Why buyers look just below 24 metres
The area from roughly 23 to 23.99 metres attracts buyers who want the accommodation and capability of a large luxury yacht while remaining within the upper end of Luxury Yacht Guide’s editorial range. It is also a point where yachts begin to offer dedicated crew areas, larger machinery spaces and multiple substantial guest zones.
The phrase “under 24 metres” is used here only as an editorial length classification based on builder-published overall length. Regulatory treatment can depend on flag, use, registered length, coding and other technical definitions, so professional legal and survey advice is required for a specific yacht.
Current yachts to compare
- Arcadia A80 — 23.98m; builder Arcadia Yachts; 6.95m beam; 1.69m draft; 19.0 knots maximum.
- Itama 75 — 23.54m; builder Itama; 5.92m beam; 1.44m draft; 42.5 knots maximum.
- Swan 73 — 23.67m; builder Nautor Swan; 6.12m beam; 3.20m draft.
- Sunreef ULTIMA 66 — 22.00m; builder Sunreef Yachts; 7.25m beam; 1.20m draft.
- Sunreef 70 NEXT — 21.64m; builder Sunreef Yachts; 10.85m beam.
The Arcadia A80 and Itama 75 are both close to 24 metres but use that length in opposite ways. Arcadia prioritises beam, accommodation and deck volume; Itama prioritises open-yacht performance. The Swan 73 is a sailing performance cruiser, while Sunreef’s multihulls use greater beam for living space and stability.
Volume can change dramatically
Overall length is only one dimension. Beam and hull form can transform internal and external volume. A widebody motor yacht, a sailing hull with rig and keel, and a catamaran can all be around 23 metres yet require different berths, haul-out equipment, crew plans and operating budgets.
Crew and operational complexity
Near the top of this size band, dedicated crew accommodation becomes more common. That can improve service and owner privacy but changes annual cost and management. Buyers moving up from smaller owner-operated boats should inspect crew cabins, galley workflow, laundry, stores, service access and machinery spaces as carefully as guest suites.
How to compare 23 metre yachts
Use a requirements list built around the home berth, normal guest numbers, crew plan, passage profile, preferred speed, draft restrictions and expected time at anchor. Then compare builder specifications and inspect the actual yacht or build specification before committing. Similar length does not imply similar ownership.