed just £38.00 this time.

Spokesmen from Tek Tanks, Houdini Windows, Holman Rigging and IPC Media, which all took considerable hits in the 2013 bankruptcy, also reported that they have been paid off.

The first sign of problems came at the beginning of August with the removal of mould tools that had littered the Itchenor foreshore ever since Northshore’s moulding facilities in Havant were wound up and moved suddenly to a field behind the Northshore production facility.

A week later, staff arriving for work found the yard locked and a note posted on the door telling them to return home.

A small team of builders was later recalled to complete the three remaining yachts in construction.

Even before the creditors meeting, the Itchenor facility had re-opened for business under the name of Northshore Shipyard Ltd. A new sign on the gate proclaimed ‘repairs, storage, moorings and all types of work carried out – at competitive rates.’

Pictures credited to: Barry Pickthall/PPL

Discovery Yachts Group acquires Southerly Yachts

Following the recent management buyout and with new investors, the Discovery Yachts Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of the highly acclaimed Southerly range of swing keel sailing yachts.

The investment in the popular Southerly brand of yachts is a logical move for the MBO team at the Discovery Yachts Group who are aiming to become one of the UK’s leading sailboat builders with a versatile range of quality cruising yachts (monohull and catamaran) from 32 to 67ft.

The hugely popular variable draft Southerly Yachts offer comfort and performance with the swing keel giving the freedom and versatility to sail in almost any waters. The swing keel was a unique concept when the first Southerly was launched in 1978. Today there are over 900 Southerly owners worldwide who enjoy the flexibility and freedom of a deep draft for powerful sailing performance and precise directional stability, as well as a shallow draft for exploring many of the normally inaccessible coastlines and inland waterways.

Discovery Yachts are recognised around the world for innovative designs and meticulous workmanship that will be applied to the build of the Southerly range of variable draft cruising yachts. Plans are underway to enhance the Southerly offering by adding a mix of the Discovery bespoke customisation and beautiful handcrafted joinery to make each yacht exceptional.

Northshore Shipyard will continue to be an approved specialist Southerly Refit & Repair Centre and Southerly Yacht Brokerage. Northshore will continue their long history of looking after existing Southerly owners in this mutually beneficial arrangement with Discovery Yachts Group.

New build programmes have already been entered into the 2017 Discovery production schedule and production of Southerly yachts will take place at Discovery’s Southampton based manufacturing facility. A new product launch for the Southerly brand is expected for the Southampton Boat Show in September.

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Privacy Policy . Dismiss

SEARCH OUR PRODUCTS…

• FeatherStream
• Online Shop
• Have we done your model?
• Have we done your model – Hydroaxe?
• Read Testimonials
• Submit a testimonial
• Get a Quote
• Darglow through the years
• HydroAxe Rope Cutters
• Darglow Support
• Get a quote

Southerly Yachts – a brief history

Southerly Yachts is a hugely popular sailboat brand that offers its owners the freedom and versatility to sail in almost any waters. The brand has become internationally recognised in the mid-1970’s as the market leader for variable draft cruising yachts.

The Southerly unique swing keel

The swing keel was a unique concept when first launched by Southerly in 1978. Today there are over 900 Southerly Yacht owners worldwide that enjoy the flexibility of a deep draft for powerful sailing performance and precise directional stability, as well as the shallow draft for exploring many of the inaccessible coastlines and inland waterways.

Deep draft performance

The Variable Draft Keel provides a deep draft which gives a greater stability due to the increased righting moment. In practice the boat is stiffer, carries her sail better and carves her way efficiently to windward in any seaway. The Variable Draft Keel’s aerofoil shape is highly efficient — and allows you to point high (30°) with minimal leeway.

Shallow draft freedom

At the touch of a button, the keel can be raised to sail in very shallow waters. This means you can extend your cruising grounds considerably. Raising the Variable Draft Keel gives you access to many locations both for pleasure and for safety.

During 1975 and 2014 the Southerly yachts were developed and built in the delightful setting of Chichester Harbour at the Northshore Shipyard in Itchenor, West Sussex. By 2014, the Southerly range included yachts from 32ft to 57ft but sadly production ceased – with many owners dismayed at the announcement.

In 2017, the Discovery Group acquired the rights and tooling to re-start production. The Southampton based boat builder chose to concentrate on the mid-range models – the Southerly 48 and Southerly 54 – which proved to be a great success.

A new chapter in the history of Southerly Yachts begins as the Discovery stable launches a new updated aft cockpit raised saloon in the Southerly 42, whilst the design office gets to work on the new 36ft model and an updated Southerly 32 to follow.

Southerly Yacht Range

• Southerly 330
• Southerly 380
• Southerly 435
• Southerly 590
• Southerly 680
• Southerly 36
• Southerly 32
• Southerly Vancouver 38 Pilot
• Southerly 42RST
• Southerly Vancouver 34 Classic
• Southerly 420
• Southerly 47
• Southerly 49
• Southerly 535
• Southerly 57RS
• Southerly 675
• Southerly 470

from 2013 –

• Southerly Vancouver 28
• Southerly Vancouver 34 Pilot

Drag reducing propellers for Southerly Yachts

Darglow have supplied drag reducing props for a number of models in the Southerly range . We keep an expanding database of technical information on many of our installations along with feedback from our customers.

