Tested by TOBY HODGES
Where: The Solent, English Channel and Channel Islands
Conditions: from 5-20+ knots in a range of conditions and waters
Model: hull number one, with carbon spars, an in-mast hydraulic furling mainsail and upgraded carbon Spectra sails
Good things come to those who wait. After tirelessly chasing the breeze for over 100 miles, we found our just rewards. It was a hazy, moody morning as I rose from the privileged comfort of the aft berth. Twin thrusters were pushing us effortlessly off the dock in Guernsey, our late night stopover, as I took my coffee from the galley espresso machine up on deck, noting how quickly and easily I was beginning to enjoy such creature comforts.
Once out past the harbour arms, white caps indicated a solid breeze. The sails were unfurled at the push of a button and Carpe Diem, Oyster 495 number one, began to heel and power up properly, as if finally set free. This was the moment for me that Oyster's latest design came alive and transformed into what is arguably the definitive modern day luxury distance cruiser.
It has been a long, highly publicised build up to the launch of Oyster's first boat fully conceived in the four years under software entrepreneur Richard Hadida's tenureship. This is a model the CEO has talked about from the start, one to widen the luxury brand's net and bring more, and younger, people on board. It seems that strategy is already working, as, out of the 15 already sold around the world, only two are to existing Oyster owners.
This is also the smallest yacht the Southampton firm has developed from scratch since 2005, and warranted a new yard in Hythe to take production in-house and build up to a schedule of 12 495s a year.
49FT FOR THE 49TH YEAR
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Yachting World.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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THE NEXT CHAPTER
THE ARCHETYPAL SCHOONER CRUISER-RACER IS BACK ON THE CARIBBEAN CIRCUIT. NIGEL SHARP JOINED ADELA'S CREW FOR ITS FIRST REGATTA IN FIVE YEARS, THE ANTIGUA SUPERYACHT CHALLENGE
ZEMI FORM MEETS FUNCTION
MALCOLM MCKEON DELIGHTS IN THE CHANCE TO RACE HIS OWN DESIGN BALTIC 110 ZEMI AT THE ST BARTHS BUCKET.
PEGASUS TAKES OFF
MIXING NEW AND PROVEN IDEAS, PEGASUS HAS CREATED A SHORTHANDED FAST BLUEWATER YACHT WITH A MARKED DIFFÉRENCE, AS TOBY HODGES DISCOVERS ON A TWO-DAY TEST SAIL
A LONG WAY ROUND
THE OCEAN GLOBE RACE WAS ALL ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE SPIRIT OF THE EARLY WHITBREADS. ELAINE BUNTING FINDS OUT HOW THE CREWS FARED
THE BIG OCEAN CLEAN
AN AMBITIOUS PLAN IS SETTING OUT TO REMOVE PLASTIC FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST OCEAN
RING OF FIRE
A MEMORABLE PASSAGE FROM FIJI TO AUSTRALIA FOR KATE ASHE-LEONARD
HALF WAY HEAVEN
A FINAL PACIFIC PASSAGE FROM FRENCH POLYNESIA TO NEW ZEALAND TAKES THE SWAN 37 ELIXIR HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD
THE ENDLESS OCEAN
THE PACIFIC IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST OCEAN, BUT WITH SO MANY OPTIONS HOW DO YOU PLAN A ROUTE ACROSS? CRUISERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
NIKKI HENDERSON
ALL YACHTS SHOULD HAVE THE MEANS TO GO ALOFT AT SEA AND A CREW MEMBER WILLING AND ABLE TO DO SO
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
IT’S ALL SMILES FOR THE AMERICA’S CUP TEAMS AS THE BRAND NEW AC75 BOATS HIT THE WATER. BUT THE SERIOUS BUSINESS STARTS SOON...
