Oyster Yachts Completes Sailing Trials on Oyster 100

The first Oyster Superyacht, 100-01 Sarafin, has successfully completed her sailing trials ahead of handover to her owners in October. Sarafin’s launch marks the successful conclusion of the first phase of a long-term project, which has brought together the strong, award-winning trio of Dubois Naval Architects, Oyster Group and RMK Marine.

This combined experience has produced a Superyacht that matches the best in the world and offers every customer the opportunity to enjoy the smoothest process available for getting afloat, providing a sophisticated entry into Superyacht ownership. The concept, launched in the heyday of the pre-recession world, is even more appropriate today; building a one-off custom superyacht is a challenging venture. The market, during recession, has seen the determined buyer move larger, into 50m – 100m sailing yacht projects. The Oyster-Dubois-RMK series-produced offering of the Oyster 100 and Oyster 125, gives a purchaser who wants a more predictable and faster means of owning a proven Superyacht, a less time-demanding (during build) solution of getting afloat.

By selecting a series-produced yacht, owners share the benefits of proven design, construction and engineering, and can devote their attention to stamping their individuality on the interior. Oyster’s commitment to build these superyachts to Lloyds +100A1 G6 MCH and MCA LY2 classification, the most stringent in the world that guarantees the structural integrity and engineering of each yacht, is not only the highest endorsement of the Oyster Superyacht fleet’s quality of construction, but underpins the continued value of each owner’s investment.

The Oyster 100 is designed with the specification, features and Classification of very much larger yachts.The standard accommodation layout offers three staterooms aft and two crew cabins forward.
A raised saloon offers a panoramic view and leads forward and down to a more intimate lounge and separate dining area. Forward of the main living area is the crew mess, galley and two crew cabins.
A six-cabin variant is also available, offering a fourth double guest cabin forward, in addition to the two crew cabins.

Sarafin will spend some time in Palma, Mallorca before heading for a winter season in the Caribbean. She is expected to take part in the St Barth’s Bucket Regatta in March 2012.

Oyster CEO, David Tydeman commented:

Oyster Group is world renowned for its craftsmen built and solidly engineered blue-water cruising yachts. What is less well known is that Oyster also owns Southampton Yacht Services, a yard specialising in classic Superyacht refit and refurbishment. Oyster Group was already in the ‘Superyacht market’ prior to the launch of the Oyster 100 and 125, and by teaming up with Dubois and leading shipyard RMK Marine, builders of the award winning 52m ketch, Nazenin V, has given us the opportunity to challenge all parts of Oyster Group and pull together its hidden talents.

Of course, creating such a start-up in the current global economic conditions, has been a tough challenge, which we’ve risen above and delivered. I’m intensely proud and somewhat in awe of the Oyster and RMK team who has made this happen in the face of regular scepticism from the established market who naturally want to resist a newcomer!

The Oyster 100 is not simply a large Oyster 82, we have raised our game and risen to the challenge, entering the premier league of engineering and shipbuilding large yachts. The new Oyster 885, which will be on the water in 2012, illustrates that what we are learning from entering the Superyacht market is already enabling Oyster to enhance our whole range – from the Oyster 46 
to the Oyster 125.”

Ed Dubois writes after visiting the completed Oyster 100-01:

“I was very happy as I left the shipyard in Istanbul, having seen the first completed Oyster 100. It is wonderful how Oyster has managed to combine their reputation for building strong, seaworthy craft with the quality and finish that is now expected in the best sailing Superyachts. As designers, we are of course full of admiration for the builders of our craft and at the same time very particular about who we work with.

The all-important relationship between designer and builder is crucial to the success of any project. We now have over 50 yachts afloat of 100ft and over in the world, and this experience combines with that of the best shipyards to keep the quality at the top.

We are therefore delighted that Oyster has joined this club and we look forward with confidence and excitement to see the Oyster 125 also reaching completion.”

Ufuk Güçlü, General Manager at RMK shipyard said:

“RMK Marine has always believed in the benefits of this unique partnership. It is a very special opportunity to work with Dubois and Oyster and it is very satisfying the potential has been realised. Working closely together as a team, each party has brought its own special contribution to the end product and through this teamwork we are providing wonderful yachts for the clients. We are certain that this team will continue to enjoy success together.

For RMK Marine, our aim is always to provide uncompromising quality and craftsmanship. Having completed our first Oyster yacht in composite, we are proud to have built in all the major build materials used in the superyacht sector, including steel, aluminium and now composites for both motor and sailing yachts, which demonstrates the unusually wide capability of the RMK yard. We will keep on pushing forward and aim to deliver superb quality yachts to our clients and we look forward to launching the next Oyster superyacht in the near future.