It almost sounds a little too smooth, too good to be true. Because a new beginning in boatbuilding does not always succeed. Finngulf, for example, finally went under after two attempts at revitalisation, as did Etap. Najad stumbled several times over almost a decade. And it is still too early to say how Discovery Yachts is faring, whose now-disgraced managing director Sean Langdon had to file for insolvency a few days before Christmas.
At Oyster, however, this flagship of the British yacht-building industry, which has now shrunk considerably, things are back on track. This is partly down to Richard Hadida, the new owner, who has made a fortune on the internet and has made saving the shipyard a matter close to his heart. And it is also down to the employees, many of whom have been working for the brand for generations and are a guarantee of continuity.
This is one of the reasons why the latest, currently smallest yacht - the Oyster 565 - actually has everything that makes an Oyster. And a little more. This was demonstrated during the YACHT test off the coast of Catalonia, where the boat was available to us for a whole week as part of the selection process for European Yacht of the Year - in a wide wind range from 5 to 25 knots.
Under sail and under engine, the Oyster 565 designed by Rob Humphreys was equally convincing. It also coped with rough seas and strong winds without complaint, almost bored. And still responded with pleasant agility even in light conditions.
However, it would be a mistake to judge it solely on these aspects. After all, the Oyster 565 only reveals its true strength below deck and deep in the bowels of its construction. That's where we accompanied Paul Adamson, once captain of racing team owner Eddie Jordan's Oyster and now Chief Commercial Officer at the shipyard. A sailor through and through, he is now at the helm of the company.
What he says about the brand's DNA, why he still considers dipsticks for the diesel and fresh water tanks to be indispensable and why he offers all YACHT readers a drink if they find squeaky floorboards on the Oyster 565 build number 3, which will be on display at boot Düsseldorf - all this and more in the test report.
Now in YACHT 2/2020, available in the DK-Shop. Or you can download the test directly via the link below.
