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Southerly 590
Designer: Dubois  ·  Builder: Discovery Yachts  ·  First built: 2011
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About the Southerly 590

Designed for serious offshore cruising, the Southerly 590 represents the flagship of the renowned Southerly range, a British lineup celebrated for its innovative lifting keel technology. This distinctive feature allows the boat to operate in shallow tidal waters while still delivering the deep-draft performance needed for blue-water passages — a combination that has earned Southerly a loyal following among cruising sailors who refuse to compromise between coastal accessibility and offshore capability. The 590 carries all the hallmarks of the broader Southerly philosophy: a focus on comfortable liveaboard cruising, thoughtful interior arrangements, and the confidence to take on long-distance passages. As the largest model in the range, it is built for experienced sailors with ambitious cruising plans, offering the space and systems typically associated with expedition-level voyaging. Southerly's reputation has been built over decades of British sailboat craftsmanship, and the 590 sits at the pinnacle of that heritage. For buyers researching a substantial cruising yacht capable of everything from navigating shallow anchorages to crossing oceans, the Southerly 590 is a compelling and distinctive choice worth serious consideration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 58.20 ft / 17.74 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 52.49 ft / 16.00 m
Beam 17.06 ft / 5.20 m
Max Draft 10.73 ft / 3.27 m
Min Draft 3.51 ft / 1.07 m
Displacement 58,755.00 lb / 26,651 kg
Ballast 18,408.00 lb / 8,350 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,624.00 ft² / 150.87 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing keel w/dual rudders
Rigging Type Solent
Construction GRP w/poly sandwich deck
Designer Dubois
Builder Discovery Yachts
First Built 2011
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
17.27
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
38.33
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.76
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 9.71
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 3.0
How It Compares

vs. Oyster 56, Oyster 565, Swan 56

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Southerly 590 ★
58.2 ft
Oyster 56
57.3 ft
Oyster 565
59.4 ft
Swan 56
57.5 ft
LWL
Southerly 590 ★
52.5 ft
Oyster 56
47.5 ft
Oyster 565
52.3 ft
Swan 56
49.5 ft
Beam
Southerly 590 ★
17.1 ft
Oyster 56
16.2 ft
Oyster 565
16.8 ft
Swan 56
15.5 ft
Displacement
Southerly 590 ★
58 lbs
Oyster 56
57 lbs
Oyster 565
56 lbs
Swan 56
43 lbs
Ballast
Southerly 590 ★
18 lbs
Oyster 56
17 lbs
Oyster 565
14 lbs
Swan 56
13 lbs
Sail Area
Southerly 590 ★
1 sq ft
Oyster 56
1 sq ft
Oyster 565
1 sq ft
Swan 56
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Southerly 590 ★
17.3
Oyster 56
15.3
Oyster 565
19.3
Swan 56
19.5
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Southerly 590 ★
38.3
Oyster 56
43.2
Oyster 565
37.3
Swan 56
33.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Southerly 590 ★
1.76
Oyster 56
1.68
Oyster 565
1.76
Swan 56
1.78
Hull Speed
Southerly 590 ★
9.7 kts
Oyster 56
9.2 kts
Oyster 565
9.7 kts
Swan 56
9.4 kts
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