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Top tips on bluewater adventures

Miguel and Carmen were keen to offer some advice to others contemplating bluewater adventures: “We are now on our third round-the-world cruise and we recommend it wholeheartedly because it is a fantastic experience, but I always say, you don’t need to go so far to have the same sort of enjoyment. "Whatever you do, whether it be a world voyage or a shorter cruise, enjoy the moment and know that when you are sailing, you will see more of the world because being on a boat allows you to go to places that would otherwise be impossible to visit.”

The timescale to fully enjoy a round-the-world voyage depends on the time available, but in Miguel’s opinion, you need 15-16 months minimum - ideally more. Miguel was also eager to point out that choosing a proper, sensible route is important: “We are often asked if sailing around the world is dangerous. It’s a tricky question to answer but I always say that if you choose the proper route and minimise the risks it’s not so dangerous. “For first timers, we highly recommend joining the Oyster World Rally because the organisers do all the planning and they take you on the safest routes, whilst still visiting the most beautiful destinations imaginable.”

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

CARMEN ON BEACH AT PRAIA DO FORTE.

SUNSET IN FRONT OF LEBLON BEACH, MOUNTAIN DOIS IRMAOS.

ALIENA CHARGING UPWIND IN GLORIOUS CONDITIONS.

STUNNING VIEWS OF SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN.

THE WELL-PROPORTIONED AND EXTREMELY VERSATILE OYSTER 595.

“Finally, if you do decide to head off around the world, one of the best pieces of advice we can offer is to choose a comfortable boat – ideally an Oyster – because it is your home!”

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When Trevor Hill started thinking about refitting his Oyster 725/01 Intrepid, for the Oyster World Rally 2022-23, he decided to completely rebuild the yacht’s power systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuel, while also increasing self-sufficiency and range. A former marine systems engineer with the Royal Canadian Navy, later a serial entrepreneur, Hill knew the technology existed to sail silently across oceans, while still being able to enjoy every on board comfort, but it would take a new approach.

His answer was a system with highcapacity, lithium-ion battery banks, generator and inverters, topped off with solar panels permanently installed on a lightweight hard top. The green energy derived from what he calls his ‘solar bimini’ has been transformative, drastically reducing the runtime and servicing of all the mechanical systems and giving hour after hour of silent running. From both the environmental and practical standpoint, it is a winner. “We think we could sail across the whole of the Pacific and arrive with 80-90% of our fuel capacity left,” says Hill.

His starting point was to replace the boat’s ageing gel batteries with 12 lithium-ion batteries of 200 a/h each. He calculated that while on passage, with an estimated steady state load of 40-50a, Intrepid would then be able to sail for 48 hours on battery power alone.

“Then,” he adds, “I started to think that I could augment that further with solar power and last even longer.”

He says he thought: “How can we improve a cockpit with average functionality, which has a dodger with a bimini over it? Waves sometimes came through and we wanted to improve that. We had the idea of making a hard bimini and thought it could be large enough for a significant number of solar panels yet also sexy enough to be a real contributor.” Hill worked with Oyster Palma to commission a hard top design made in carbon. Between them, Oyster, BMComposites and Electromarine, they designed and created a fully integrated, permanent carbon bimini large enough to carry 2,200w of solar panels.

As well as looking sleek and fitting with the lines of the yacht, the bimini features a windscreen that increases shelter and warmth in the cockpit during inclement conditions. To top it all off, the interior was fitted out with speakers and mood lighting.

The magic of solar power

Although solar energy is the magic ingredient in Intrepid’s power system, Trevor also set out to increase or optimise every other element. He upgraded the engine alternator to a 320a unit and doubled the number of chargers on the genset. The electrical configuration was changed so that the new batteries could power much more of the yacht’s systems through three new 4,000w inverters and an auxiliary inverter, giving a total 17,000w of power.

The yacht’s air conditioning, watermaker and main systems were switched over to run on a primary bus. This means, says Hill, “that if I have guests on board, for example, we can run air con in the cabins without the engine or generator running and that doesn’t draw much power.”

In October 2021, Trevor and Judy Hill left Palma on the first leg of their circumnavigation, sailing out of the Mediterranean to Madeira and the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic in November and then joining the Oyster World Rally. By the end of 2022, they had reached South Africa and have been able to gauge how their power generation solutions work over the long haul.

