Oyster News 56 - Oyster Yachts

David Hughes and Eddie ScougallNEWS ROUNDUPRound the HornKevin and Theresa Ruscoe ordered their new Oyster 42, SAPPHIRE OF LONDON, specifically to sail to Theresa's nativeAustralia via Cape Horn. After a year based around the Channel Islands, familiarising themselves with their new yacht andpreparing for their 'trip of a lifetime', they set out from St Katharines Dock, London in February 2004.On 1 March 2005 we were delighted to get a message from SAPPHIRE via satmail: "Cape Horn abeam to port at 1900UTon 1 March. Theresa and Kevin on board. Please thank all at Oyster involved in building our wonderful boat".The picture was taken by Tom and Vicky Jackson , S/Y "Sunstone" who rounded Cape Horn in company with SAPPHIRE OFLONDON. The story of Kevin and Theresa's trip will appear in a future edition of Oyster News.Just weeks before, David and Linda Hughes, along with Oyster's Customer Care Manager, Eddie Scougall, rounded theHorn in their Oyster 66, MISS MOLLY.Antigua’s Getting HotterUBS Oyster Regatta Antigua 11 - 15 April 2005Over 25 Oysters will be arriving at Nelson’s Dockyard inEnglish Harbour on 11 April for the traditional OysterDockyard line-up. Concours judging will take place thatafternoon and in the evening skippers and crew will enjoy aMount Gay party with a Caribbean flavour with music fromthe Harmonites International Steel Orchestra.The fleet will circumnavigate the island of Antigua withovernight stops at Green Island, Deep Bay and FfryesKevin and Theresa Ruscoe's Oyster 42, SAPPHIRE OF LONDONBeach. The regatta will finish with a party and prize givingdinner at the exclusive Curtain Bluff Hotel, which will behosting the Oyster fleet for the first time. Curtain Bluff isconsidered to be one of the top hotels in the entireCaribbean region.Title sponsor UBS will be joined by Oysters "family ofsponsors" including Pantaenius, Lewmar, Pelagos Yachts,Raymarine, Yachting World, Cruising World and MountGay who all contribute to the large ‘haul’ of prizes for thefour-race series.For details about all Oyster regattas and events pleasecontact: liz.whitman@oystermarine.com

Mai KaoBeachNai ThonBeachNai YangBeachBang TaoBeachAirportPhang-Nga“KavnaiaBeachKathuPhuketPatongBeachTownKata WatBeach ChalongKaronBeachThe worsed hit areasarew marked in red PromthepCapeOyster owners dig deep toraise funds for Tsunami victimsWe arrived in South Bay, Phi Phi Don to scenes of utter chaos and devastationand immediately landed to look for our favourite restaurant called Mama’s in themain street and to find if the Corsican owner, Angelo, who had been there for 16years was okay.The main street was impassable and as Christiane stood outside the dive centre two men carriedout a dead woman in a blanket and laid her on the floor. They did tell us that Angelo was alive.He sent us a text message a week later to confirm he was okay.Barry and Christiane Cager, long-timefriends of Oyster were sailing theiryacht Coco de Mer from Langkawi inMalaysia to Thailand on Boxing Day.The tsunami passed under their keel withoutthem even being aware of it. They were verylucky as the two marinas on the west coastof Langkawi were badly damaged and manyboats sunk.There was no radio traffic on VHF 16, andwhen Barry and Christiane arrived in Phi PhiDon on Monday 27th December, they werelargely unaware of the extent of the disaster orthe scenes ashore they were about to witness.What they did find drove them to contactfriends and family across the world asking fortheir help in raising money to support thoseleft behind in the devastated communities. Itwas Barry’s email to Oyster Chairman,Richard Matthews, which prompted Oyster toadopt the appeal as its London Boat showcharity and Richard to announce that Oysterwould match £ for £ the money raised.Since Oyster’s London boat show appealclosed, we heard from Barry that an Oyster 66owner had added a further £5000 to the fund.A sincere thank you to everyone who madecontributions – you can be certain that themoney we raised will all go to benefit thosewho need it most.Oyster 56 owners, Paul and Lynn Armson wereholidaying in Thailand when the tsunami struck,but along with their children, were lucky toescape unharmed. As a tribute to the manylocal people who helped them during thedifficult days in the aftermath of the disaster,many of whom had lost their own family andlivelihoods, their donation was given in thanksto: Somchai Nusom, Sarawit Sintupachee,Pornthip Paichaman, Soawada Pormchauy,Suphot Sookjarean, Wittaya Hanmontog, SutasKhomthong, Satit Cham, Prapart Thaiyang,Jaro grupe and Watcharawut Noktawee.For more information see:http://maikhao.tripod.com/account.htmWe left Phi Phi Don as there was nothing useful we could do to help there and the Thai rescueservices had already evacuated those tourists who had survived, including the many who wereinjured. The rescue teams by then were searching for bodies buried in the rubble.We immediately decided we wanted to do something to assist the local people we had got toknow over several years of visiting the region. Many had lost family and friends and also theirlivelihoods. We contacted everyone we knew around the world to ask them to support us. Theresponse was immediate and overwhelming and in total, since we launched our appeal, yourgenerosity has helped us raise in excess of £63,000, with some £15,000 of that donated byOyster Marine and Oyster owners. 100% of this money is being given direct to the people whoneed it most as we are all volunteers. Our original goal was to assist the communities in thevillages of Mai Khao and Sai Kaew to rebuild their homes and businesses, and so far we havebeen able to assist some 12 restaurants, enabling 10 of them to rebuild and restock theirpremises and get back on their feet.In addition we have been helping to feed and clothe a number of children who were orphanedand updating some of the facilities in the local school, which the children attend. We are trying tofind sponsors to support these children long term until they complete their education and cansupport themselves.Together with The Royal Thames Yacht Club we have been helping a local fishing fleet, buyingengines and nets which had all been lost. There were 26 boats in all and now already 12 of them areback in operation. We will be dealing with phase two shortly when the lost boats have been replaced.We have replaced some diving equipment for a Dive business, which was swept away in Phi PhiDon and are replacing 20 cool boxes for a Fishmonger who buys direct from the fishermen andsells to the market stallholders.We are members of the Thailand Tsunami Recovery Group "Thai Together" which coordinatesNGO activity so we learn about new needs and don't all spend money on the same projects.We aim to help Dulwich College, Phuket with a scholarship scheme for tsunami victims,which we hope will be announced in April. Thai summer holidays are April/Mayso hopefully we will be helping students at the start of the new school year.Barry Cager“www.oystermarine.com 9

STEPHEN THOMASBY DAVID HUGHESStephen ThomasIn January 2005, while cruising in the Antarctic, Stephen Thomastragically died after an accident ashore.Stephen and I met during the build-up to the Trade Winds Rally, which set sail during 1995. Bothof us had Oyster 55s, Stephen's called MAGIC DRAGON (known to us THE JIX), mine MISSMOLLY, and along with a number of other Oyster owners who took part in that event, lookedforward to the challenge of sailing around the world.We buddied up in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to minimise the threat from pirates, as advisedby the organisers, and since sailing similar boats would mean similar schedules it seemed asensible plan. We found as the months went by that we had a lot in common; not least of whichwas agreeing readily on the frequent stops for swimming, snorkelling and walking. We anchoredevery night in close proximity and stayed in touch via VHF during the sailing day. We explored outof the way islands together and visited remote communities. I remember one day in an Indonesianvillage, Stephen looking like the Pied Piper with a hoard of interested children following him up thebeach. I have a lot of fond memories of sailing those islands with Stephen and "THE JIX".During a Rally reunion in London and probably after too many drinks, Stephen and I agreed thatwe would meet up at some time in the future in Antarctica. Cape Horn would be rounded, theDrake Passage crossed and Antarctica visited. Three ticks at one hit. Several years, two Oyster66’s and a lot of ocean passages later, we met in the Melchior Islands off the Antarctic Peninsular.We had agreed that we would each make our own way there, but had coincidentally met up a fewtimes during our cruise through Patagonia; out of the hundreds of possible anchorages it seemedthat we were still independently agreeing on good spots. As well as a few evenings spent withTHE JIX, testing the quality of the Chilean reds, we enjoyed a pre-Christmas dinner in UshuiaArgentina, with Stephen’s wife Catherine and young son James on board MAGIC DRAGON forChristmas. These are all treasured memories.Rounding the headland at Alexander Harbour in the Melchiors, on Friday 7th January 2005, wesaw the familiar profile of MAGIC DRAGON. They had arrived earlier that morning after acomfortable passage across the Drake Passage. We had already spent a couple of weeks10 www.oystermarine.com

PATAGONIAN MAGICBY STEPHEN THOMASStephen ThomasMel and Chris Smith, Inga Chapman and Bob BradfieldPatagonia – the name alone isenough to conjure up an image of awild and remote place, on the edgeof known civilisation, Lucas Bridges’‘Uttermost Part of the Earth’, a place ofmyths and legends and of Bruce Chatwin’smilodon. For many years, cruising inPatagonia has been the stuff of legends,known only to a few of the hardiest ofcruising sailors, but recent years have seen anumber of published articles about the areain yachting magazines and the publication ofa number of new yachting pilot guides towhet the appetite. We were completelyentranced by all that we had heard of thisarea, despite the accompanying stories offearsome weather, poor charts and difficultsailing conditions. We were not to bedisappointed on any count.We arrived in Puerto Montt in lateSeptember 2004, at the beginning of theaustral spring, in our Oyster 66 MAGICDRAGON OF WROXHAM after a 4300-milepassage from Tahiti to Chile via the GambierIslands and Pitcairn. Puerto Montt, a thrivingcity and regional capital, lies at the northernend of the Chilean cruising grounds and is a12 www.oystermarine.com

MAGIC DRAGON IN PATAGONIAOWNER REPORTBelow: MAGIC DRAGONin Puerto Natalesgood cruising base, with two marinas wherea boat can be left safely, good aircommunications and the availability of manyfishing-oriented marine services. Cruisingsouth through Patagonia is significantlyeasier than heading north as the prevailing(and stronger) winds are mostly from thenorth-west. There were just a very smallhandful of visiting yachts in Puerto Montt,but these included our friends David andLinda Hughes with their Oyster 66 MISSMOLLY, following a similar route to our ownthrough Patagonia to the Antarctic. Both ofus planned to be in the Antarctic duringJanuary, the narrow weather window in thatpart of the world, leaving us just a shortseven weeks for the cruise from PuertoMontt to Puerto Williams from our departurein early November.The term ‘Patagonia’ covers a huge area.A complex maze of islands and channelsextends for over 1000 miles from PuertoMontt to Puerto Williams in the BeagleChannel. Within this area lays severaldifferent regions, each a cruising area in itsown right with quite different characteristics.At the northern end lies the island of Chiloe,a low-lying, heavily-cultivated and wellpopulatedarea of great rural charm.Cruising here was like being in Suffolk 150years ago – teams of bullocks pulled crudewooden carts, ploughs and sledgesbetween tiny fields edged by gorse bushes.South, across the Gulf of Corcovado, lie theChonos Islands, a maze of heavily forestedand almost uninhabited mountainous islandswhere only a few fishermen roam. To theeast, the mountainous mainland shore issplit by many deep and precipitous longfjords, quite similar to those in Norway,backed by the ever-present, snow-coveredpeaks of the Andes extending from north tosouth along the entire horizon on days ofgood visibility.www.oystermarine.com 13

