The route is perfectly coordinated with ideal weather windows and leads to some of the most picturesque destinations. A dream for blue water sailors.
Stage highlights
- Antigua to Panama Canal: Caribbean vibes with stops in Curaçao and the San Blas Islands.
- Galapagos and French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Tahiti, Bora Bora - pure South Seas.
- Fiji, Australia (Cairns), Indonesia: Tropical anchor bays and coral reefs.
- South Africa (Cape Town): Long stop with New Year's Eve celebrations, then Cocos (Keeling), Réunion.
- Final: St Helena, Brazil, Grenada - return across the Atlantic.
Between the legs, the crews sail largely autonomously, while the shipyard's rally team ensures smooth logistics, technical repairs and bureaucratic entry formalities in the background. Intensive training begins 18 months before the start, which is underpinned by the mandatory RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate - a guarantee of the highest safety standards on the high seas.
The appeal of the regatta
What makes the Oyster World Rally (OWR) special is its unique mix of adventure, community and customised support, which appeals to families, ambitious blue water sailors and, thanks to Starlink, even professionals who can work remotely.
The costs for participation vary
A starting place for the currently smallest category (50 to 60 feet, the Oyster 495 still falls into this class) costs around 110,000 euros, for 70 to 80-foot formats it is 147,000 euros, and owners of yachts with lengths of 90 feet or more must enquire about the starting price individually. In addition, OWR participants have the option of choosing different voyage packages. The "Adventurer" package is standard for all rally sailors and includes all the services that crews need for the trip of a lifetime. The costs for this are included in the participation fee.
The "Explorer" package includes all the services of the "Adventurer" package, but also offers an individually tailored programme of activities at each of the 27 stops. The most exclusive package is called "Voyager" and is specially tailored to the owners. This includes building and equipping the yacht for the OWR, assembling the crew and, of course, a tailor-made supporting programme on land. When the sailing adventure is over, the shipyard's own team of brokers will also take care of the sale of the yacht if required.
"We are realising our dream!"
The German owners of the 20.60 metre long "Altaia" sailed on the last OWR. YACHT spoke to Carsten and Cedric Laufenberg at the time and wanted to know how the round-the-world trip was going. You can find the interview here!
The next rally is already being planned
The first Oyster World Rally started in 2013 to mark the 40th anniversary of the shipyard; the current edition, which will run until summer 2027, is the fifth event. The OWR 2028/2029 is already being planned and the first registrations have already been received.
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