Rope Cutters for Southerly Yachts

We have supplied rope cutters for various boats in the Southerly yacht range. We keep a database of technical information on many of our installations along with feedback from our customers.

Check our full list of Southerly Yachts we have supplied rope cutters for here.

You can find more on the Southerly story here – https://discoveryshipyard.com/southerly-story/

Posted on Friday, July 16th, 2021

Southerly Owners Association

Welcome to the online home of the southerly owners association, formed 40 years ago, the association has recently updated its website and is now the go-to place for all matters southerly. if you want technical information, to trawl through our informative forum or if you would like to join us click on the links below. don't forget the all important social side of the association - come and join in the rallies and social events arranged throughout the year..

Members Log in to the members area to gain access to forum here

Join the SOA

Share in our events and knowledge base

Join our rallies, events and cruises

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Discovery Yacht Group acquires fellow British brand and swing-keel specialists Southerly Yachts

• Toby Hodges
• June 7, 2017

Southampton based Discovery Yachts Group has today announced the acquisition of the Southerly range of swing keel cruising yachts

Discovery Yachts has bought fellow British cruising yacht brand Southerly in a bid to become one of the UK’s leading yacht builders.

It means Discovery will have a highly versatile range of quality cruising yachts, both swing keel and fixed keel monohulls and catamarans from 32 to 67ft.

A new product launch for the Southerly brand will be announced at the Southampton Boat Show this September and Discovery Cataramans will have their own ‘Bluewater’ branding too

The Southerly brand, under Northshore Yachts, went through two bankruptcies in 2013 and 2014. The builder, which once employed 165 people at its Itchenor Shipyard, was rescued from receivership with debts of nearly £2m – before it went bankrupt again the following year with the loss of 50 jobs and a reputed list of creditors owed.

The surprising part is that no other builder has since tried to fill the niche that the popular variable draught yachts had created. Southerly formed in 1978 and has over 900 owners worldwide.

It looks like a smart decision by Discovery to extend the range and versatility of its brand with another that fits well in its portfolio. The modern Rob Humphreys and Stephen Jones designed Southerlys are excellent designs that were built to a high standard.

Discovery’s Managing Director Sean Langdon points out that the only other proper variable draught production yachts are French aluminium models. He told us that he has he been trying to buy the Southerly brand for a few years now. He ended up buying Discovery and then Southerly, convinced that the only way to start Southerly up again “was with another prominent brand.”

The sale includes ‘everything other than the people and buildings’ – ie the moulds and the name (the assets were never in the company name reportedly). Northshore Yacht Services, located at their shipyard at Itchenor, Chichester Harbour, will continue to be an approved specialist Southerly refit and repair centre and Southerly Yacht Brokerage.

Langdon says that the existing Southerly models will be refreshed and rebranded with ‘simpler’ number systems – two for Discovery, three for Southerly. So the Southerly 32 will become a 330, the 38 a 390 and the centre cockpit models will have a five in them (42 will be 425).

“The branding will be kept very separate,” says Langdon, adding “but there is the potential to share tooling for two different brands.” So we can expect to see the new Discovery 48 launching next year , offered as a swing-keel cruiser under the Southerly brand for example.

New Southerly models will now be built at Discovery’s Marchwood facility and include its typically high level of interior finish. Langdon is taking on 10 new staff in the coming weeks and plans to add another 20 during the year to take employee numbers back up to 90 by the end of 2017.

“I truly believe that Southerly and Discovery, with the catamarans alongside, will give us a really strong group going forward,” said Langdon.

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

First look: Southerly 42 – bluewater beauty

• Theo Stocker
• October 25, 2021

Theo Stocker casts his expert eye over the Southerly 42, offering bluewater luxury in a yacht with a minimum draught of just 84cm

There are few high-end bluewater cruising yachts that can boast a draught of just 84cm (3ft). While this increases to 2.7m (8ft 11in) while sailing, the trademark swing keel of the Southerly 42 means this boat will be able to access anchorages and creeks that most other boats of this size simply can’t get near.

What’s more, the iron grounding plate (doubles as ballast), twin rudders and skeg-protected prop all mean the Southerly 42 can take the ground and dry out. Whether in the Isles of Scilly or the Bahamas, that’s an appealing proposition.

The aft cabin on the Discovery 42

Her makers claim that her sailing performance will still sparkle, with a tall fractional rig – 18.5m (60ft 7 in) air draught – and the additional draft helping her point at 30º to the apparent wind. Her polars suggest she’ll nudge 8.5 knots on a white sail reach in 20 knots of breeze. She comes with a self-tacking jib as standard, with sheet controls for both sails led aft to the helm, while halyard are on the coachroof. A furling offwind sail can be set from the fixed bowsprit.