Right: Bullock cartsin Isla QuehuiBelow: Berthed upin the famousMicalvi Yacht Club,Puerto WillaimsAlmost all cruising in Patagonia is within thesheltered waters of the narrow coastalchannels, but heading further south from theChonos Islands requires a 150-mile passageout into the open Pacific Ocean, aroundCabo Raper and across the Golfo de Penas,fully exposed to the ocean swell. Much ismade of this in cruising annals, but we wereblessed by light winds and little swell for ourpassage. After crossing the gulf, you areimmediately aware that you have enteredsomething entirely different – the ‘real’Patagonia of rugged, heavily-forestedmountains, narrow fjord-like channels, hugeglaciers edging down from the icecap tomeet the sea, very few settlements and wildweather. This region extends south to thewestern entrance of the Straits of Magellan.Here the scenery suddenly becomes evengrander and more desolate – every mountainis snow-capped, every valley hides a glacierand you are constantly aware of a neverendingprocession of huge depressionswhistling past on their way to the DrakePassage. Finally, after making the passagethrough the complex channels south of CapeFroward, you arrive on the shores of thelegendary islands of Tierra del Fuego andenter the famed Beagle Channel, finallyheading east along the channel to Ushuaia14 www.oystermarine.com

MAGIC DRAGON IN PATAGONIA OWNER REPORTPuerto MonttAngelmoNChiloe“ F OR MANY YEARS, CRUISINGIN PATAGONIA HAS BEEN THESTUFF OF LEGENDS, KNOWN ONLYTO A FEW OF THE HARDIEST OFChonos IslandsCRUISING SAILORS ”Gulf of CorcovadoCanal MoraledaSEI AN Dand Puerto Williams. Here the mountains arestripped bare of any vegetation by theravages of the weather and glaciersseemingly appear around every corner. Ittruly feels like the ‘end of the world’.Our cruising in Patagonia soon settled into aregular daily pattern. Once south of therelatively populous area around Chiloe,sailing at night is not recommended becauseof poor charts, little correspondencebetween GPS and chart positions and veryfew lights, so day-sailing was the only realoption. Rapidly-changing and unpredictableweather means that the prudent sailoranchors every night expecting the worst. Theuniversal practice is to find a small andsheltered cove in which to anchor very closeup under the trees, trussed up securely withmultiple shore lines taken to the windwardtrees to take the main force of the gusts andto bring the boat within touching distance ofthe shore for good shelter.CaboRaperGolfodePanasACaletaConnorPuertoEdenSeno UnionO NP A T A GPuertoNatalesFortunately, the recent publication of twoexcellent cruising guides (‘Patagonia andTierra del Fuego Nautical Guide’ by Rolfo andArdrizzi and the ‘RCC Cruising Guide’ byO’Grady and Staples) means that there isnow a good choice of strategically-placedand well-documented anchorages to choosefrom – although each is generally onlycapable of sheltering one boat well. Nomatter how windy the conditions out in thechannels, nearly every night we were able tofind yet another small, rocky and tree-girtcove where we could anchor in almostcomplete calm. Every one without exceptionwas delightfully pretty, becoming more sowith every day as wecontinued south. Our dailyroutine became one of earlydisengagement from our multiplelines, a 40-50 mile passage and a lateafternoon moor-up, allowing time to settle inor to move on to another anchorage if thisproved necessary. In northern Patagonia, theomni-present salmon farms sometimes madeanchorages difficult to use, but these soondied out south of the Golfo de Penas.We soon developed a finely-honed routine formooring up. In addition to our normal quotaof lines, we carried 3 additional 25mmx120mPUNTAARENASStraits of MagellansTIERRADEL FUEGOUshuaiaPuertoWilliamsBeagle ChannelCape Hornwww.oystermarine.com 15

MAGIC DRAGON IN PATAGONIAOWNER REPORTBelow: Puerto Edendetailing the vessel’s intended movements.Chilean navy ships on patrol call up anyvessel they meet and request details of theirpassage and the same applies to mannedlighthouses which you may pass en route.South of 48°S, all merchant ships are underinstruction to call up any yacht that theymeet to request details and to report these tothe Armada. Most significantly, any foreignvessel has to report its position andintentions to the Armada every morning andevening. On paper this sounds horrifyinglyrestrictive and intrusive to Europeanyachtsmen, but in practice the Armada wereunfailingly courteous and helpful in theirdealings with us. Any problems that we hadwere mainly due to our weak Spanish, asmost officials understood little English.Although position reporting by radio was thenorm, we found that twice-daily reports byemail were much easier for us to deal with inSpanish and were readily accepted by theArmada. Yachts that failed to report in ontime became the subject of widespreadsafety broadcasts and were severelyreprimanded. Having seen the sheer scaleand remoteness of the Chilean channels, it ishard not to be sympathetic with the Armada’sdesire to keep track of the very few vesselson passage in the area.Chilean charts, the only ones offering enoughdetail for safe navigation in most areas,mostly only provide detailed soundings in themain shipping channels and the Armadadiscourage vessels from wandering off intothe many side channels where nohydrographic information has beenpublished. We occasionally wandered intothe blank white areas of the charts, but it wasunnerving and we did come acrossunexpected areas of shallows while doing so.In many channels the depth informationconsisted of nothing more than a single lineof soundings down the centre of the channel.www.oystermarine.com17

Left: A lasting mementoof MAGIC DRAGON’Svisit to Caleta ConnorBelow: MAGIC DRAGONand MISS MOLLYat Pia Glacier“ H IGH, RUGGED, SNOW- CAPPED MOUNTAINSARE CONSTANT COMPANIONS AND, FURTHER SOUTH,IMMENSE GLACIERS BECOME ALMOST COMMON ”A number of key canals are simply prohibitedto foreign vessels, especially near theArgentinean borders of Tierra del Fuego.What were the highlights for us? The springsunshine on the flower-strewn meadows ofChiloe exuded bucolic charm which we willlong remember. An unforgettable afternoonsoaking in a series of natural thermal poolshidden behind a salmon farm in Seno Ayre,simmering gently in the hot water while therain dripped steadily off of the trees and fernssurrounding the polls and steam rose inclouds in the freezing air. The scenery allalong the coast is truly stunning – somewhatakin to the west coast of Scotland ornorthern Norway, but with few of the peopleand on a very much grander scale. The senseof remoteness is hard to imagine. High,rugged, snow-capped mountains areconstant companions and, further south,immense glaciers become almost common.We crunched our way through the brash iceto the face of a number of big glaciersproviding some great photo-opportunities,including a double billing with MISS MOLLYin Seno Pia in the Beagle Channel.almost everywhere in the channels and oftenfollowed the dinghy at close quarters on tripsaround the bay. Whales are said to becommon, although our sightings were limitedto a pair of humpback whales in CanalMagdalena. Foxes are the most commonmammals ashore, although guanacos arealso common higher in the mountains andbeavers are common near Ushuaia. Thebirdlife generally is abundant. Penguins arenumerous all along the coast and we visiteda large nesting site opposite Puerto Williams.Unexpectedly, albatrosses are common allthrough the channels and make an inspiringsight soaring at close quarters and we alsosaw many pelicans, cormorants, terns andgulls. In the far south, condors soaring overthe mountains were hard to spot but worththe effort to do so.Our only slight disappointment was that thewilder parts of the coast offered fewopportunities for forays ashore as thecoastline and hills were generally coveredwith completely impenetrable forest, so itwas often impossible to get much beyondthe beach, limiting many explorations toA diversion from the main route to PuertoNatales for a few days also allowed us tomake a land trip to Torres del Paine NationalPark which was just as spectacular as thefamous pictures suggest although (comparedwith the emptiness of the rest of Chile)thronging with coach tour tourists.Wildlife is not prolific along this coast oncesouth of the Golfo de Penas, but what thereis is truly fascinating. Sealions and fur sealswere frequent and these highly acrobaticvisitors were a constant source ofamusement. Small species of dolphins(Peale’s and Dusky) accompanied the boatdinghy tours. As we headed south of 50°Sthe vegetation did, however, start to thin outenough to allow some expeditions up thenearby hills and by the time we reachedTierra del Fuego the vegetation had almostdisappeared, making our customaryexpeditions to nearby hilltops practicalonce more.The final stage of our Patagonian cruise tookus to the tiny Chilean town of PuertoWilliams in the Beagle Channel, where wecould check out of Chilean waters in order tohead over to the Argentinean port of Ushuaiafor re-provisioning. Puerto Williams is aPhotos: Stephen Thomas, David Hughes, Eddie Scougall18 www.oystermarine.com

MAGIC DRAGON IN PATAGONIAOWNER REPORTrather bleak military outpost distinguishedfor being the world’s southernmostsettlement, but is host to surely the world’smost welcoming yacht club bar – the famousMicalvi Yacht Club, based around adeliberately-grounded ex-munitions ship towhich one rafts and whose bridge is now thebar. This bar has hosted just about everyAntarctic sailor and amateur Cape Horner inits time and we enjoyed a wonderfully hazyevening there in the company of the crew ofMISS MOLLY and the hard-case Aussie crewof PELAGIC AUSTRALIS, exchanging notesabout our adventures amid evocativememorabilia of earlier visitors.From Puerto Williams it was a short motorback across the Beagle Channel to Ushuaiaon a fantastic, cloudless morning for ourChristmas restock, refit and refuel. Ushuaiawas to be our base for two weeks overChristmas and, despite its primary role as atransfer point for the constant stream ofcruise ships heading down to the Antarctic,we found that it was a bustling and friendlytown in its own right with a wide range ofgood shops, restaurants and bars. It iscertainly in a spectacular setting,surrounded by snowy peaks stretching asfar as the eye can see. Our Patagonianadventure was over and, despite the manydire warnings in the pilot books, we hadsurvived the experience with few of thecrises and dramas of weather andnavigation that they had promised. Wecould relax and recover in peace inpreparation for our next big adventure –the Antarctic.Stephen ThomasOyster 66 Magic Dragon of Wroxhamwww.oystermarine.com19

Charter with...oysteryachtcharter.comCygnus Oyster 82Darling Oyster 82Bare Necessities Oyster 82Luskentyre Oyster 72Oystercatcher XXV Oyster 72Kealoha of Whitby Oyster 68Anna Cay Oyster 66Venture Oyster 62Rock Oyster Oyster 56Pearl Fisher Oyster 56Kealoha of Hamble Oyster 55Janus Oyster 53Crackerjack Oyster 53Ocean Drive Oyster 45Oyster Marine LtdFox’s Marina Ipswich SuffolkIP2 8SA EnglandTel: +44 (0) 1473 688888Fax: +44 (0) 1473 686861Oyster Yacht Charter specialises in providing a charter service for owners and charterers alike.OYC already has a fleet of 14 Oysters operating in the UK, Mediterranean, east coastUSA and Caribbean.Every yacht offered by OYC comes complete with an experienced captain and almost all the largeryachts offer a full on-board catering service.A cruising holiday on a chartered Oyster would appeal equally to "hands on" experienced sailors ornewcomers to the sport. Every cruise will be tailored to the charterer’s individual requirements, offeringthe choice between energetic sailing or being pampered in idyllic surroundings, or both.The team at Oyster Yacht Charter will do their best to find the right yacht, place and time for yourcruise. Our experience is freely available to provide help and advice to potential charterers. MollyMarston runs our US and Caribbean charters whilst Heidi Ashford, who is based in the UK, arrangesour UK and Mediterranean charters.Learn more about each Oyster yacht available for charter by logging onto www.oysteryachtcharter.comor contact Molly or Heidi for more information.And for those of you who prefer to holiday ashore, we have luxury houses available to rent in theCaribbean. Please ask for more details.Please contact Heidi for Corporate Day Charter in the UK. There is still limited availability for eventssuch as the Royal Navy’s Trafalgar 200 Fleet Review in June, which should be a ‘must see’ event andCowes Week in August.Oyster Marine USA5 Marina Plaza Goat IslandNewport RI 02840Tel: +401 846 7400Fax: +401 846 7483www.oysteryachtcharter.comHeidi AshfordUK/Med Chartersemail: heidi.ashford@oystermarine.comMolly MarstonUSA/Caribbean Chartersemail: molly@oysteryachts.com20 www.oystermarine.com