Hill says that when they are passage making, they can go for 60 hours on battery power, topped up only with solar power, provided they don’t run the air con. “That’s all the ship’s load plus autopilot, winches, etc,” he says. “At peak sun, the solar panels are well capable of running these and adding modestly to the batteries. To charge the batteries from near empty to full, however, we need about four hours on the generator and closer to 8 or 10 on the engine alternator.

“But because we built in the capacity to put all the ship’s load on the new inverter bank, we can run everything, from air con, watermaker and appliances to ship’s load, from the batteries at all times. This has allowed us to use air con in the cabins during passages, which we started with gradually but has now become constant. In the heat of the tropics. This was a spectacular benefit to all and made for very comfortable cabins at 22-23°C.

“This is much more power hungry, but still, we only need to run the generator for four hours in a 24 hour period.”

He adds: “The conversion has allowed us to make and store energy much more efficiently but also use it in ways that few yachts of our class can. All in all, the upgrades we made to the electrical system have been excellent and we have used them all, continuously.”

Silent Power

How can we improve a cockpit that isn’t super functional, which has a dodger with a bimini over it? We had the idea of making a hard bimini and thought it could be large enough for a significant number of solar panels yet also sexy enough to be a real contributor.

WORLD CLASS SERVICE

When we say you’re never alone on an Oyster, it’s true. When you buy an Oyster, you become more than just an owner, you’re joining the family and can be reassured that our legendary After Sales service and Technical Support is with you for the journey. Dee Addy leads the After Sales team and we caught up with her to discover what makes our team and services world-class. The Technical Support team are incredibly helpful, always providing detail, insights, technical documents and guidance when needed. They respond immediately to enquiries and, when offshore or at dock, this input is often critical to situations that need understanding and resolution.

OWNER OF OYSTER 575/42 UNTETHERED

Tell us about what your role involves.

I head up the Oyster After Sales team based in Southampton, Wroxham and Ipswich. We provide a one-stop service for Oyster owners, sourcing parts of all shapes and sizes for every Oyster yacht built. To date, we’ve never failed to deliver!

There’s a lot of practical work that goes into after sales, including ordering, packing and shipping parts all over the world. The most rewarding aspect of the job is building relationships with our owners and promptly meeting any requirement they may have.

What attracted you to Oyster?

I lived in Guernsey and then South Africa, before settling in Suffolk to work in Oyster’s Accounts department at Fox’s Marina in Ipswich. I soon moved into After Sales and relocated to Wroxham. I’ve done a bit of sailing and I know a lot about boats, especially Oysters! If I was ever on Mastermind, my specialist subject would be ‘Oyster Yachts – all parts for all models’.

What service does the After Sales team provide to owners?

We provide a one-stop support shop for all Oyster owners throughout their ownership. Providing spares and bespoke parts, we endeavour to ship them out in the quickest and safest way possible, to anywhere in the world. We post most of our orders straight from Oyster Wroxham and source, pack and ship them ourselves to make sure the owners get the highest quality service. Owners and skippers contact us with their parts shopping list and we do the rest.

If I was ever on Mastermind, my specialist subject would be ‘Oyster Yachts – all parts for all models’.

The legendary Oyster After Sales was one of the key drivers behind me buying an Oyster and now I have worked closely with them in supporting Uhuru’s circumnavigation, they are the reason my next purchase will be another Oyster. They bring order and simplicity to the complex task of maintaining a yacht underway in far-flung locations and are my lifeline when we need parts in an emergency.

OWNER OF OYSTER 62/20 UHURU

The members of the After Sales team clearly have a varied job, tell us more about what is involved…

Working in After Sales is really rewarding but it’s not an easy job. Behind the scenes, there are various elements involved; research and gathering information; sourcing the correct parts; ordering; packing; and shipping. The team is part client support and part detective – working to find a specific part for a specific boat that could be up to 49 years old takes time and effort, but when you get that lightbulb moment – which we always do – it is so worth it!

One member of the team, Polly Dawson, is based in Southampton and Kate Pryce (who used to be an Oyster boat builder), Paul Norris and myself are based in Wroxham. Working from the yards means we have additional support from other departments, which is invaluable when working on a challenging order. Our final member of the team, Jacqui Evans, works in Ipswich where our new yachts are handed over. In the last five years, we have bought and shipped parts to over 500 different yachts worldwide – it’s a huge task that requires lots of planning and juggling of time –there’s certainly never a dull day in the office! The team is part client support and part detective – working to find a specific part for a specific boat that could be up to 49 years old takes time and effort, but when you get that lightbulb moment it is so worth it!

