What the fleet has seen
The Southerly 420, as the fleet has seen it
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Southerly 420 is a 12.9-meter fractional sloop designed by Rob Humphreys and built by Northshore Yachts Ltd. from 2010 onward, featuring a swing keel that allows for a variable draft of 2.7 meters. Its displacement is 11,799 kg. Aboard *Distant Shores TV*, Paul and Sheryl Shard used their Southerly 42 to navigate shallow waters in the Crooked Acklands group in The Bahamas, beaching the boat in as little as one foot of water. They deployed a stern anchor before grounding the hull at two knots, then lowered the keel into the sand for stability and set a Delta anchor from the bow. This technique allowed access to secluded, shallow-water anchorages inaccessible to standard cruising boats. The crew commissioned their new Southerly 42 in mid-November, conducting sea trials in the Solent to test rigging, engine performance, and sail handling. They worked with North Shores technicians to address a snag list, including adjusting rigging tension after initial stretch. The boat departed Chichester on November 23rd for a voyage toward Lisbon, planning to continue to the Canary Islands and then cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