Sail the dream andCharter an OysterFEATURED YACHTSOYSTER 82 CYGNUS proves to be another stunning example of Oyster style and grace withexceptional sailing performance. Her beautiful mahogany interior incorporates a luxury ensuite mastercabin, stretching across the yacht’s full beam, and two further double guest cabins, all accessed from acentre-line passageway. The dining area is situated at the upper level with panoramic outboard vistasvia the deck saloon windows. The cockpit incorporates twin wheels, allowing easy passage through thecentreline walkway to the spacious aft sundeck. The large cockpit tables are ideal for relaxed al frecsodining. Staying aboard Cygnus you are ensured a truly luxurious and relaxing cruise.OYSTER 72 LUSKENTYRE has been built to take you to some of the world's most remote and beautifullocations in total comfort and safety. Below decks, great care has been taken in the design and quality,from the beautiful leather upholstery in the main saloon to the highest quality fittings throughout.The four-cabin layout creates a wonderfully spacious area for the comfort of guests, while allowing fora separate crew quarters discreetly located forward with its own access. Luskentyre represents thebest of understated modern design, not merely for day sailing in the Mediterranean but for ocean-goingexploration to the farthest reaches of the world.OYSTER 72 OYSTERCATCHER XXV is the definitive, high performance cruiser. Her accommodation isas stylish and comfortable as you would expect to find in any Oyster yacht, but fitted with a carbonmast; fully battened mainsail main and high performance bulb keel her performance should delight.Cruise in comfort and style aboard Oystercatcher XXV.OYSTER 62 VENTURE is a beautifully appointed Oyster with a rich teak interior. She has wonderfulfour-cabin guest accommodation aft and, with the crew quarters forward, her layout creates verycomfortable and private accommodation for guests. The spacious cockpit and large cockpit table makedining aboard, whether below or on deck, a true pleasure.OYSTER 56 ROCK OYSTER offers a unique blend of performance, comfort, accommodation andfeatures. This four-cabin layout provides a spacious area for both crew and guests. The large cockpitwith refrigerated drinks locker makes for relaxed and enjoyable entertaining. The Oyster 56 hasproved an impressive yacht for blue water sailing, making Rock Oyster a must for an exciting andenjoyable cruise.www.oystermarine.com21

Pelagos YachtsInternational Yacht ConsultantsLeasingVAT and Tax ServicesMarine FinanceInsuranceCommercial and PrivateYacht RegistrationInternational Safety ManagementISPSProject ManagementYacht ManagementCrew EmploymentPelagos Yachts Limited, Auldyn House, 7 West Quay, Ramsey, Isle of Man, IM8 1DW.Tel: + 44 (0) 1624 819 867 Fax: + 44 (0) 1624 819 887Email: info@pelagosyachts.com www.pelagosyachts.com

Dear Oyster enthusiastsUBS Wealth Management is now in its fourthyear of supporting the Oyster Regattas and Iam delighted with our ongoing partnership withone of the world’s foremost yacht builders.Oyster and UBS share many similar values, inthat we both take pride in providing andbuilding the best for our clients. You must trustthe yacht that takes you across the ocean. Andequally you must trust the bank that looks afteryour family’s wealth. Both UBS and Oysterwork hard to earn the trust that you place in us.Gaining industry recognition is one way ofknowing that you are heading in the rightdirection. Just as Oyster’s Richard Matthews isjustly proud of winning industry accolades suchas the Queen’s Award for export and trade, so Iam very pleased that UBS Wealth Managementwon ‘Best UK Private Bank’ for the first timethis year in the annual Euromoney survey. I amvery proud of the teamwork that has helped us toachieve this considerable industry recognition.I see it as recognition that we are on the righttrack in serving our clients.UBS teamwork will be more in evidence at theOyster Regattas this year. Our dedicatedOyster UK advisor, Sean Goodlet, with whommany of you will be familiar, will be joined byyachting enthusiasts Philip Smith, LaurenceEvans and Beach Seakins.Sean, Philip, Laurence and Beach look forwardto meeting many of you at the two regattastaking place this year as well as at otheropportunities which arise, be it at St.Katherine’s Docks or at the Southampton BoatShow Owner’s Dinner.Alternatively, should you have any questions orrequests, they would be delighted to talk to youand you can always contact them onoyster@ubs.com or calling 020 7567 5757and asking to speak to one of them.SEAN GOODLETI have worked with Oyster since the beginning ofour partnership and my face will be familiar tomany. To those I have not met I am a senior clientadvisor in our Wealth Management office inLondon. I began my sailing career at a localsailing school in Scotland from which I quicklyprogressed to racing Laser dinghies as part ofthe Scottish national racing squad and keelboatsin national and international events.PHILIP SMITHI joined UBS as part of the acquisition of ScottGoodman Harris where I was a partnerspecialising in financial planning and investmentstructuring. Prior to working in the industry I wasin the Fleet Air Arm flying Sea King helicopters,latterly flying in the Royal Navy search andrescue helicopter based at Culdrose in Cornwall.An experienced yachtsmaster, I spend my sparetime racing in the Solent and skippering yachts inboth national and international regattas.BEACH SEAKINSFirst, I should explain that my name, Beach,refers to my upbringing in Jamaica andBarbados. After a Royal Navy career as a WarfareOfficer, I spent two years as an attaché in theBritish Embassy, Moscow. At UBS, I now focuson the Russian and Eastern European Market.Without my own grey-painted war canoe,I now spend my time at sea under sail,sometimes teaming up with Mark Blythe in hisOyster, Luskentyre. A self-confessed cruiser,I nevertheless enjoy the cut and thrust of racingin the Oyster Regattas. Looking forward toseeing you in our wake!LAURENCE EVANSI previously worked for Fisher Investments inLondon and San Francisco before moving toUBS. I am a keen amateur sailor who is alwaysinterested in getting involved in anything to dowith sailing. After joining the UBS Sailing Clubthe opportunity to join the Oyster Team was toogood to miss.Best regardsJeremy PalmerHead of UBS Wealth ManagementUK, Northern and Eastern Europewww.oystermarine.com 23

BattleofA CorunaBilbaoPortoJerez de laFronteraMadridPuerto SherryYacht ClubCadizEl Puerto deSanta MariaLisboaCordobaSevillaValenciaPuerto de Santa MariaCadizMalagaGibraltar24 www.oystermarine.comCapeTrafalgar

TrafalgarImages Courtesy of: Royal Naval Museum200th Anniversary 21 October 2005AN INVITATION TO JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL EVENT200 years to the day, Oyster owners ofevery nationality are invited to join usoff Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish Coastto commemorate one of the greatestachievements in British maritime history.Oyster is proud of Britain’s seafaring traditionand hope that over the last 33 years we havehad some small part to play in keeping ourboatbuilding heritage alive. In fact, HMSVictory’s designer, Sir Thomas Slade, theSenior Surveyor of the Royal Navy, was bornin Ipswich, and his gravestone in one of ourlocal churches commemorates Victory’s linkswith Oyster’s Ipswich HQ.Nelson was our greatest naval hero -Trafalgar his finest hour.Supported by UBS Wealth Management andour family of sponsors, the UBS OysterTrafalgar 200th Anniversary Regatta will beheld instead of our usual Palma event, from18-21 October 2005 and is exclusively forOyster yachts, their owners and crews.Based out of Puerto Sherry Yacht Club,Cadiz, Spain, the event will comprise of threeor four races, and an active shore basedsocial programme each evening.On 21 October the fleet will sail close to thelocation of the battle for a specialcommemoration.On the evening of 21 October the event willclose with a gala prize giving party andTrafalgar Dinner, which we promise will bea night to remember.All Oyster yachts are welcome - reservedberthing is limited so early entries arerecommended. Whilst we hope you canattend with your Oyster, for those of you forwhom this isn’t possible but would still like totake part, please contact us, as there isplenty of accommodation ashore locally.For more details and to enter pleasecontact Liz Whitman or KatherineAlexander at Oyster or emailliz.whitman@oystermarine.comFor information about all the eventsbeing organised to commemorate theanniversary see: www.seabritain.comand www.trafalgar200.comwww.oystermarine.com 25

The Oyster 72 shows her paces on builder'strials. NB: also see the front cover.

72O YSTERBy Richard MatthewsSEA TRIALS“Oyster Marine reallyimpressed with their fifthgeneration, or G5 evolution,deck saloon yachts.Superyacht quality anddetailing have filtered down tothe 72, and with her titaniumgrey livery on deck andbeautifully appointed interior,illuminated by very effectivecustom lighting systems,she won instant acclaim”The first of these was on 4 February, a brisk winters day with a cold 18-20 knotsouth-westerly with gusts up to 28, ideal conditions for testing. 72-01LUSKENTYRE is set up a little taller than standard, with a carbon spar set byFormula Spars and a fully battened mainsail and ‘Park Avenue’ type oversize boom.As one might expect from a 72 footer, LUSKENTYRE stormed down the River Orwellat around 10 knots (our instruments were uncalibrated at this stage) making very littlewake. Close hauled in the gusts we were rounding up a little but hey, it was blowing28 knots and we were under full sail! This was heavy, cold winter wind and for anykind of passage or even a race we would have shortened sail. I always prefer to pushto the limit and beyond on trials so we can really define the edge of control. We wereall getting used to the yacht so after a series of quick tacks up the River Stour weonce again barrelled off downwind at 11 or 12 knots, with LUSKENTYRE light to steerand really flying along.With our 40ft RIB alongside, we were able to get off the 72 and take a good look ather underway. Designer Rob Humphreys looked pleased and so he should have asLUSKENTYRE was a real picture. The camera caught the moment, and as we say onevery inaugural sea trial ‘there’s only ever one first time’. We had a really good firstsea trial but with the wind now up to 25 and regularly gusting 30 knots, it was time tohead for home.Our second trial took place on 18 March by which time winter had passed and, with ashortened forestay and commissioning complete, we had a fresh spring day withsome sunshine and 16-18 knots of breeze. This time we were able to head outbeyond Harwich harbour through the Medusa Channel into open water and allow the72 to settle down on a steady windward leg. Altogether a much nicer day for sailingand with the mainsail traveller amidships LUSKENTYRE shouldered to windward atwell over 8 knots under main and yankee with the staysail furled.It was a perfect day to set the cruising chute for the first time and the speedo soonclimbed up to over 10 knots and stayed there on a beam reach in little more than 14knots of breeze. The boat really goes through the water with very little wake eventhough we were just about on the plane in our RIB to keep up.Out again for more of the same on 21 March, getting out of the dock was a test forOyster’s Barney Sollars who was in charge of the ongoing commissioningwww.oystermarine.com27

