Southerly 480, MANUKA

Broker’s Comments

MANUKA presents a rare opportunity to own a Southerly 480, built by Discovery Shipyard. She is a yacht constructed to the highest standards and is turnkey ready to set sail today.

There is nowhere you can’t go with the Southerly 480. She caters to those who wish to sail wherever they please, thanks to her swing keel system, which allows the draft to vary between just 1.00m and 3.12m. This opens endless possibilities, from the powder-white beaches of the Bahamas to the beautiful estuaries of the UK.

On deck, the rig features a powerful mainsail and a Solent rig with both a self-tacking jib and a larger genoa. This provides a versatile setup for both bluewater and coastal sailing. The cockpit is spacious yet secure, with comfortable seating and a large table for entertaining guests in style. Twin wheels offer excellent lines of sight, as well as dedicated sail control areas—ideal for short-handed sailing.
Below deck, you are immediately greeted by excellent panoramic views, thanks to the large saloon windows that flood the space with natural light. MANUKA can sleep six and features a contemporary design throughout. This two-cabin version includes a generous forward owner’s cabin with a large desk area and en-suite heads. The raised saloon comfortably seats six and offers panoramic views, while the raised chart table is particularly useful in poor weather. The aft cabin features a large centreline double berth, ample storage, and en-suite. To port, the galley provides a protected and practical space for cooking at sea.

MANUKA was the last S480 built at Discovery Shipyard and is the first to come onto the open market here in the UK. She is simply stunning throughout. Due to COVID, she was not launched until 2021 and has since been used very lightly, so remains in near-new condition. The owners have maintained her with great care, carrying out updates and maintenance as required. Her specification includes everything needed to cross oceans or live off-grid in stunning locations around the world.

Note

Name to be retained by vendor.

Owner’s Comments

After many years of competitive RORC racing (including several Fastnet races), combined with summer chartering with my wife in warmer climates, I decided to hang up the racing boots and suggested to my wife that we go world cruising – to which she agreed.

The decision was driven by the fact that, in 2018, my wife and I were both fortunate enough to retire early. Our children had already flown the nest to begin their own life journeys, so, now retired, we felt it was finally time to realise one of our greatest dreams – to circumnavigate the world.

Towards the end of 2018, our search began for a bluewater cruiser that could take us anywhere in the world, in any weather, safely – and of course, in luxurious comfort.

Our chosen yacht would need to be extremely seaworthy and easy to operate as a husband-and-wife team, or when sailing with less experienced crew. It also had to enable us to be completely self-sufficient and “off-grid” for extended periods. Finally, we wanted a yacht with beautifully clean lines, a modern and spacious interior, and a design that would turn heads – a yacht that would make people stop and say, “Wow!”

After a great deal (and I mean a great deal) of research and conversations with like-minded seafarers, we finally settled on the Southerly 480 with lifting keel.

The Southerly 480 is a superb bluewater yacht, and the lifting keel allows access to shallow anchorages that other yachts cannot reach – even enabling us to take the ground if needed. The hull shape is classic and exceptionally seaworthy, and the twin headsail Solent rig is both practical and versatile for short-handed upwind or downwind sailing.

In 2019, we commissioned Discovery Yachts Group to build MANUKA.

Throughout the build process, we worked very closely with Discovery’s design and build teams to specify MANUKA from the ground up, tailored exactly to our requirements. As a skipper, being involved at every stage of the build was a real bonus. The craftsmanship and skill of the Discovery team were first-class, and they were always open to new ideas – such as lengthening the bed in the owner’s cabin (I’m 6ft 6”), and designing a pivoting solar panel plinth on the davits, so we could keep the decks clean. These small details really do matter.

Due to COVID, the build took a little longer than expected – but in hindsight, which was a blessing in disguise, as nothing was ever rushed, and we had more time to carefully consider the layout and onboard systems. MANUKA was finally launched in August 2021.

The standard of fit and finish – particularly the joinery and marquetry – is exceptional, exactly what you would expect from a premium yacht. But it wasn’t until we were sailing and living aboard that we truly appreciated how well the layout and systems worked together to make life at sea and at anchor such a pleasure – especially when enjoying a sundowner on the aft deck.

Sailing MANUKA double-handed is effortless, with in-mast furling and furling headsails, and even with just the two of us, bow and stern thrusters make docking as stress-free as it could be. As our circumnavigation plans developed, we first focused on building experience and confidence by cruising along the South Coast of the UK, the Channel Islands, and the French coastline – which, as any sailor knows, is a true test of any yacht. MANUKA passed with flying colours, just as we knew she would. Nothing fazed her.

Everything was progressing perfectly until early 2023, when our plans had to be put on hold due to the long illness of a close family member – making it impossible to be halfway across an ocean. Nonetheless, we continued sailing in UK and French waters, which we have done to this day.
Sadly, that delay, along with some personal health concerns, has affected our ability to ‘cast off’ for good. But we both feel that MANUKA deserves the opportunity to fulfil her purpose – to sail the oceans of the world.

With all the hard work already done, MANUKA presents her next owner with a true bluewater passage-maker, ready to go anywhere, right now. I have no doubt she will care for and delight her new owners, wherever they choose to venture, just as she has done for us.

We have maintained MANUKA to the highest standards. She has been professionally cared for by a trusted local firm I’ve used for over 30 years. She has been lifted out each winter, and anodes have been replaced twice annually – whether they needed it or not.

We will leave MANUKA with heavy hearts, as we pursue new adventures – both at sea and on land.