Yacht Charter Glossary
Draft
Also known as: Draught · Yacht Draft · Vessel Draft
Last updated August 2026
Full explanation
Draft is the constraint that determines where a yacht can anchor or moor.
Lakka on Paxos is 3 to 4 metres over sand, Vathy on Ithaca 3.5 to 4 off the town, Mongonisi 3 to 6, the Despotiko channel off Antiparos 4 to 9: a catamaran drawing a metre and a half lies in all of them, a sailing yacht drawing three picks its spot with care.
This single specification opens or closes whole categories of Greek anchorages. Draft by yacht type, typical: small motor yachts (24-30m): 1.8-2.3m.
Large motor yachts (40-55m): 2.4-3.2m.
Sailing yachts (most): 2.5-4.5m (deeper because of the keel for sailing performance).
Catamarans: 1.2-1.5m (no keel - flat bottom).
Trawler yachts: 2.0-2.8m. Greek anchorages where draft matters most, from the house guides: the Despotiko channel off Antiparos (4 to 9 m over sand), Lakka and Longos on Paxos (3 to 4 m), Mongonisi (3 to 6 m), Vathy on Ithaca (3.5 to 4 m), Kolona on Kythnos (3 to 10 m), Naxos harbour (4 to 7 m).
Catamarans lie close in at all of these; deep-draft sailing yachts anchor further out. Draft trade-off: sailing yachts have deep draft because the keel provides sailing performance and counterbalance to the mast.
Motor yachts can have shallower drafts because they don't need that.
But all yachts above 35m typically have 2.4m+ draft to provide enough underwater volume for crew quarters and machinery.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
If your itinerary includes the shallow anchorages (the Despotiko channel, the north coast of Paxos, the inner harbours of Ithaca and Meganisi), draft is the single most important spec. A party that wants the Small Cyclades or the inner Ionian close in needs a catamaran or a shallow-draft motor yacht.
Worked examples
Yacht-anchorage compatibility, the Despotiko channel
Despotiko, from the Paros guide: 4 to 9 metres over sand with excellent holding, one of the most protected anchorages in the southern Cyclades in a northerly. A catamaran drawing 1.5 metres lies in the shallow end by the beach; a sailing yacht drawing 3 metres anchors in the deeper middle; a 40 metre motor yacht drawing more than that lies outside and tenders in.
Frequently asked
About draft
Why do sailing yachts have deeper draft than motor yachts?
The deep keel of a sailing yacht provides counterbalance to the mast (preventing tipping under sail) and improves windward sailing performance. Motor yachts don't have sails, so they don't need deep keels - only enough hull depth for stability and machinery.
How shallow can catamarans go?
Most luxury catamarans have 1.2-1.5m draft. Some performance catamarans with retractable daggerboards can reduce to under 1m. This is the major reason families with shallow-anchorage preference choose catamarans.
Does draft change when the yacht is loaded?
Slightly. A fully fuelled, fully provisioned yacht with 12 guests aboard sits a few centimetres deeper than the empty figure. Specs usually quote 'full load' draft, which is the safest planning number.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
LOA (Length Overall)
LOA is the total length of a yacht from the foremost point of the bow to the aftmost point of the stern, mea…
Beam
Beam is the maximum width of a yacht's hull, measured at the widest point. Wider beam means more interior vo…
Catamaran
A catamaran is a twin-hulled yacht offering exceptional stability, shallow draft, and large deck areas. Mode…
Sailing Yacht
A sailing yacht is a yacht equipped with masts and sails as its primary propulsion. Modern luxury sailing ya…
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