“The Oyster 72 is ahandsome yacht and wewere all looking forward toour builder’s sailing trials.”programme. We were alongside the linear pontoon at Fox’s with an Oyster 62 about afoot ahead and a 56 whose bow pulpit overlapped our exit. Barney is no stranger tomanoeuvring these large yachts and with the help of a Sleipner 20 horsepower tunnelthruster we cleared the berth and made a tight ninety-degree turn to reach theentrance channel.It was no surprise that under power, as expected, the 72 is going to be a 200 mile aday plus passage maker under the ‘iron topsail’. This particular ‘topsail’ being aPerkins 225 TI,the TI bit standing for turbocharged and intercooled. At a relaxed1800 rpm we powered down the River Orwell into a cold 20-knot headwind at 8.4knots. This yacht is fitted with a Kobelt electronic throttle and gearshift, which wassilky smooth and free of the friction and sometimes lumpy action of the Morsecable type. I know our designers had some reservations about the electroniccontrols but the Kobalt system does have a mechanical backup hidden in anadjacent cockpit locker just in case.Time for the crash stop test and here the Kobalt control is on our side as, in theory atany rate, it allows a full ahead to full astern transfer. I’m not going to be the one tobust it so we still go for a careful transfer through neutral with a gentle click intoastern and then 1200rpm. The 72 pulls up from over 9 knots in about three boatlengths, which is impressive for a 48-ton yacht. Hopefully this kind of manoeuvre willnever be needed but it’s nice to know it’s there.28 www.oystermarine.com

72O YSTERThe shape of things to come - the new'G5' deck styling on the Oyster 72.Our third and final trial was about setting the boat up to windward and monitoring heel,speed and balance in a full breeze. On board were myself, Barney from commissioning;Alan Brook our Joint MD and a top Admiral’s Cup skipper; Alan Boswell from ourDesign Team; Andrew Martin the yacht’s Project Manager and Will Taylor-Jones ourQuality Development Manager who is also an expert sailor. Our Raymarine wind speedindicator was erratic and appeared to be heel sensitive. It may need re-mounting on awand above all the other kit, and there’s lots of it atop LUSKENTYRE’S mast. Wechecked it upright and again with a hand held monitor and confirm we had 18 to 20knots true gusting to about 24 knots; ideal conditions for testing.Hard on the wind by bearing away to sixty apparent we almost got the lee rail awash.The important thing was that we could bear away without easing anything, whichalthough unrealistic in normal sailing, is a good test of balance. Settling down hard onthe wind for pace we are slipping along at 8.4 knots into a light wind over tide chopwith the telltales on the yankee just starting to lift, proving that we are absolutely hardon the wind.Sheets eased, bow down and whoa – there’s that 10 knots plus again. Ostend is only70 miles away, we could be there before dark – anyone got any euros?!LUSKENTYRE isn’t a racer but as a fast cruiser she is set up to reel away the mileswith ease. Our trials proved she is easy to handle, quick through the water and apleasure to sail.www.oystermarine.com29

SYSIn February, 160 staff and guests gathered atHampshire County Cricket Club to celebratethe twenty-fifth anniversary of SouthamptonYacht Services.A quarter century for SYSThe company was founded by SYS Managing Director, Piers Wilson, and Bob Parsons on thesite of the old Camper & Nicholson Southampton yard. The first two jobs were thecompletion of a 95-foot aluminium sloop and a major refit of the J Class, SHAMROCK V.In the years that followed SYS have focussed on quality, with projects like the rebuild of theJ Class VELSHEDA and other refit and construction work, gaining them an internationalreputation. Disaster struck in November 1998, when the yard was totally destroyed by fire.In 1999 SYS moved to their current waterside premises at Saxon Wharf, Southampton and in2000 Oyster purchased a controlling interest in the company. Today SYS is a major builder ofthe larger Oyster models and will have completed the first five of the new Oyster 82 class aswell as many other Oysters over 60ft.A presentation of a decanter was made to Piers on behalf of all the past and presentemployees in honour of his achievement and a framed picture of the Oyster 82 waspresented to the SYS Directors in recognition of the importance of Southampton YachtServices to the Oyster Group.SHE’S BIG AND SHE’S FAST MARI-CHA IIISYS have seen their big building hall filled from one end to the other this winter with themagnificent 147ft MARI CHA III, in for a refit including a replacement teak deck. MARI CHA wasuntil recently the fastest monohull across the Atlantic, a record taken from her by the owner'snew MARI CHA IV. The SYS building hall is unusual in that it allows very large yachts to betransported from the waterstraight into the shed via a hugetravelift. Previous occupants ofthe building include the J Classyacht VELSHEDA that returned inthe winter of 03/04 for refit workand the 92ft motor yacht ILONAOF KYLESKU in the yard forjoinery modifications and a refit.YACHT BUILDERSSouthampton Yacht Services Ltd.Saxon Wharf, Lower York Street,Northam, Southampton SO14 5QF UKTelephone +44 (0)23 8033 5266Fax +44 (0)23 8063 4275email sales@southamptonyachtservices.co.ukwww.southamptonyachtservices.co.ukFor quality work, newconstruction, refit or rebuild,power or sail over 60ft you cando no better than SYS whowelcome enquiries.For more information contact: sales@southamptonyachtservices.co.uk30 www.oystermarine.com

BY ROGER VAUGHANLast November, on the fourth day of the Caribbean 1500 Rallyfrom Norfolk, Virginia, to Tortola, BVI, on board Bob andMallika De Haven’s Oyster 62 MISTRESS MALLIKA, the windshifted to the northeast as predicted. Within a few hours itwas blowing 25 to 35.The seas quickly built to 15 feet, a trifle menacing as they swelled up behind the helmsman. Inthe glare of the mid-afternoon sun the profusion of whitecaps looked like patches of fresh snow.The occasional passing cloud put us in blue shadow, turning the surface of the sea to poundedsteel. We had a #1 reef in the big mains’l, and the yankee was rolled in to the first reef stripe.Broad reaching, powered by puffs in the high 30s, MISTRESS MALLIKA was surging down thewaves at 11 knots, flinging white water off the lee bow with abandon.32 www.oystermarine.com

OWNER PROFILEBob De Haven likes thesailpedal to the metalitlike you stole itWearing only shorts, his safety harness, and a ball cap,Bob De Haven was steering. Even in street clothes thefirst things you notice about De Haven are hisphysique, and the way he carries himself. He’s sixfeet tall, weighs 200 pounds, and has the bigshoulders and slim hips of a running back. Bob DeHaven lives at attention. Even when he walks he isgathered, well balanced from a life of sports. Hecarries a slight limp for the same reason. His face isserious but open, with a mix of curiosity anddetermination lurking in his blue eyes. His dark hairis cropped short, always trimmed. He has thebearing of a military officer, and projects the easyconfidence of an airline captain. His smile iswinning. "When I get old...er," he said in his quietway, putting the helm down against the pressure asBob and Mallika De Havenwww.oystermarine.com33

Photo: David JochimBob De Haven tackles a steep, wind-packed pitchwhile heli-skiing in the Caribou mountains nearMcBride, British Columbia.the boat accelerated off a wave, "I’ll probably want the bimini up all the time, side curtains too,but right now I love all of it, the rain, the wind, and now a day like today. How they gonna keepme down on Chesapeake Bay after I’ve seen...this!" His smile was broad.Bob’s wife, Mallika, an impish blonde slightly older than his two daughters from a previousmarriage, rolled her eyes and laughed happily at Bob’s enthusiasm. This was her first offshoretrip, and she was loving it. She’d cooked and frozen the meals ashore, managed all the boat’sinterior logistics, learned the navigation systems, pumped fuel at the dock, stuck a scopolaminepatch behind her ear just in case, and stood watches with Bob. Now she was relaxing in thecockpit with a book, learning Spanish."Fish on!" Ron Szabo, one of the crew – an old friend and co-worker of Bob’s – sounded thealarm. In a flash he and Mallika were wrestling with the trolling rod Mallika had bought in Norfolk.She had been determined to land a fish. She would catch two fine Dorados that reminded uswhat fresh fish tastes like, but this large mystery fish would get away. "Can’t you slow this thingdown?" she asked Bob in jest, straining to gain a few inches of line. "Were racing here," he said,all smiles, as he feathered the boat to windward, chopping a knot and half off the speed. Ron andMallika took turns fighting the fish for almost fifteen minutes as it made wild runs across ourwake. Finally the rod went slack. Mallika and Ron groaned in unison. Bob put the boat back oncourse. "Anything that fights that hard ought to win," he said to no one in particular.Bob De Haven is a real-life action figure. He grew up boxing and playing football. In college healso wrestled on a championship level. When he was in his mid-20s, he grudgingly gave up playingflag football with former All Americans on weekends and started racing dirt bike moto-crosses andenduros. After that he was racing Formula Fords in the Skip Barber series, heli-skiing, sailing his38-foot sloop, driving his 33-foot Donzi that tops out at 70 mph, and just for fun, spending onememorable weekend at Combat USA in California, where (with an instructor) even a non-pilot canparticipate in an aerial dog fight. Now he runs his own 62-foot bluewater sail boat.Mike Gregoire, Executive Vice President for People Soft Global Services, met De Haven heliskiing."If you’re going to play at his level," Mike says, "you have to do lots of work behind thescenes to make it all fit together. But he’s worked 15-hour days all his life. He doesn’t take shortcuts. He puts the same thought into the boat – or any sport he tackles – that he put into hisbusiness. He’ll study a manual until 2am to make sure he gets it right. He loves pushing theenvelope, but he’s cautious, he minimizes the risk. Once skiing in Canada I was standing above34 www.oystermarine.com

OWNER PROFILEhim on an 18-foot cliff. Climbing up and around a bunch of trees in waist-deep snow would haveworn me out. He considered the terrain, my ability, and told me to take the jump. I stuck thelanding and had one exhilarating run. But I can’t think of anyone else whose decision I wouldhave trusted in that situation. Bobby has an easy way of leading people. He treads a line betweenarrogance and self-confidence. Arrogance is no good. But if you’re self confident, people willfollow you."Today, Bob De Haven is a fit 58. He looks like he could still hit like he did when he played linebacker for Rutgers University. Two years ago he was working with the race organisers at BeaverCreek, Colorado, where he has a home, helping set a slalom course on a steep pitch. He’d takena bunch of gates to the top on a snowmobile. When it was time to leave, rather than take theservice road he took off down the pitch. "It looked steep," he says, "but I made it up so I figuredI could make it down."He knew he’d pushed the envelope too far when he hit 40 mph in the first hundred feet. "There’snot much compression in a snowmobile engine," he says in his analytical way, "and the brakesaren’t worth much. My best chance was to turn off on the transition road half way down. I figuredif I leaned way out on the uphill side, and gave the throttle a goose into the turn, I’d skid aroundand end up facing uphill." But the hill had been iced to preserve the course. The edge of thetreads caught, and De Haven was flung into mid air.Mallika lands her catchWith the snowmobile tumbling after him, he landed on his back on the snow-packed road andbounced over the edge, dropping ten feet and landing feet first in soft snow up to his armpits.The machine came to a stop overhanging the edge. From previous sports injuries he knew bothhis shoulders had been dislocated. Then the bad news: he realized he wasn’t breathing."I’m not sure what I did," De Haven says. "I flexed my chest real hard a couple times, and startedto get air." Then he put his shoulders back in place with moves he’d learned, extricated himselffrom the snow, and walked down the hill to the hospital. The doctor told him his excellentmusculature had saved him. Landing on his back had collapsed his lungs. It’s rare for both lungsto re-inflate without assistance. "The doc said if I ever regretted spending all that time in the gym,this made it worthwhile. Then he put my collarbone back in place. It was sticking straight out."De Haven went skiing the next day in a sling, without poles. He never did have the surgery thedoctor recommended to reduce the bump left by the collarbone. "It reattached okay. It wouldhave been for cosmetic reasons only. When I was playing football a guy stuck his elbow undermy hat on one play and split my lip under my nose. The coach cleaned it up and put on abutterfly. He said I might want to have cosmetic surgery, but I wasn’t pretty to start with so whybother." He laughs.“With the snowmobiletumbling after him, he landedon his back on the snowpackedroad and bouncedover the edge, droppingten feet”Bob De Haven likes speed, and finds a physical challenge hard to resist. That said, odds are thatevery so often he’ll exceed the limits. But as Mike Gregoire says, he’s anything but reckless. Heworks hard to line up the odds in his favor. De Haven took delivery of his Oyster 62 in June 2004.I raced with him the second day MISTRESS MALLIKA was in the water, and was amazed at howfamiliar he was with the boat and its systems. He’d done his homework and then some. Two dayswww.oystermarine.com 35

