8 minute read
LIFE
5 NEWS
What’s happening in the world of Oyster? Meet the newest members of the family and hear about the ongoing success of the Oyster 565.
9 UPCOMING EVENTS 2021 10 PALMA REGATTA 2021
12 OYSTER WORLD RALLY 2022–2023
Discover what lies in store on the voyage of a lifetime as 32 Oyster owners prepare themselves and their yachts for the ultimate adventure.
22 OWNER’S STORY – UHURU
Join owner James Ashwell on a story of unexpected adventure in some of the most remote places on the planet.
36 WHY CHARTER?
Everyone wins – chartering is a great way to make your yacht work harder and the ideal route to try before-you-buy.
42 OWNER’S STORY – MASTEGOT
Helena de Felipe Sempere and Pau Serracanta share their experiences as they move family home from land to sea during the pandemic and tell us their future plans for circumnavigating.
48 DESTINATION MAINE
With 3,500 miles to explore, our experts share the secrets of Maine and suggest an itinerary that lets you enjoy it in a suitably laid-back style.
56 Q&A: THE ART & CRAFT OF BOATBUILDING
Matt Cook, Assistant Joinery Manager at Wroxham explains the craftsmanship and passion that go into our yachts to make them more than the sum of their parts.
60 OWNER’S STORY – CHIONE
Jorgen Kjaernes and his family are dedicated members of the Oyster family – a trusting relationship that spans three generations and three different Oyster models.
30 THE NEW OYSTER 495
Oyster Founder Richard Matthews explains the genesis of our new 50 foot yacht that is setting the bar in its class.
68 THE POWER OF SUSTAINABILITY
With sustainability rapidly rising to the top of everyone’s agenda, we consider the options available to create a sustainable future for yachting.
74 OWNER’S STORY – PERLE DI NAUTILUS
For Domenic Pilla and Louise de Serres, choosing their original Oyster 575 was inevitable. And when they decided to upgrade, the choice was simple.
80 A GRAND TOURER FOR THE OCEAN
How do you improve on perfection? Tom Humphreys talks through the collaborative approach and design process behind our new high-performance 885GT.
86 NEW LAUNCHES
If you have taken ownership of your own Oyster, you know it all starts with the build. Our legendary project managers talk us through five recent yacht deliveries to delighted new owners.
95 THE OYSTER FLEET
Life-changing. Globe-conquering. Award-winning. The Oyster Fleet is home to the world’s finest bluewater sailing yachts. Discover what makes each model so special, including the new 565.
113 MEET THE TEAM
114 OYSTER YACHT CHARTER
118 OYSTER BROKERAGE
130 OYSTER AFTER SALES
132 OYSTER SERVICE
134 OYSTER CREW
136 CONTACT US
I hope you and your family have come through this difficult year safe and in good health. When I sat down to write the introduction to the previous edition of Oyster Life, it was with high hopes for 2020. Despite everything that has happened, happily many of those hopes have been realised. My thanks go out to everyone at Oyster and in the Oyster family – everyone has pulled together and we have adapted and changed to meet each new challenge.
There is a real sense of carpe diem in the air and we have all become more agile, finding new ways to do the things we have always taken for granted. We have sorely missed the chance to catch up with our friends at major boat shows around the world. In response, we held our first Private Views in Southampton and Palma. Both were a great success and we have already confirmed more dates for 2021.
Thankfully, there was some respite with a summer of sailing – at times, being aboard Lush felt like the safest place to be! It seems lots of owners have lived on their yachts through the pandemic – testament to the well-provisioned and well-equipped liveaboard design that is at the heart of Oyster’s blue water DNA. We had some memorable times sailing around the UK and cruising in the Mediterranean with family and friends – we are already making plans for new adventures next year. The new sailing season Down Under is in full swing and our Oyster friends there are looking forward to the America’s Cup in early 2021. I hope you took the chance to get out on the water and enjoy your Oyster too.
The pandemic has driven change throughout the business and we have been fortunate to come through in great shape. The weather ahead may continue to be unpredictable, but Oyster is very much on the right heading.
We restarted production in late April and with build bays and order books full, we are going from strength to strength. It will be welcome news for owners that Oyster residuals are holding firm and we have sold a record number of brokerage boats – driven, in part I imagine, by the call of the sea that we all felt so strongly during lockdown. Our new models have inspired great demand and sales of new yachts are up. We are proud to have confirmed orders for our 14th 885 (with four in-build) and our 14th 565, not to mention five 595s. As a result, we are scaling up our workforce sustainably to manage demand. I am delighted to confirm we are investing in more apprentices to continue our proud boat-building traditions, ensuring they are trained in time-honoured craft skills by our finest master craftspeople.
Today, our company vision feels more relevant than ever: we will build the world’s finest bluewater cruising yachts and business to make life-changing adventures possible for our passionate global family of owners.
A YEAR OF COVID, CARPE DIEM & CHANGE
I continue to be immensely proud of our fleet. As the new owner of Oyster, I made a commitment to invest in new models. This year we have developed the exciting new Oyster 885GT in collaboration with one of our owners. And the much anticipated Oyster 495 will set a new benchmark for the 50 foot market – find out more about both these remarkable yachts in this issue. The first 595s also launch in 2021 – six owners were so convinced by its potential and capabilities, they ordered off-plan.
A fleet of over 30 Oysters sets off on the Oyster World Rally in January 2022. With entrants from around the globe, as well as a number of children along for the ride, preparations and training continue apace. For all you aspiring circumnavigators out there, sadly it is too late to join them this time. But if you want to take up the challenge why not consider the 2024-25 rally? Be quick – places for this unique, once-in-a-lifetime trip are in huge demand.
Owning an Oyster is a way of life and this issue of Oyster Life captures the stories of the people, the boats and the oceans we all love. I hope you enjoy reading our latest news, the adventures of fellow owners, discovering new models and upcoming events and regattas. We have big plans for the New Year and, as this year has shown, we will continue to adapt to overcome the challenges in true Oyster spirit. We look forward to hearing about your plans and your adventures when you return from the far corners of the world. Rest assured, we will be here to support you wherever the wind takes you.
Fair winds.
RICHARD HADIDA CEO AND OWNER
OYSTER YACHTS
There’s family. And there’s Oyster Family.
Being part of the Oyster Family is a big part of owning an Oyster. We would love to share pictures and stories of your adventures to inspire others. Please get in touch with us at community@oysteryachts.com to share your images and stories, or tag us on social media using @oysteryachts and #OysterYachts with anything you would like to share.
