Never before has an Oyster left the shipyards in the south of England with such daring livery. But the British are considered to be people with a penchant for eccentricity. How could they deny the owner the desire to stand out from the mass of white boats? And who was going to teach him? And so it was that Eddie Jordan got his Oyster 495 "Tuga" just the way he wanted it. You can read more about this in an earlier article on the tests that the candidates for European Yacht of the Year 2023 had to pass off Port Ginesta ( please click here! ).
For those who felt the design was inappropriate, Rasmus had thankfully sent wind, plenty of it on the first day. On days two and three of the sea trials, there was still a sizeable sea defence. The Oyster 495 was able to hide her hull behind or in it, so that in some of the masterful photos taken by YACHT photographer Andreas Lindlahr, not much more can be recognised than the pretty flush deck with the concentrated deck saloon.
The height of the freeboard also effectively conceals the graffiti favoured by Eddie Jordan. The hull is undoubtedly very high for a 49-foot boat; this is the only way to keep the centre cockpit and cabin superstructure so comparatively flat. Overall, designer Rob Humphreys has managed to stretch the compactness of the boat through the lines.
And he has created a remarkably successful cockpit layout - the best ever on an Oyster and also in the luxury 50-foot yacht market. In particular, the design of the two helm stations, which enable several ergonomically excellent seating positions, undoubtedly sets a benchmark in the class. The support options are also outstanding.
Below deck on the Oyster 495 you hear no creaking, no crackling when bolting against the shaft
We have already mentioned at the beginning that Oyster's new boat sails superbly. From eight knots of wind, she shows so much temperament that hardly anyone needs to use the engine. At 12 to 15 knots, she is simply great fun, and above that, when the sea becomes more demanding, she spoils you with her stiffness, calmness and smooth movements in the swell.
The only more amazing experience is when you move from the cockpit below deck in rough weather. There is simply - silence! No creaking, no crackling, hardly any wind or wave noise. It's like switching on the noise-cancelling headphones in a plane at 30,000 feet.
Only the interior design décor is loud. But that is part of Eddie Jordan's overall work of art, not the standard of the Oyster 495, although "standard" is not really the right term. Everything here breathes quality. And the choice of upholstery, veneers and wall panelling offered by the shipyard allows for a great deal of individualisation. Only fabrics in a hexagon pattern and wall coverings in street art style, as on the "Tuga", are not included.
If you want to go aft or forward from the companionway, you have to take a few steps along the way, and they are not all the same height. It takes some getting used to until you master the steps "in your sleep" and in the twilight. But there is no shortage of places to hold on to. In this respect, the Oyster is, as it has always been, a true seagoing vessel.