Friend and business colleague, Ron Szabo, plots the course with Bob Roger Vaughan at the helm during the Caribbean 1500before the Carib 1500 started in Norfolk, Bob was moving his boat from one slip to another whenthe bow thruster solenoid stuck in the "on" position. That’s trouble. One only uses the bowthruster in tight situations. In a flash De Haven reversed the engine and put the helm hard over tocounteract the swinging bow. He missed a moored motor yacht by less than a foot. While thatwas going on Mallika scrambled below and cut off the entire electrical panel. The bow thrusterkept going. Bob gave the helm to a guest, dove below, and recalling the bow thruster control boxwas at the base of the mast, located it and cut it off. People on the dock applauded.“Over the years, 92% ofour business was repeatbusiness. I think that’s whyI was attracted to Oysterwhen I wanted a big boat.They understand theimportance of the customer,and have a strong repeatbusiness”A month before the Carib 1500, De Haven’s first long ocean passage, I suggested he contact BillBiewenga, a well-known marine weather consultant with more than 340,000 ocean miles(including 26 transatlantic crossings and four passage records) under his own keel. De Haven notonly contacted Biewenga, he hired him to come to Washington, D.C. and give his crew a daylongbriefing. At day’s end our heads were filled with the likes of surface pressure analysis, theCoriolus effect, occluded fronts, and jet stream patterns. And Bill Biewenga was impressed."I’ve never met a guy who was so serious about having fun," Biewenga said. "He wants to havefun, and he wants the people with him to have fun. The way he treats people makes them want todo better than they normally do. He’s a natural leader."Prior to the passage to Tortola, De Haven spent untold hours on weather and Gulf Streamanalysis. We selected a course that combined routes Biewenga and one other meteorologistsuggested, with adjustments of our own based on fleet positions and weather conditions as weproceeded. We were first to finish by more than a day. We corrected 5th, but as De Haven said,"I don’t care about handicaps. Being first to finish is what matters."Bob De Haven was born and raised on a farm outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father had asmall printing business in the city. On nights and weekends, he and his two sons worked thefarm. "We lived that way because our parents thought it would be best for us. We had about 100hogs, 25 beef cattle, a cow...we raised feed, oats, barley, corn," Bob says. "I got a nickle eachtime for milking the cow. I’m fortunate my mother and father took parenting seriously. We didn’thave a lot, but I never knew it".When he was six, his father prescribed boxing lessons after Bob came home from school with ablack eye. "I had to put on these huge gloves. I wasn’t too interested. It wasn’t a good experience.But it was Dad’s way or the highway. He cleaned my clock until I was a junior in high school. Afterthe first time I whipped him, he cancelled the boxing. He made the rules. But I kept at it. I neverhad to fear any situation. There were no guns in those days. Maybe the occasional knife."The family moved to the city for better schools when the boys got older. Bob went out for PopWarner football and discovered farm work had made him stronger than the other kids. He wassoon practicing with the high school freshmen team. When he entered high school, he was startinghalf back, and linebacker on defense. He played every play but one the next four seasons (once hegot knocked out, and the rules required he sit out at least one play). Between football, wrestling,track, and baseball, De Haven won ten letters in high school. He captained most of his teams.Athletic ability got De Haven a scholarship to Rutgers University, but he moved to University ofPittsburgh after a year. He did well enough wrestling to be invited to spend the summer with theUnited States team. Making an Olympic bid was tempting. "I could either get serious, or forgetabout it, concentrate on my degree, get into business and make money. I chose the latter. At the36 www.oystermarine.com

OWNER PROFILEend of the day, what if you don’t make it? And even if you do, with rare exception there is nomoney in the sport. That’s why I contribute to the Olympics. No one comprehends what anOlympic athlete has to give up."At Pitt, De Haven hated his major, mechanical engineering, and disparaged economics as smokeand mirrors. Computer science caught his fancy. Pitt had one of the best computer labs in thecountry in the 1960s, and Carnegie Mellon’s enormous resources were just down the street. AndARPAnet – Advanced Research Projects Agency network started by the Defense Department as areaction to the Russian’s launch of Sputnik in 1957 – was just getting rolling. ARPAnet turned outto be a precursor to the World Wide Web."The ARPAnet was cool," De Haven says, "and we got to play with it. Students at Pitt also createdthe first Star Wars game. We could `fly’ space ships and shoot at the other guys. At the time, IBM’sTom Watson was predicting they could sell thousands of computers. Thousands? I don’t want toimply I knew more than Tom Watson, but that seemed like a low estimate." Bob grins. "I thoughtsome computer-type business would be just right for an up and coming young man like me."IBM was the usual choice for computer -savvy students in those days, but De Haven chose asmall company called Synectics that comprised social scientists doing studies of governmentprograms (food stamps, for instance). De Haven was the first information technologyperson they hired, his good luck because the timing was prefect. He wrote statisticalprogrammes, key punched the data on cards, analysed and de-bugged theprogrammes. Soon he convinced the company to go after "computer-based"contracts that would go beyond using the computer as a statistical tool, and,as De Haven says, "employ the computer to do things for the benefit of mankind."Before long 70% of Synectics’ business was computer-based, includingdepartment of defense contracts in which the advancement of artificialintelligence was the key. De Haven petitioned Synectics’ president until theman let him open a Washington office, then amazed him by selling his houseand moving to Washington within a week. In three years, De Haven’sWashington office was doing 80% of the company’s business. They madehim Chief Operating Officer with offices in four states. He asked the bossto let him run the company. "I told him, I’ll work for you, make youwww.oystermarine.com37

Oyster 62, MISTRESS MALLIKAmoney. Finally I quit and started my own company, Quality Systems, Inc." For the start-up, Bob’sfather offered him the money he’d obtained from selling his printing business, about $65,000.Bob said he’d take it only as a loan with the same interest he was paying the banks. When DeHaven sold the business eight years later, his father’s payoff was handsome.Companies like Quality Systems abound in Washington because they are set up to serve thegovernment’s needs. As government programmes get funded, requests for technical proposalsare placed in the Commerce and Business Daily. De Haven preferred to work on the inside, butgetting inside is a trick. His entrée was the Rome Air Development Center in upstate New York,a Synectics customer that did research and development for the Air Force’s intelligence supportsystems. "We worked on voice recognition programmes and digitizing maps for them in the early70s," De Haven says. "That introduced me to the realm of artificial intelligence. I really liked thoseprojects, and I worked hard on that customer. If you are working with a client on one programme,it’s natural to participate in technical discussions about other projects they have coming up.Maybe you write position papers that help them get funding. When it comes time to write aproposal for them, you know more than anyone about the project." When he opened QualitySystems, Inc. in 1980, De Haven’s reputation preceded him in just the right circles.Rick Schieffelin met Bob De Haven shortly thereafter. Schieffelin was a doctoral candidate(American History) from University of Wisconsin who’d got sidetracked into a management job inthe aerospace industry. Schieffelin’s resume was passed on to De Haven by a client. He turnedout to be the 18th person De Haven hired for Quality Systems."My intention was always to go back to school, get my degree, and teach," says Schieffelin, whois currently Vice President and General Manager, National Enterprise Systems, BAE SystemsInformation Technology (BAE bought Quality Systems in 1999). "As a liberal arts guy I had a lowestimation of the all-powerful corporate culture. Through Bob I found out it can be different. Youcan treat customers fairly and feel good about the business world. Bob is so motivated, so peoplefocusedand optimistic. He relates to everybody from the boardroom to the streets. He lured meaway. After my first session with him I went from applying for a job to considering a career."Much of Quality Systems work was for the Intelligence Community, and remains highly classified.But Bob De Haven’s approach is no secret. "I made everybody who worked for Quality Systemsunderstand they were salesmen," he says. "We made a concentrated effort to make things happenwith a few good clients. We’d do whatever it took to help the customer, become invaluable, and dosuch a good job that our customer would be promoted. His span of influence would increase, andhe’d come back to the guys who helped make it happen: us. Over the years, 92% of our businesswas repeat business. I think that’s why I was attracted to Oyster when I wanted a big boat. Theyunderstand the importance of the customer, and have a strong repeat business."A good example of how De Haven goes after projects is how he became one of thelargest Harley Davidson Motorcycle dealers in the world. After he sold andretired from his software business in 1996, a friend passed on a deal he’dheard about: a Black guy named Sarge had a lock on a Harley dealership forFairfax, Virginia. He had $69,000 cash, and needed a million from38 www.oystermarine.comPhotos: Roger Vaughan and Bob De Haven

OWNER PROFILEinvestors. Bob was interested. His father rode Harleys, and asa kid Bob was always a willing passenger. "Dad rode until heneeded gas," Bob says, "then rode some more. I loved it."Bob met with Sarge. "The only truth to the story was that theguy was Black," Bob says. "He had no lock, the $69,000belonged to his girlfriend’s mother, it was a Friday and theproposals were due on Monday, and it was going to takemore like $5-6 million to do the deal. I asked Sarge if I couldtake a shot at it. If it worked, I’d let him in for founders’shares. He said go for it."That weekend De Haven wrote a proposal. "It was no bigdeal. I had good proposal experience from the softwarebusiness, I raced motorcycles for 20 years, and I had themoney and business acumen to do it. The Harley guy called,said he liked my proposal, but there was a problem. They’dreceived 68 proposals and had already selected seven peopleto interview. I told him he could either interview eight or forgetabout it. We set up a meeting. The night before I had abusiness plan delivered to the Harley guy’s hotel room. I wanted to control the meeting, so thenext day I asked them if they’d like to do their agenda or if I should brief them on my businessplan? They told me to please go ahead. I knew I had it from then on."Bob De Haven at Patriot Harley Davidsonin Fairfax, one of the most successfulHarley Davidson dealerships in the worldPatriot Harley Davidson on the commercial strip of Lee Highway that bisects Fairfax looks morelike a bank, or maybe a large highway restaurant. It’s a modern, functional building with a tan,pebble-grain finish on structural concrete. Like the entire project, it was designed to De Haven’sspecifications. In his working clothes – alligator cowboy boots, fitted jeans, and starched whiteshirt with "Harley Davidson" embroidered on the pocket – Bob led a visitor around theimmaculate, efficient place with unconcealed pride. Whether in the showroom, the clothingdepartment, or in the mechanics’ shops across the street, workers greeted him more like a palthan the boss. In his office Bob found a 50-pound bag of chicken feed that made him laugh. He’djust had a series of painful injections in his gimpy knee. The serum was made from cocks combcartilage. The chicken feed was his employees’ friendly punch in the arm.Stunning in a black pants suit, Mallika met us for lunch. She works with abused teenage girls,and had just come from leading a seminar. It’s a serious enough vocation that when she and Bobdecided to get married, she requested a prenuptial agreement that would specify she couldcontinue her work several days a week. Her expertise in the field was hard earned. When shewas six months old, Mallika had been given to a religious cult from which she’d finally escapedfourteen years later, and against which there is currently a $400 million class action law suit(chief among the allegations: severe child abuse). After escaping, she’d lied about her age to landa job as a telemarketer, and by the time she was in her twenties she had become so good atselling that she started her own cell phone company. She met Bob when a girlfriend that workedat Quality Systems helped her get inside to sell her product.Bob wasn’t receptive. Cell phones and classified contracts don’t go well together. So Mallikastaked out the parking lot and managed to sell 200 phones to his employees. "She waspersistent," Bob says with admiration. "Then she switched to commercial real estate and cameafter me for contacts. I took her to lunch." "We never talked about real estate," Mallika says.“I’ve never met a guy whowas so serious about havingfun … he wants to have fun,and he wants the peoplewith him to have fun. Theway he treats people makesthem want to do better thanthey normally do. He’s anatural leader”When she was 17, a date had asked Mallika where she was from. She told him. He laughed,convinced she was joking. So until she met Bob, in 1996, she considered it prudent to keep herstory to herself. But Bob was fascinated. He researched the cult on the internet so he could talkknowledgeably about it. "I guess she thought I was a keeper," Bob says.We finished the Carib 1500 on a Wednesday around 2am in pitch blankness, whipping through anarrow passage at Tortola’s eastern end at 10 knots. The dusky silhouettes of the little DogIslands to port were barely visible against the dark velvet sky. We sailed down Sir Francis DrakeChannel, picked up a mooring in the harbour at Peter Island and slept. By early afternoon wewere at the marina in Roadtown, doing a complete wash down. The next day, before the secondboat had finished, we went sailing.That evening several other crews were at the bar. Bob said someone had asked him how wemanaged to go so fast. He chuckled. "I said I told my crew, sail it like you stole it."Roger Vaughanwww.oystermarine.com39

