Yacht (M/Y, S/Y)

A yacht is a pleasure vessel, prefixed M/Y for a motor yacht driven by engines and S/Y for a sailing yacht driven mainly by sail. The split is propulsion: an M/Y trades range and speed for sail handling, while an S/Y carries a mast and rig and uses an auxiliary engine for maneuvering. Length spans day boats under 10 meters to superyachts above 24 meters and megayachts past 100 meters, like the 180 meter Azzam delivered by Lurssen in 2013. Above 24 meters in load line length, commercial and large private yachts fall under the Red Ensign Group Large Yacht Code (LY3) and full SOLAS-style survey, which sets construction, stability, and crewing standards.