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"Fortissimo"Regatta Maxi in forest green

Martin Hager

 · 22.05.2026

SW9606 Fortissimo launch in Cape Town on 21 May 2026 Matrix Images / Nic Bothma
Southern Wind launched the sixth unit in the SW96 series. "Fortissimo" combines a forest green hull with extensive performance upgrades and was ordered by an experienced owner with regatta ambitions. The yacht is starting her first racing season in the western Mediterranean.
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Southern Wind has launched the sixth 31.41 metre sailing yacht in the SW96 series in Cape Town. "Fortissimo" is travelling the world with a forest green metallic hull and was developed for an owner with strong regatta ambitions. The interior and exterior design comes from Nauta Yachts, while Farr Yacht Design is responsible for the hull lines and structural calculations.

The name of the new building is derived from musical notation and means "play fast, play strong", as the owner explains. The yacht is based on the proven SW96 platformHowever, it has been given technical and aesthetic customisations that reflect a sporty racing approach. With an interior volume of 98 gross tonnes, she can accommodate six guests in three cabins, with one cabin located aft of the saloon. The owner's suite has a dressing area, lounge seating and a dressing table. After delivery in Cape Town, "Fortissimo" will embark on a transfer cruise and spend the summer in the western Mediterranean before making her regatta debut at the Ibiza JoySail later in the year.

Technical focus on racing

"Fortissimo" has a full carbon hull and deck, twin rudders, high-modulus rigging and a lifting keel that varies between 3.4 and 5.5 metres. The Performance-Maxi is equipped with a new J4/Baby-Stay system with drop lock and hydraulic tensioner. A third set of winches has been installed to improve regatta performance. "The additional running backstay winches signal a clear racing intent and transform the bluewater cruiser model into a powerful statement for offshore performance," explains Yann Dabbadie, Technical Manager at Southern Wind.

Interior design and layout

The interior, of which no images have yet been released, offers a contemporary interpretation of the characteristic Southern Wind style. The owner focussed on refining the performance potential of the design. "'Fortissimo' confirms the continued success of the SW96 line," comments Southern Wind CEO Marco Alberti. "With each new yacht, we have been able to further develop the platform while responding to the owners' specific visions."

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"Fortissimo" sails in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean

The owner plans to spend time in the Caribbean and take part in major international regattas in both the Mediterranean and America. "I can't wait to cruise her but I'm also looking forward to chasing her around the race course!" comments the owner enthusiastically. Strength is crucial, especially when racing, and this yacht represents exactly that.

Technical specification "Fortissimo"Technical specification "Fortissimo"

Martin Hager

Martin Hager

Editor in Chief YACHT

Martin Hager is editor-in-chief of the titles YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV and has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag for 20 years. He was born in Heidelberg in 1978 and started sailing at the age of six, in an Opti of course. This was soon followed by 420s, Sprinta Sport and 470s, which he also sailed on the regatta course with his brother. His parents regularly took him on charter trips through the Greek and Balearic Islands. Even at a young age, it was clear to him that he wanted to turn his passion for water sports into a career. After graduating from high school and completing an internship at the Rathje boatbuilding company in Kiel, it was clear that he did not want to become a classic boatbuilder. Instead, he successfully studied shipbuilding and marine engineering in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and focused on yacht design wherever he could. His diploma thesis dealt with the “Testing of a new speed prediction method for sailing yachts”. In 2004, the superyacht magazine BOOTE EXCLUSIV was looking for an editor with technical and nautical background knowledge, a position that was perfect for Martin Hager. The application was successful and a two-year traineeship was arranged. After twelve years as an editor, the editorial team changed and he took over responsibility for BOOTE EXCLUSIV as editor-in-chief in 2017. After long-time YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker moved to the role of publisher, Martin Hager also took over the position of editor-in-chief of Europe's largest sailing magazine YACHT, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, at the beginning of 2023. When he's not working on topics for the two water sports titles, Martin Hager likes to go out on the water himself - preferably with kite and wingfoil equipment or on a little after-work trip across the Alster.

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