ARC2004OYSTERS CROSS THE ATLANTIC IN STYLETwenty-three Oyster yachts took part in the 2004 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, the ARC,making Oyster, once again, the most prolific participant. As usual the Oyster fleetwere highly competitive on ARC handicap. Congratulations to the Oyster 66, Voodoo,who was overall winner on corrected time in Cruising Class 1.Starting in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, the ARC has become a popular way tomake a trade wind passage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Essentially a rally andnot a race, there is nevertheless friendly competition where making port ahead of friendsand rivals adds another element to the crossing.A year or two ago when we made the crossing to St Lucia in the Oyster 62, OystercatcherXXIV, the trade winds were well established and we made the crossing in a little over 12days averaging 9.9 knots. We carried a spinnaker throughout and managed a 267-mile day;in retrospect, despite having the best overall result, it was a little bit too competitive.John Edwards, Oyster 66 VOODOO, wins Class 1In 2004 the fleet enjoyed somewhat moregentle conditions allowing camaraderieamongst crews and the pleasure of settlinginto the pleasant routine of an ocean passageto prevail. There’s the daily radio check, whereeach day’s run can be measured against thefleet, but that aside, catching a decent sizedtuna or baking a fresh loaf take equal priorityover trying for an extra mile or two on thenoon to noon run.As usual, the Oyster After Sales crew were inLas Palmas at the start to give every Oyster acomplimentary pre-start ARC health check.This service is always appreciated and thistime the crew worked late into the night beforethe start to change an autopilot on one yachtthat had failed only that afternoon. The Oystercrew also help to provide some reassurance toowners making the crossing, perhaps for thefirst time, that the rig, steering and otherequipment has been properly checked over.Oyster’s Joint MD, Murray Aitken, organisedthe now traditional pre-start party at the SantaCatalina Hotel where around 150 owners,crews and friends gathered to hear news of aseries of special prizes for the Oyster fleetpresented in addition to the usual WorldCruising ARC prizes. The best day’s run, thelargest fish and the most fish caught allfeatured on the prize list with a presentationparty planned in Antigua on 11 April to coincidewith the UBS Oyster Regatta there. There wasgreat camaraderie between crews and weknow of at least one wager, a case of bubblybetween the four Oyster 53’s taking part.In some ways the 2004 ARC was the end of atradition and the beginning of something new.This was the last year for the ARC Oyster fleetbecause in 2005 World Cruising Club haveagreed to provide a special class for theOyster fleet in their sister event the RubiconAtlantic Challenge.The Rubicon starts from Lanzarote, also in theCanary Islands and finishes in Antigua.Photos: Tim Wright, Richard Matthews and Keith Hamilton

OYSTER ARC CLASS 1Pearl Fisher Oyster 56/32 Michael & Anne WilliamsonMoana Oyster 56/31 Rolf & Yolanda HerligRagamuffin Oyster 56/34 Brad RedmayneMoi-Noi Jodine Oyster 56/14 Xaloplan LtdIchi Feet Oyster 56/36 John & Elsie OliverBaccalieu III Oyster 56/38 Mike & Donna HillCarpe Diem Oyster 62/12A Keith & Rosemary HamiltonVoodoo Oyster 66/10 John & Jane EdwardsSundowner Oyster 66/11 Lurelle VerplankGoodwinds Oyster 66/02 Richard GoodwinAltair Oyster 68/12 Larry & Jane HelmichOyster 56, PEARL FISHEROYSTER ARC CLASS 2Rainmaker Oyster LW395/29 Julian NicholsAmandla Kulu Oyster LW395/15 Bob JonesLady Menai Oyster 435/07 Fred & Robin KayChant Pagan Oyster LW48/02 Steve & Joan WoodruffWhite Wings Oyster 485/35 Klaus SchubackAdesso Oyster 49/09 Gerald & Anne-Marie GoetgeluckFizz Oyster 53/32 Anni & Jan MatthewsSeeadler Oyster 53/06 Günther BerghoferFlica Oyster 53/12A Marilyn KenworthyGualin of Cowes Oyster 53/24 David & Mary ParsonTallulah of Falmouth Oyster 53/23 Tim & Rebecca BrettellSavage Oyster 55/06 Alex MartinARC RESULTSWinner of the ARC Cruising Class 1 on corrected timeVoodoo Oyster 66 John & Jane EdwardsOYSTER PRIZESCrew of theOyster LW395,RAINMAKEROYSTER TROPHYFor the first Oyster on ARC Handicap - Oyster LW395 Amandla KuluOYSTER CLASS 11 Voodoo Oyster 66 John & Jane Edwards2 Pearl Fisher Oyster 56 Michael Williamson3 Ichi Feet Oyster 56 John & Elsie OliverOYSTER CLASS 21 Amandla Kulu Oyster LW395 Bob Jones2 Rainmaker Oyster LW395 Julian Nichols3 Fizz Oyster 53 Anni & Jan MatthewsOyster LW395, AMANDLA KULUYACHT CATCHING THE LARGEST FISHVoodoo Oyster 66 John & Jane EdwardsThe Rubicon Marina and adjacent hotel is a new top quality facility, coincidentallyowned by an Oyster owner. We will be providing our usual pre-start service supportand will run a special day event for the Oyster fleet just before the start. Oystersof every size will be warmly embraced in the Rubicon and we are sure thatmany owners will prefer the improved and uncrowded pre-start facilitiesat Marina Rubicon and the opportunity to finish in Antigua,the yachting centre of the Caribbean.Oyster 56, ICHI FEETCongratulations to all the owners and crews who made thecrossing in the 2004 event, and especially to the prizewinners.We look forward to welcoming all the Oyster ARC crewsin Antigua on 11 April where Mount Gay has kindlysponsored our party.For information on the Rubicon Atlantic Challenge 2005contact World Cruising Club:Tel: +44 (0) 1983 296060Fax: +44 (0) 1983 295959Email: mail@worldcruising.comwww.worldcruising.comJohn Edwards withthe largest catch ofthe Oyster fleet41

FALKAa classic 52ft Fife motor yacht of 1919 vintageSYS WOULD LIKE TO RESTORE HER TOHER FORMER GLORY BUT WITHMODERN EQUIPMENT ANDAPPOINTMENTS. FALKA WOULDMAKE A SUPERB GENTLEMAN'SLAUNCH WITH OVERNIGHTACCOMMODATION AND LOTS OFSPACE FOR DAYS OUT. FALKA WILLBE REFURBISHED TO THE HIGHESTSTANDARD TO BEST MATCH HEROWNER'S TASTE AND IDEAS.TEMPTED?CONTACT PIERS WILSONAT SYS FOR DETAILS.SOUTHAMPTON YACHT SERVICES LTDJOINERS & YACHT BUILDERSSaxon Wharf Lower York Street NorthamSouthampton SO14 5QF EnglandTelephone +44 (0)23 8033 5266 Fax +44 (0)23 8063 4275email: enquiry@southamptonyachtservices.co.ukwww.southamptonyachtservices.co.ukREFIT & REPAIR • CLASSIC RESTORATION • NEW BUILD YACHTSAN OYSTER GROUP COMPANY

stopand dropUltimate Boating Control.Cruising is supposed to be a breeze.When you leave the dock, your bow thrustershould ease you out with nothing more than a whisper. En route to your favoritespot, your steering, and sail control systems should take you there with completecontrol. And when it’s time to anchor, why not enjoy pushbutton windlassperformance and a fast, solid hold on any seabed? When it comes to cruising, weat Lewmar believe there’s nothing wrong with perfection.www.lewmar.com

the2004ARCBy Keith Hamilton Oyster 62 CARPE DIEMIn the marina at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, waiting for the start of ARC2004, it is a bit like waiting for Christmas. Anticipation and planning havebeen a large part of the enjoyment, but by the time there are only a fewmore days left to go, you just want it to happen now.Rosemary and I took delivery of our new Oyster 62, CARPE DIEM, in June 2004 in Ipswich. Aftera shakedown cruise to the Channel Islands to export her out of the EU, we returned toSouthampton for some minor tweaking and then spent six weeks of rain, fog and cold, cruisingthe south coast of England and Brittany. We were told so many times by the locals that thisweather was very unusual and ‘we should have been here last year’, that we almost started tobelieve them.A bright spot in our travels was the Cowes Oyster Regatta, which was great fun, despite weatherthat Richard Mathews himself described as ‘diabolical’! (We should have been there last year).Hoping for sunnier climes we sailed south via Cameret, La Coruna and Gibraltar to Barcelonawhere we finally stopped for a while. We then sailed over to the Balearic Islands and spent a verypleasant time there before joining the Oyster Regatta at Palma in Mallorca. That was really goodfun and we acquitted ourselves reasonably well in both the racing and socialising.By early November we had sailed south to Lanzarotte and then Las Palmas in Gran Canaria forthe start of the ARC.We had six of us on board for the trip: Rosemary and me; Paul Fenn and Cristina Bruguera, ourfull time captain and crew; Rob Liston a friend from Vancouver and Charlie Scott, a freelanceprofessional photographer from Detroit who took many of the tremendous photos whichaccompany this article. We had a good amount of sailing experience between us, including acircumnavigation by Paul on ESCAPADE, an Oyster 55.In Las Palmas we spent time provisioning, ensuring everything on the boat was up to scratchand meeting people. It was extremely reassuring having Eddie Scougall and the Oyster teamon the docks for the 12 days before the start to go over issues and answer our concerns, butfortunately we had no significant problems. Alistair from Marine Computing in Southamptonwas flown out by his company and spent a very busy week addressing computer problems thateveryone seems to have on boats, including ours. It was a great experience being one of 22Oysters in the ARC fleet.Provisioning was extremely user friendly in Las Palmas. All the major supermarkets and marketvendors deliver directly to the boat. Rosemary and Cristina had a great time selecting produce atvarying stages of ripeness to see us through the fourteen to sixteen days we anticipated wewould take (plus a margin for safety). Despite having a watermaker we stowed enough drinkingwater to cover the entire trip, on the basis of sod’s law being a universal truth.44 www.oystermarine.com

