The Pearl 73 has won Best Layout in the 19.5–24m category at the 2026 World Yachts Trophies, adding an award to the model only days after its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The trophy was presented on 12 September at the Carlton Cannes Beach Club and recognises the way Pearl has used the yacht's internal volume rather than simply rewarding styling.
Luxury Yacht Guide already covered the Pearl 73's Cannes debut, so the significance here is the subsequent judgement of the layout itself. The arrangement combines four en-suite double cabins with two principal suites, an unusual proposition in this size class that gives owners greater flexibility when family, friends or couples are cruising together.
Two principal suites change the accommodation hierarchy
The forward principal suite has its own private entrance, while a second full-beam suite sits amidships. That means an owner does not have to reserve the only substantially larger cabin for personal use, and it can make the yacht easier to share between two families or between owners and long-stay guests.
The remaining guest cabins are also doubles with private bathrooms, keeping the accommodation standard more consistent through the lower deck. For buyers comparing yachts around 22 metres, that distribution can be more useful than a larger headline cabin count made up of smaller twins or convertible spaces.
An aft galley supports the cockpit and saloon
Pearl has moved the galley aft on the main deck, placing it close to both the saloon and cockpit. The logic is practical as well as social, because food and drinks can be served to either space without repeatedly crossing the interior or isolating whoever is preparing them.
A Riviera-style aft deck extends the social area toward the water and uses fold-down balconies to increase usable width when the yacht is stopped. Those features help explain why the award focuses on layout: the design is trying to make the same spaces work differently at anchor, under way and when entertaining.
Dixon and Kelly Hoppen shape a coordinated design
Dixon Yacht Design is responsible for the exterior styling and naval architecture, while Kelly Hoppen Interiors has developed the new Monochrome interior scheme. Pearl describes the palette as a mix of greys, off-whites and charcoal tones with layered textures, allowing the interior architecture and large areas of glazing to carry more of the visual impact.
The layout and décor are therefore not separate decisions. Larger glazing, the aft-galley arrangement and the relationship between saloon and cockpit all influence how the interior feels, while the restrained material palette helps the different zones read as one connected yacht.
Why the award matters to prospective owners
A design trophy does not replace a sea trial or a detailed inspection, but it can draw attention to features that are difficult to compare from specification tables alone. Owners should still test circulation routes, storage, privacy, crew service paths and how the cabins work with doors open and closed before deciding whether the arrangement suits their own use.
For the Pearl 73, the award reinforces a clear market position: it is using layout ingenuity to compete with larger yachts rather than relying only on speed or styling. The next useful evidence will come from owner operation as the first yachts enter regular service and the four-suite arrangement is tested beyond the show environment.
