Mr Hadida, you sail with your wife and two-year-old son on board the "Lush" - what does this mean? 16-month round-the-world trip for you and your family?
It's a real family adventure. I've always wanted to sail around the world mile by mile and now I can do it with Ali and Harry. Preparing the Lush for a toddler has been a real team effort and has already brought us closer together. This is our first real blue water trip, so it's very different from the island hopping trips we've done before. Harry is only two years old, so it's a rare opportunity to spend quality time together every day. It's not about ticking off destinations, it's about enjoying the journey, finding our rhythm at sea and experiencing the world slowly. We also hope to make a positive contribution along the way, for example on the Galápagos Islands with a nature conservation project. This should make our adventure even more meaningful.
You have travelled a lot around the world: Why is it a lifelong dream for you to experience the world "mile after mile" from the deck of your own yacht?
When flying, you only get snapshots, but when sailing you can really experience the world and nature around you. You can feel the weather, the light and the stillness of the ocean. It's slower and more immersive. Experiencing this circumnavigation with Ali and Harry is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for me.
Does your participation in the rally as an Oyster Yachts owner show your confidence in the quality and reliability of your yachts?
I expose 'Lush' to exactly what our owners experience - long voyages, changing conditions and life at sea with a toddler. With our captain Hugh and crew taking care of the details, and Ali helping to make the boat a safe home for Harry, it shows that Oyster yachts are safe, reliable and comfortable even in the most demanding conditions. This first-hand experience gives me confidence that our customers can trust their yachts to perform just as well.
What role does the Oyster World Rally play in Oyster's philosophy of boat building, endurance and community among sailors?
The rally is Oyster in action. It puts the yacht, the seamanship and the endurance of the owners and crews to the test. It is also about community - the Oyster family - sailing together, helping each other and sharing experiences. This mixture of high-quality boat building, challenge and camaraderie is the essence.
The rally takes you through some of the most beautiful sailing areas in the world - which leg are you most looking forward to and why?
There are so many fantastic stages to look forward to, but the Galápagos Islands are sure to be great. The unique wildlife, scenery and the opportunity to support conservation work there make it something very special. What's more, each passage has its own challenges and rewards, from the Panama Canal to the remote beaches of Vanuatu and the Marquesas. It's all about experiencing each place to the fullest, enjoying the sea and the cultures, and doing it all together as a family.
What challenges do you face when sailing around the world like this, especially with a small child on board?
Every passage has its challenges. For Harry, it's about sleep, meals and his safety. Ali has done a fantastic job making 'Lush' a home from home for him at sea, from installing safety nets and baby gates to putting together a first aid kit specifically for toddlers. The main thing for us is to adapt to the conditions and enjoy the journey.
Tell us about your Oyster 885 "Lush": what features make it ideal for this trip and how did you equip it?
"Lush" is a 27 metre Oyster 885, built for long crossings and designed for a balance between performance and comfort. She is safe, reliable and easy to handle, making a journey like this possible. For this rally, we have personalised her for family life, with space for Harry and a familiar layout. The crew, led by Captain Hugh White, have also equipped 'Lush' with two Starlink antennas for reliable connectivity, spares for remote passages and communication back-ups. All of this means that we can focus on the journey itself, sharing the experience as a family and enjoying the freedom and adventure that sailing the high seas offers without having to worry about the details.
To what extent does this rally test the limits of sailing ability and endurance - and what can Oyster customers learn from it?
It is a real challenge, from the weather to the long passages and the teamwork required. The owners can experience the adventure of sailing around the world in safe flotilla conditions and see and understand what blue water sailing really means. Our experienced crew spent months preparing every detail of the yacht and helping us with the planning. Preparation is of course extremely important on such an adventure. And we help the participants with this.
After the rally: How will this experience influence your commitment to the shipyard and the development of future models?
Sailing the Rally with my family gives me a perspective that I can't gain any other way. Seeing what works and what makes life on board enjoyable will feed directly into future designs and the way we support owners. It's about creating yachts that are truly reliable and work perfectly as blue water yachts. With our rally, we create experiences that are unique for all participants. I'm really looking forward to the next 16 months!
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