OYSTERS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC“It is a huge tribute to thestability of the 62 thatRosemary, who is a cautioussailor and who was alone inthe cockpit for a little while atnight, said to me excitedlywhen I came up ‘we were upto 12 knots surfing just now,it was great, what a shameyou missed it”www.oystermarine.com 45

ARC put on several seminars, which were quite useful, especially those by Chris Tibbs onemergencies, weather and routing. Some of the questions from the audience did give rise toconcern about the preparedness of everyone for the trip though. After a talk on weather andsqualls: "If I’m flying full sails and a squall is approaching, what should I do?" After a talk onarrival in St. Lucia and the IALA B buoy system: "What does red right returning mean?"The routing session was very useful. It was clear that the ‘normal’ Azores high and trade windpattern was not present. There was a low further south than normal and so we elected tofollow Chris Tibbs’ advice and head for a waypoint of 20N 30W before making for home.In a more usual pattern we would probably have sailed the rhumb line, being prepared tomotor through the light airs at the early stage.The day of the start we cleared the dock early, in part because we were concerned thatour bow anchor might be fouled, but largely to stay out of the congestion at the Marinaentrance. Oyster had arranged a photo-shoot of the Oyster boats together, so under thedirections of Murray Aitken we lined up and went through our paces for posterity.Before the official start of the rally we hung well back out of the crowd. It seemed foolish torisk damage before a 2700-mile passage for the sake of a few minutes. As the air was light atthe start gun and there was considerable crowding with more than one collision, our cautionseemed justified. Once over the line it was still very crowded and the air quite light. We decidedto motor-sail until clear of the bulk of the boats and we could then settle down to our course.“It was extremelyreassuring having EddieScougall and the Oysterteam on the docks for the12 days before the start togo over issues and answerour concerns”The winds came up to a Force 5/6 from the NE and we settled into sailing and our routine.Most of the time with the wind behind us we flew our white sails wing on wing with the Yankeepoled out and the staysail brought over to the same side as the main. This combination gave usalmost as much speed as an MPS and was much easier to manage in the swells. It was alsomuch easier to put away rapidly if a squall approached and so we could fly the combination allnight. We did however fly the MPS some of the time and Charlie went up the mast while it was upto take some spectacular shots.After the first few days the winds died to about Force 2/3 and we elected to motorsail. The 62carries 2000 litres of diesel and at 1200 RPM burns about 1 litre per mile. Although this was aRally, we had decided at the start that we would base our passage decisions as if we were onour own, our goal being to arrive in good time, in good spirits, well fed and watered, with nodamage or injuries.Our watches were done in pairs, 3 hours on, 6 off. This gave us a rotating system, the watch timeof day changing for everyone every day. We preferred this to the fixed time of day system.Routine quickly became comfortable: checking for chafe and damage in the early am; removingflying fish from the deck before they melted into the teak; checking the weather faxesdownloaded overnight via SSB from NMG New Orleans; checking email and weather from ARCand sending noon position to them; running the generator and watermaker. We ate together in thecockpit for lunch and supper, the food was superb. Usually a Mediterranean type salad at lunchand a full cooked meal in the evening. As Charlie was American we had individual roastedCornish game hens for Thanksgiving dinner. We decided a turkey was a bit much even for ourlarge oven and freezer. We did draw the line at Haggis on St Andrews Day for Rob our Scottishcrewmember though!Our watches at night were generally very pleasant, as the air grew warmer. We had almost a fullmoon at the start, but the stars were magnificent as always. I recently bought a computerprogramme called Night Sky Explorer from Greenwich Observatory and it had a very user-friendlyway to enter your lat/long and identify stars. It made the evenings go more quickly.Progress was generally slow as the winds stayed light for a while. On day 9 we entered alocalised low-pressure area of strong winds and rain. We were up to Force 8 for a while and theseas were quite confused. It lasted about 30 hours. After almost a week of light wind this wasquite enjoyable. We made great speed with a reefed staysail and a heavily reefed main. It is ahuge tribute to the stability of the 62 that Rosemary, who is a cautious sailor and who was alonein the cockpit for a little while at night during this, said to me excitedly when I came up ‘we wereup to 12 knots surfing just now, it was great, what a shame you missed it’!Checking everyone’s location and progress on the ARC position reports was fun in the eveningswhen they were sent out. It was distressing to hear of the two injuries that occurred though, andwe hope those involved did well.46 www.oystermarine.com Photos: Keith and Rosemary Hamilton, Nico Martinez

OYSTERS ACROSS THE ATLANTICAfter the heavy weather the winds settled down a bit too far to Force 2/3 again. It was clearlygoing to be a slow ARC, so as the seas had settled also and as the watermaker was working well,we washed down the deck from all the salt that had accumulated. We ran the watermaker everyday to top the tanks up so that if it failed we would be in good shape. Running the watermakerwas a sign that we could all shower, which we did pretty well daily. The other two luxuries in ourlives that made a big difference were the cockpit fridge for drinks, (it keeps people out of the galleyfridge) and the icemaker (which is definitely a bit ‘over the top’, but really very pleasant).Our fishing did not go well. Early in the passage we hooked a large marlin (the biggest one youever saw!), which stayed on the line for a few seconds before snapping it and jumping to toss thehook. None of us were particularly avid fishermen though, and when our reel was lost overboardafter being snagged by a line, no one was too upset. Truth is we were eating so well with thefood we had that fish were almost not needed. (If none of these excuses work as to why we didnot catch any fish I have several more available, on application).About three days from St Lucia, thirteen days from the start, the wind picked up to a proper tradewind strength of Force 4/5 and we had some great sailing.Arrival in St. Lucia was uneventful. We called ARC Control about 5 miles out and got informationabout the finish line location. Heading up around Pigeon Island it felt definitely odd to beclose–hauled after two weeks of running, At the dock we were met by the ARC team with abasket of fruit and glasses of rum punch. Leslie, Rob’s wife, had flown in two days earlier. It wasgreat to hear her familiar voice on the dock welcoming us in.We were sixteenth over the line, which we were very pleased with. We didn’t do as well afterhandicapping and engine penalty were applied, but from our perspective we had a great passage.Good sailing, great company, great food, a great destination, everybody happy and nobody hurt.That’s what it’s all about. That’s why we bought an Oyster.“Good sailing, greatcompany, great food,a great destination,everybody happy andnobody hurt. That’s what it’sall about. That’s why webought an Oyster”www.oystermarine.com 47

fizzing across the atlantic3000 MilesUnder the BigPink SpinnakerBy Jan MatthewsOyster 53 FIZZTHE BACKGROUNDWe launched our Oyster 53 FIZZ in May 2004with an epic party at Fox’s Marina, theatmospheric steel band a foretaste of thingsto come. Then came the shakedown cruiseto Cowes for the July Oyster Regatta and onto the Med for the summer, culminating in thePalma Oyster regatta in September.Meanwhile, we made the momentousdecision to steal a six-month sabbatical,cruising in the Caribbean, but how and whereto start and finish? A race across the Atlanticfrom the Canaries to Saint Lucia of course.Perfection or madness? Richard Matthewssays you have to do it, so here goes.THE PREPARATIONOur skipper did most of the preparation afterthe delivery trip from Mallorca. The Oysterdockside support team are here to help solveany of the more serious problems: particularlythank you Eddie Scougall. Flying in fromLondon with a week to go, I take on the taskof provisioning. First step is to plan themenus, including emergency rations (thosedreadful tins), then organise the shopping.A Herculean task but support team, notablywife and co-owner Anni and the crew, leapinto action. Traipsing up and down endlesssupermarket aisles, loading the trolleys withevery conceivable goodie. Major purchase isa whole carcase of dried mountain ham,complete with carving frame – perfect forstorage in wet locker, which of course wewon’t need on this sunshine cruise!FIZZ is definitely not a dry boat so dedicatedattention paid to wine, beer and spiritsselection. A possible 20 days at sea x 6 crewalso means 120 large bottles of water.Thankfully due to cleverly designed underfloor and under locker space all was stowedand the weight spread across the boat. Lastday is foray to market for fresh fruit andvegetables. Meanwhile Anni and Jackie havebeen cooking meals for the deep freeze –nine superbly prepared dinners promise tomake cordon bleu catering on board aserious possibility.THE SEMINARSNext are the seminars - wind and weatherforecasting, using a sextant (does anybodystill do it?), rigging, communications, routesacross and back, first aid, safety at sea,liferaft and flare demonstrations, etc. etc.THE PARTIESFinally the parties, of which there are many.The highlight of course is the Oyster party.Wine flowing in abundance, delicious food,excited owners and crews all in the best ofspirits. Chairman Richard holds forth inusual fine form. A veteran of the race withhuge experience, many tips are learned fromhim (and indeed from all in the Oystersupport team, who are there in strength).Richard announces there are twenty fourOysters racing, more than any other boatbuilder, including four other Oyster 53s,notably arch rival GUALIN as well as theIrish FLICA. Shake hands on a case ofchampagne for the winner.THE RACESunday, 21 November and we are off. Thewaiting and preparation finally over and allmightily relieved to take to sea. RodneyBarton (master mariner with two doublehanded Atlantics to his credit), John Doree(co owner of previous boat, Contessa 32Roulette), Roger Morris (experienced sailor48 www.oystermarine.com

OYSTERS ACROSS THE ATLANTICand X -Yacht owner), Seb MackenzieWilson (godson and Times journalist), JohnDanby (at 23, probably the youngest skipperin the ARC, but plenty of blue water racingunder his belt) and me, all keen to get intoocean routine. The big decision is which wayto go - directly on the great circle route(about 2700 miles) or head south initially,searching for the North Easterly trades andthen west (maybe well over 3000 miles)?This year it looks particularly difficult, withlight winds forecast to the south but(according to our weather guru, AnthonyRichards, appointed to give us regularupdates from London) there is a big hole onthe direct route, followed by the remnants ofa large low extending from Bermuda withstrong headwinds of up to 50 knots. Neitherof these sound like what we were promised,glorious following breezes and champagnesailing all the way! We decide south has it,but how far and whether straight or withsome westing isn’t so clear.Huge melee at the start. We keep out of theway, close to the shore. The gun goes butvirtually no wind -10 minutes of drifting, sowhat now? Lots of boats have put engineson and are disappearing. We decide to dothe same. Never been in a race before wherethis is allowed, all very strange. It is in factcatch 22 – first, there is a time penalty:second, you don’t know what it is till youarrive! The race organisers decide at the end,depending on conditions during the crossing.But anything has to be better than sitting still.Run the engine for a couple of hours then thewind gradually fills in - what a relief. Up withthe big pink kite (Anni’s choice of colour) andthis time we really are off, heading southsteering 160 degrees. School of dolphins joinus to wave goodbye to the old world,saluting our departure. Watch routines noworganised - 6 crew, so split into 3 watches of3 hours each, but on a rolling basis so youchange fellow watch members and times onthe passage. A great system since you get 6hours off, although everybody has to be ondeck for gybes.50 miles on and adopt revised routeing plan,now heading 253 degrees to amendedwaypoint. Dinner, the first successful test ofthe deep freeze and a wondrous night, skytotally filled with stars and a vivid, almost fullmoon, only finally disappearing around 0400.Hold spinnaker all night long and evenmanage a gybe in the dark. All hands ondeck, lots of clattering, everybody very rusty,but luckily no wraps.“Not a moment’s concernabout the boat the wholevoyage – hugely comfortableand superb sailingperformance”www.oystermarine.com 49