The other key Southerly trait is the raised saloon to port, at the bottom of the companionway, with a lower-level galley to starboard, meaning you can sit inside and enjoy 270º views. Unusually the chart table-cun/workstationg is against the forward bulkhead, level with the mast. For this size boat, the aft master cabin is huge with a full-size island double bed and ensuite heads. The guest cabin forward, also ensuite, is generous too.

The hull is built of vinylester GRP, and reuses the Humphreys hull of the Southerly 42RST, but has received the Discovery treatment on deck and below, making this an appealing and modern-looking cruiser that is thoroughly capable.

Southerly 42 specifications

LOA: 13.3m (42ft 7in) Beam: 4m (13ft 3in) Draught: (UP/DOWN) 0.8m/2.7m (2ft 9in/8ft 11in) Sail area: 75m2 (811 sq ft) Displacement: 11,341kg (25,003 lbs) Price: ex yard £535,000 ex VAT Contact: discoveryshipyard.com

Enjoyed reading this?

A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.

• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
• Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

• Virtess 420
• Southerly 420
• Southerly 480
• Southerly Swing Keel
• View Available Inventory
• Yacht Search
• Featured Sail
• Featured Power

Southerly Yachts

• Island Packet
• Bavaria Yachts
• Buyer Representation
• Sell Your Boat
• Variable Draft Specialists
• Testimonials
• Meet the Team
• Our History

The ADVANTAGE of a SOUTHERLY

The southerly swing keel system opens up a world of possibilities denied to most yachts.

Today, there are over 1,100 Southerly Owners worldwide who can testify to the remarkable versatility of the Variable Draft Keel system (swing keel) which fulfils most people’s idea of the perfect yacht: one that has a deep draft for powerful sailing performance, yet a shallow draft for exploring shallow creeks and inland waterways. Southerly’s have covered many thousands of miles, including transatlantic and round-the-world voyages.

Deep Draft Performance

The Variable Draft Keel provides a deep draft which gives a greater stability due to the increased righting moment. In practice the boat is stiffer, carries her sail better and carves her way efficiently to windward in any seaway. The Variable Draft Keel’s aerofoil shape is highly efficient – and allows you to point high (30°) with minimal leeway.

Shallow Draft Freedom

At the touch of a button, the keel can be raised, to sail in very shallow waters. This means you can extend your cruising grounds considerably. Raising the Variable Draft Keel, gives you access to many locations both for pleasure and for safety.

“It delivers the best of both worlds…When you’re out in the ocean, you want a boat that can handle waves and big seas. But the best part of the cruising life is at the edges where water meets land. The Southerly will take you to both of those places. With the keel down, you’ve got 11 feet under you and all the pointing ability that goes with that. So it’s a deepwater boat but also one you can dry out. It can go places most cruising boats can’t ever go. So the world is very, very opened up” – Read full article: Southerly 540 Wins Cruising World Boat of the Year for Best Full Size Cruiser

[email protected]

Introducing

Deep draft performance without compromise.

A key benefit of the variable draft keel is not only shallow draft opportunities but also enhanced performance from a deep high aspect ratio keel when fully lowered.

In practise, the boat is stiffer as a result of the improved righting moment, therefore carrying her sail better than other yachts and carving her way efficiently to windward in a seaway. The keel’s aerofoil shaped cross section, with weight concentrated at the tip, is optimised for sailing to windward, allowing you to point as high as 30° apparent with minimal leeway.

The variable keel geometry allows the keel to be set at any position between fully raised and lowered, enabling the keel to be set and optimised according to your point of sail.

An example of this is having the keel fully raised when sailing downwind.

EXPLORE WHERE OTHERS CANNOT

Southerly’s trade mark variable draft keel enables the draft to be reduced to as little as 0.84m (3 feet). The opportunities are endless for accessing and exploring remote anchorages, harbours and inland waterways worldwide, without the draft restrictions imposed on other yachts.

Shallow draft capabilities can save precious time when entering or leaving locked marinas or even crossing a shallow bar in some harbour entrances. When approaching shallow waters, the keel can simply be raised to avoid grounding, and killing time for a safe height of tide.

Design Dimensions

Overall Length 14.83m 48’7”

Length Waterline (Heeled) 13.05m 42’8”

Beam 4.46m 14’6”

Draft Keel Up 1.00m 3’3”

Draft Keel Down 3.12m 10’2”

Displacement 17,256kg 38,043lbs

Ballast Weight 3,990kg 8,796lbs

Keel Weight 2,130kg 4,696lbs

Total Ballast 6,120kg 13,492lbs

Air Draft 21.83m 71’6”

Main 57.5m2 618ft²

Self-tacking jib 45.6m2 491ft²

Furling genoa 140% 72.5m² 780ft²

Engine Yanmar 80hp

Fuel 664 litres 175 US Gals

Water 403 litres 106 US Gals

Outstanding performance pointing to 30°

Variable draft swing keel | 3.12m – 1.00m | 10’3” – 3’3”

Solent Rig (twin headstays)

Self tacking jib

Furling headsails

In-mast furling mainsail

Raised saloon

Central skeg to protect propeller

Semi-balanced twin rudders

Optional fold down bathing platform

Download a brochure

Email Address