Grand Prix Yacht

A top-tier custom racing yacht built above standard offshore-handicap limits, optimized purely for speed under measurement rules such as IRC or the former IMS rather than for cruising or one-design parity. Grand prix yachts use carbon hulls, deep canting or fixed keels, and professional crews; examples include TP52 and maxi-class boats raced in circuits like the 52 Super Series. The term marks the highest investment level of the sport, where a campaign funds new sails and a fresh hull each season to hold a rating edge.