SW96 Liberty to Debut at St. Barths Bucket

The 2025 St. Barths Bucket regatta saw three days of unusually light winds, posing a significant challenge for participants. Despite these trying conditions, the SW96 Liberty excelled, claiming a notable second-place finish in the Corinthian “L'Esprit” class.

Jim Schmicker, serving as both naval architect and mainsail trimmer, lauded Liberty's performance: “Libertyproved outstanding in the light and difficult conditions. Her downwind speed with just the Code Zero and main impressed, earning compliments from competitors. Her agility and acceleration were critical factors in our success.”

Organizers adjusted course lengths due to the light breeze, resulting in pursuit races for the 26 competing superyachts, ranging from 28 to 56 meters.

The owner expressed pride in Liberty's debut: “Her performance exceeded my expectations, particularly under such challenging conditions. The dedication of our crew and the expertise of Jim Schmicker contributed significantly to our success.”

Andrea Micheli, CCO and trimmer, highlighted Liberty's versatility: “She effortlessly transitioned from competitive racing to cruising mode within 24 hours, demonstrating her perfect blend of comfort and performance.”

Liberty now sets her sights on the upcoming SW Rendezvous and Trophy, part of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta (May 27–31, 2025). This event is shaping up to be historic, with an unprecedented number of Southern Wind yachts expected to compete in the Corinthian Spirit format. Ten yachts have already confirmed, including SW108 Gelliceaux and SW105 Kiboko.

Three additional yachts are preparing to join, making this the largest Southern Wind fleet ever assembled, accounting for 70% of the entire Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta fleet. Fresh off her triumphant St. Barths performance, Liberty is primed for another strong showing.

Southern Wind is a boutique bluewater sailing yacht shipyard founded in Cape Town in 1991. Since its foundation, SWS has specialized in the production of semi-custom high-performance superyachts.