So, the team can support any Oyster, regardless of their age, model or where they are in the world?

Absolutely – we are a fully global service, supporting every Oyster owner, no matter how old their yacht or model is. That’s part of what makes the job so interesting! One day we are supporting the handover of a brand-new Oyster 565 and the next, we are trying to source a specific hinge replacement for an over 30years old Holman and Pye model – I’ve never worked on a job this varied and exciting!

The earlier boats are truly stunning and are so well-crafted that they still sail amazingly now. The owners of these boats adore them, so we work hard to make

I spoke to Oyster at 9am and at 11am I got a confirmation that my part will be in Annapolis in two days. I appreciate your amazing service, your kind nature and expertise.

OWNER OF OYSTER 56/47 SV GRATEFUL

Sourcing parts for older boats takes lots of time and research as it’s not as simple as looking down a list on our records. Oysters do share some common components, but each build also has a lot of customised parts too, so looking for specific replacements can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack, but it’s so worth it when we get a solution.

The earlier boats are truly stunning and are so well-crafted that they still sail amazingly now, so we work hard to make sure they can stay on the water for another 50 years of adventure.

As for supporting Oysters wherever they are in the world – absolutely. We are a completely international service and keep a range of spares like pumps, service kits, anodes and filters, in our offices so that we can ship them immediately when required. No matter where you are, we will strive to get your orders to a convenient place for you, as quickly as we can.

You’ve been described by owners as “the best After Sales team in the world”, why do you think that is?

We genuinely care about every Oyster owner like they are family – and as a team, we work hard to build strong relationships and develop trust in our service. Owners know we are reliable and speedy and we are proud of that reputation. The relationships we build with our owners are so important. Our goal is to always do our absolute best for them by going above and beyond.

We strongly believe that we are the best in the industry for overall support for bluewater cruising yachts and this support stands out to anyone who is looking to buy an Oyster. Buying and sailing a yacht is a huge undertaking but knowing that the After Sales team is just a call away feels like having a safety net around you. Knowing that you’re never alone and that we will do our utmost to support you, wherever you are in the world, is such reassurance for the Oyster family.

Are there any stand-out requests that you have met while working at Oyster?

We did ship out a drum kit to Antigua for an Oyster World Rally boat a few years ago, which is not one of our usual After Sales services! In short, the After Sales service provided by Oyster is brilliant. It is an essential consolidated service with a helpful and friendly team for the initial kit-out of the yacht as well as continued support for any items or spares required.

OWNER OF OYSTER 55/19 BOTONY BAY

What is so special about the level of service we offer owners?

Once the boat is handed over, owners know that we’re not saying goodbye to them – we stay connected until the day they leave the Oyster family, which for many is never and that relationship is unique in our industry!

We also provide support for the Oyster World Rally – when we say it’s a fullysupported circumnavigation, we really mean it. Completing a lap of the world is a massive undertaking, you can never predict what will happen or what conditions you might encounter. We offer the fleet expert advice on what spares they are likely to need, especially for longer passages like the Pacific crossing, provide them with as many parts as they want and help prepare them for all situations.

We stay connected until the day they leave the Oyster family, which for many is never!

And finally, what is so special about working for Oyster?

I love the challenge of my job and the reward I feel when I get that eureka moment! There’s a real sense of pride in the After Sales department, which is reflected around the business. We all work hard for each other and even harder for our owners, I’m lucky to have such a great team who put themselves out there and constantly go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service to our owners.

It is wonderful to have Oyster After Sales support! It truly makes owning an Oyster a joy in my life.

OWNER OF OYSTER 55/19 BOTANY BAY

NEW LAUNCHES

Over the years, we have launched hundreds of new Oysters into the world and that feeling of joy never gets old. The excitement and delight on the faces of the proud new owners is fantastic to see - whether it is their first Oyster or their third or fourth.

What unites them is the realisation of the dream of owning an outstanding bluewater yacht that is capable of everything from coastal cruising in home waters to a full-blown circumnavigation of the globe with the Oyster World Rally. Some owners are bitten by the Oyster bug at a young age and others come to us later in life, sometimes with the ocean in their blood, sometimes as complete novices. We welcome everyone – anyone who loves our yachts and the sea becomes part of our ever-growing Oyster family.

We work hard to make the experience of commissioning and building an Oyster a deeply engaging and immersive. Your personal Project Manager will guide you through every step, bringing their expertise to everything from interior finishes to the latest sailing technology. They are at your side for every decision and will be at the build yard to welcome you when you come to see your yacht in progress. Owners often discover a deeper connection with their boat when they meet our designers, master craftspeople and project managers. Seeing first-hand the time-honoured craft skills and attention to detail that goes into every element of their yacht can be a memorable and moving experience. Adding personal details to the design and finish cements the bond before the yacht has even touched water.

But the build is just the beginning of the story – the rest is there for you to write, whether you are looking for adventure on the high seas or just want to anchor in secluded bays and soak up the sun. Whatever your motivations, we hope thse stories of our recent new owners and their Oyster yachts will inspire you to join us.

OYSTER 495/03

SEASHELLS III

OWNER: GRAHAM AND HELEN WOOD PROJECT MANAGER: OLIVER ESSEX HANDOVER: OCTOBER 2022

As the proud owner of an Oyster 46, Graham Wood has been part of the Oyster family for many years. With 29 Oyster 46s launched between 2005-2012, this Rob Humphreys designed replacement for the 45/47, with its wider beam aft, larger owner’s cabin, longer waterline and bigger rig, foreshadowed the design of the new Oyster 495. Not surprisingly, when Graham decided to upgrade to his next yacht, he picked the new generation 495.

“Having had nothing but great experiences with our 46 and the unrivalled support the company offered us during our ownership, it wasn’t a difficult choice,” he told us. “I ordered the 495 off plan before she was launched,” he continued. “I had great confidence in what Oyster would produce in terms of the design, build, attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into these yachts. After Eddie Jordan, I was the first customer to buy one!”

Her manageable size was important – perfect for the couple to cruise on their own – along with the simple functionality and classic Oyster deck and cockpit layout. She boasts all the classic Oyster design cues, with the latest advances in technology and finishes. Following a trip to the Caribbean in December, Graham and his wife plan to focus on cruising in the Mediterranean with their family, including a growing crew of grandchildren.

PROJECT MANAGER’S COMMENTS:

Graham knew what he was looking for when he chose the 495, a fantastic example of the new generation Oysters, in both performance and style. The owners chose stylish, satin varnished oak joinery throughout, with walnut and holly soles. The interiors offer the high standards of comfort and luxury the owners wanted, fitted out for ease of use, from the u-shaped galley to the beautiful ensuite guest cabins. Oyster’s reputation for safety and reliability was key to the owners’ decision to choose the 495.

Graham wished to consider the environmental impact of his new yacht, so 495/03 features a first for Oyster – a Flexiteek deck. This is a synthetic alternative to teak, made from polymers that are moulded to look and behave like traditional wood. It is longlasting and 35% lighter than natural wood, which also benefits performance.

The handover took place on the Solent on a beautiful October day. We set out from the harbour in light winds, which built to a nice afternoon sea breeze that gave the owners a good feel for how their yacht handles. Graham and his wife were very pleased with her, commenting on her great lines and lovely bright interiors below decks.

I am very happy with the design – the cockpit and the owner’s cabin are best in class. She handles very well… and can be sailed safely by a couple which is important for us.

GRAHAM WOOD

OYSTER 565/10

HERMIONE III

OWNERS: PHILIP AND SARAH YARROW PROJECT MANAGER: LUKE PORTER HANDOVER: AUGUST 2022

Experienced sailors Philip and Sarah Yarrow were looking for a larger yacht that they could comfortably sail around the world on their post-retirement adventures. They had long considered an Oyster with one important factor in mind. “We considered many other yachts but nothing matched Oyster’s build quality,” explained Philip. The chance to take part in a voyage of a lifetime such as the Oyster World Rally settled it, and they chose the impressive, awardwinning 565. Not only can they handle her easily themselves, but there is also an abundance of space for friends and family to join their adventures.

Next summer, the couple plan to take Hermione III to explore the Balearics and then participate in the Oyster Palma Regatta in September. They will sail to the Canaries for the ARC in November, before setting sail in the Oyster World Rally from Antigua in January 2024.

“We have always dreamed of sailing around the world,” Sarah told us. “Oyster are helping us achieve that dream. We are very excited, and the Oyster team is guiding us through the process with expert training and helping us to find an experienced crew. Of course, they have also built us a truly beautiful yacht with which to undertake this adventure!”

On the build itself, Philip commented: “It is so unusual to experience a project where everything is so smoothly orchestrated. We have been blown away by all the small details – we had not expected the designer cutlery, bespoke crockery or the dining chairs hidden beneath the companionway. Or the amazing convenience of having all the yacht’s system manuals uploaded onto a tablet for us. So many things were above and beyond expectation.”

“We’d like to say a special thank you to our fantastic project manager, Luke Porter,” adds Sarah. “He has been an invaluable guide to help us achieve our dream of sailing around the world.”

PROJECT MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The owners specified Hermione III with the idea of circumnavigating in comfort, aboard a real home from home. At the same time, everything is set up for shorthanded sailing, with powered winches and an extensive sail locker, perfect whether they are island hopping in the Mediterranean or crossing the Pacific.

Philip and Sarah really enjoyed the build process. They appreciated the team’s meticulous attention to detail, and they brought their own ideas to the look of the yacht, the interior finishes and the colour scheme. Sarah set her heart on a navy hull and, after much discussion, we moulded the hull in white and then finished her with a stunning navy wrap. Below decks, they chose a striking walnut interior with beautiful, contrasting soft furnishings to create an elegant and inviting space. They also added practical details to make her perfect for bluewater adventures, including a watermaker, fuel polisher and an upgraded electrical system with a hydro-generator to capture renewable power.

We are delighted with Hermione, and she has far exceeded our expectations on many, many levels. But beyond that, it has been the attention to detail and genuine kindness of the Oyster team that has made our build experience really wonderful.

PHILLIP YARROW

OYSTER 565/11

BERNOULLI

OWNER: MARTIN AND TARA PERRY PROJECT MANAGER: OLIVER ESSEX HANDOVER: OCTOBER 2022

To say Martin and Tara Perry are close personal friends of Oyster is something of an understatement. In fact, they were our first charter booking when our service started over 20 years ago, with Oyster’s now COO, Paul Adamson, as skipper. Over the years, they have chartered Oysters in the Mediterranean and Caribbean and enjoyed fantastic adventures on them. As fans of the combination of luxury, strength and sailing capability of Oysters, there was only one choice when they decided to invest in their own yacht.

“I always promised myself a boat when I was sure that she would not be left in a marina and we had time to make the boat a full part of our lifestyle. As I turned 60 this year, it was time to reprioritise and leave my business interests to others!”

The 565 ticked all the boxes for the couple – most importantly, she is manageable with two people and without a crew.

“She makes a very comfortable home for two people; with everything you could need on board. She has excellent sailing capability with scope for downwind sails and plenty of space for visitors and family.” At first, they believed they had over-ordered on spares, toys and extras but everything has been stored so easily, leaving ample room in the lazarette for what Martin calls “the much-debated bean bag.” Martin chose the name Bernoulli in honour of Swiss mathematician and physicist Daniel Bernoulli, whose eponymous principle explains how airflow and negative pressure create a sail’s driving force.

PROJECT MANAGER’S COMMENTS

With so much experience with Oyster yachts, the owners had very strong ideas about how they wanted theirs to look and feel. Martin completed an Atlantic Crossing on 565-01 Panthalassa in 2021 and became very familiar with the boat, which gave him confidence in his choice of the 565.

The handover took place in Ipswich on a very sunny, warm October day, starting with a light beat out of the harbour with lunch underway. As the sea breeze filled in, we sailed back into Felixstowe under spinnaker – as good as it gets. I’m sure Bernoulli himself would have been impressed with the perfect demonstration of his principle!

In the short term, the owners are heading to Palma, Mallorca, where they have friends and the Oyster Service team, whom they expect to be invaluable as they settle in and tweak Bernoulli’s set-up. From there they will visit old haunts in Greece and then make an Atlantic crossing for a season or more in the Caribbean and possibly beyond.

I am waking up with a smile on my face every morning and I can’t wait to get more sailing miles under our keel. Living aboard is a pleasure and I am very happy with my new second home.

MARTIN PERRY