“3000 miles flying thatbig pink spinnaker willlive in the memory”DAY 2201 miles covered - great progress after thatinitial drifting start! A couple of gybes tosharpen up the crew and keep on trucking.Email from Anthony at 19.30 with anticipatedchart at end of week. Low approaching withstrong south westerlies so advice is to headeven further south.DAY 3Weather update 24 hours later and it seemsunlikely we can now skirt the low completelyby going south, so advice instead is tomake some westing and cross it at leastpainful point. Oops! Other main event is mythird day of bread making. After initialrudimentary attempts crew finally judge it asuccess! Wind still holding, so maintain 200mile daily average.DAYS 4 AND 5Spinnaker still flying 600 miles into the race,so major concern is chafing. Always keepspare halyard attached to spinnaker andalso change halyard every day. Leatherstrop sewn on to guys helps avoid wear andtear. Morale very positive since ARC officereports us in 13th place on the water:everything to play for!But wind immediately expires, so engine onfor 7 hours. Weather report now doom andgloom, with no wind expected in the area.Anthony says motor fast in south, southwestdirection for 150 miles to chase the freshbreeze. Personal frustration taken out byrenewed vigour in the galley – mushrooms ala greque, guacamole and fresh bread to beprepared for lunch. When wind finally fills ingreat relief to all. Later on there is almost afull moon, so night sailing is bathed in light.Also marvellously warm, sailing in T-shirt andshorts for the first time.Days 6 and 7Still heading south, to avoid approach ofimpending low and also to track rival,Gualin, who although a long way behind ismuch further south. Major celebrations at14.00 hours – completed first 1000 miles,so cracked open the Fizz and drink to thenext 1000 miles!Race office now report 1st in class, 40 milesahead of Flica and 90 miles ahead of Gualin –too good to be true. Fantastically exhilaratingspinnaker sailing, with everyone fighting forthe helm on his watch. Anthony still points usto the south to skirt the low.DAYS 8 AND 9Race reports come in showing us muchfurther south than the competition, withGualin some 90 miles to the north. Oh dear,have we gone too far? Only consolation isthat the maxi yacht, Leopard, went this way.Decide on position 15 degrees 43 minute’snorth and 35 degrees 53 minutes west thatwe had better finally head west! At middaywe are at last heading on the direct compasscourse. Our rivals now similar distance fromthe finish but 100 miles to the north.50 www.oystermarine.com

OYSTERS ACROSS THE ATLANTICDAY 10Sailing close to rhumb line and maintainingreasonable speed, with daily run of 198miles. In close contact with Oyster 56 PearlFisher and we console each other with theview that south must be better! Execute the13th spinnaker gybe of the trip – now downto a fine art. In radio contact at last withDavid Parson of Gualin, who claims to haveseen us, and also reports living on fresh fishfor 3 days. All very frustrating – not only havethey caught up, but also we haven’t reeled ina single fish on our lines!DAYS 11 AND 12Generally rather a dull day but a relief to havea respite from the sun. A record 214 miles onthe water and by 18.35 we had covered 2000miles from the start. Champagne again butextra celebration was the first cooked dessertof the trip – apple and peach crumble.DAYS 16 AND 17Mini squall at midnight but soon over andkindly winds again. Each day now exceeding200 miles. According to reports coming in weare even leading boat in our division with only170 miles to go.DAY 18 - ARRIVALWind increases so a roller coaster ride allnight, with spinnaker still up and speed rarelybelow 10 knots. At 23.00 local time lights ofSaint Lucia come into sight. My watch startsat 01.00 and shortly afterwards I break theFIZZ speed record, with 15.3 knots recordedon the dial, refusing to relinquish the helm forthe rest of the trip. Rounded Pigeon Island at03.00 and into Rodney bay, crossing the lineat 03.35 local time – what a sensation!“FIZZ is definitely not adry boat so dedicatedattention paid to wine, beerand spirits selection”Everyone in upbeat mood as results comethrough, putting us 10 miles ahead of Gualin.Amazingly close for former racing competitorsin the Contessa 32 class in the Solent! Rathersouth of the rhumb line, so gybe back northlate evening – could be another terriblemistake. Following day Anthony tells us to goback south to minimise flat patch expected ina day or so. Oh dear! 19.00 and wind diescompletely so 6 hours of engine – only hopeeveryone else is in the same hole!DAY 13– THE DAY OF TROUBLES04.50 and the first squall hits us with virtuallyno warning – extremely heavy rain andgusting 35 knots. No one wearing oil skins sothe whole crew saturated and freezing cold.But pink spinnaker squeezed in nick of timeand luckily no ostensible damage, sorehoisted at 05.30. Second squall (sighted onradar this time) at 08.00 hours and so thecrew are ready to take spinnaker down.White sails only and time to check all the kit.Discover the wire strop at the head of thesqueezer was damaged and neededreplacing. No wire spares so skipper utiliseshis training as a sailmaker and fits spectrereplacement. But whole exercise takes about5 hours. Even more frustrating is totalcollapse of wind. Another 8 hours motoringand finally with small kite up caught site ofGualin only a few miles astern. A big effortnow required to pull away.DAYS 14 AND 15A huge turn for the better – beautiful moonlitnights and wind filling in. Champagne sailing atlast. Getting very hot during the daytime sobimini up. The Caribbean climate now clearlyin evidence, with 700 miles to go. Even a flyingfish lands on the deck late evening. Trade windsailing and on straight course for Saint Lucia!Best of all, Anni has flown out two daysahead of time and volunteered for race duty,being an experienced Cowes hand wherethere are up to 1000 yachts racing each day.She commandeers local boatman Warrenand appears out of the dark just before thefinish line, having been up all night waiting.Sirens and klaxons blaring and flares blazing,a wonderful sight! Tie up in the marina shortlyafterwards and the party begins.16 days, 18 hours and 35 minutes, with anaverage of 10 knots for the last 18 hours.Number of spinnaker gybes, 23. First acrossthe line in our division, second on handicap,and 9th overall out of 200 boats. A greatresult for a great boat, our wonderful FIZZ.3000 miles flying that big pink spinnaker willlive in the memory for long after.Not a moment’s concern about the boat thewhole voyage – hugely comfortable andsuperb sailing performance. Also no gearfailure of any kind – a tribute to our skipper’spreparation. Finally, thanks to Richard and histeam at Oyster, whose years of dedication,design and construction experience havemade it all possible!Jan MatthewsPhotos: Tim Wright, Anni and Jan Matthewswww.oystermarine.com51

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O YSTERBy Richard MatthewsSEA TRIALSIn their post London Boat Show write upYachting World said of the Oyster 46“Oyster Marine really impressed with theirfifth generation, or G5 evolution, decksaloon yachts. The quality of finish aboardthis yacht is exceptional.”www.oystermarine.com 53

O YSTERSEA TRIALS ON THE ALL-NEW OYSTER 46Earlier Oysters in this size range were winners and in this, thenext generation, the all-new Oyster 46 looks certain to keepour head well above the parapet.Early in February I had the unusual experience of doing theinaugural builder’s sea trials on two new Oysters on the sameday, the 72 and 46, both having recently returned from their dualpremière at the London Boat Show. It was a hectic day sailingboth boats, getting into our 40 foot RIB to look at them underwayand taking photographs.It was time for a longer sail on the 46 and, having just returnedfrom a trip to New Zealand earlier in the week, where Aucklandwas in full summer plumage, the prospect of a winter sail in theUK was not inviting. Thankfully the weather gods smiled on ussince, in the two days since my return from Auckland, the UKtemperature had climbed steadily from around 3 degrees to 16,and with sunshine – more like Auckland.Our commissioning dock at Fox’s Marina was filled with aroundten Oysters of different sizes, all in the process of beingcommissioned. It was also low water, which made reversing outof the dock and accomplishing a 180-degree turn a tightmanoeuvre. In practice my boat handling skills were never tested,since the 9.5hp Sliepner tunnel type bow thruster whisked usaround with lots of oomph in reserve.Once underway there was a chance to test the boat under power.The Oyster 46 is fitted with an optional 3 bladed featheringMaxprop and at the max 2850 rpm close to flat out we wereshowing 8.2 on the GPS. For trials of this nature I tend to ignorethe boat speed indicator since, until these have been calibrated,they can be surprisingly inaccurate. Lower down the range at 2000rpm the GPS was still showing the sunny side of 7 knots, averagedover two runs up tide and down.Manoeuvrability under power on this boat is remarkable, shereally is very nimble and quick to turn. We had no difficulty inexecuting tight turns round one of the River Orwell channelmarkers in both port and starboard directions across the tide.Another test was the crash stop, demonstrating the yacht’sability to come up all standing in a hurry should the need arise.This does not mean to say that one simply rams the gearshift/throttle into max astern, since common sense dictates thatyou must slow through the ahead/astern gear selection and onceinto reverse there isn’t much point in using more than about aquarter throttle, since anything greater simply causes cavitations.Using one of the channel markers as a datum point we went54 www.oystermarine.com

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46O YSTERTHE EVOLUTION OF THE SPECIESGreat design starts with experience and in this case tens ofthousands of sea miles, including the circumnavigation'scompleted by the predecessors to the new Oyster 46, bothtruly great boats and still giving their owners comfortable,enjoyable cruising. It's the experience behind the newOyster 46 that has helped us create an exceptional design.Oyster 46 Ketch, Holman & Pye, launched 1980 Oyster 45, Holman & Pye, launched 1996 Oyster 46, Humphreys/Oyster Design Team, launched 2005past it with 8.2 on the clock and shifting into reverse stopped inless than two boat lengths – impressive.46/01 is set up with a Seldén rig and fully-battened mainsail withall controls, including reef lines, led back into the cockpit. It wastime to get underway and make use of the upgraded electrichalyard winch to hoist the mainsail. Boats of this type cansometimes be hard-headed and won’t sail close-hauled undermainsail only or respond to bearing away very easily until aheadsail is set to pull the bow around. Happily the 46 doesn’tshare this vice and in strong winds showed her willingness toslide easily along under main only in complete control. Next itwas time to unfurl the genoa and with the wind at about 16knots, gusting to 20, the 46 picked up her skirts and started toaccelerate on a beam reach. A 31 knot squall blew through andwhile it had some bite we were still able to hold our coursewithout the boat broaching up to windward.The forecast was 5-6 increasing 7 and the wind was certainlyrising with the GPS showing 9.1 knots in a steady 20 knots ofwind beam reaching. At this point it was obvious that the boat islight to steer and well balanced, but quite nimble too. She hasthe solid feel of a much larger yacht. We then lifted the 46 uponto the breeze and sailing close-hauled she certainly felt veryclose winded, but to be fair until she can be measured againstsome other yachts that’s just a feeling.What we could say for sure, as a 27 knot gust went through, is thatthe 46 is a stiff, powerful boat that carries her sail well and remainslight and well balanced on the helm even in squalls when, undernormal conditions, it would certainly be time for a few rolls in theheadsail and a reefed main. Bearing away in the strongest of thesqualls we tried to put the lee rail in the water and give crewmanShaun a wet foot but we didn’t get close. To be fair, we weresailing in flat water inside Harwich Harbour on the River Orwell buteven so, given the gusty conditions, we were delighted with theyachts handling.The 46 really does feel bigger and sleeker than her predecessors,which is saying a lot, since in their day the Holman & Pye Oyster46 ketch, our first Deck Saloon design, was a winner and morerecently the Holman and Pye Oyster 45 has proven herself inevery way. The design team have done a great job on the deck ofthis boat, since apart from looking really sleek the fundamentalsare all there, like having a great forward view when seated at thehelm position, proven by being able to easily see the stem head.Even the custom made stainless spring cleats and fairleads areflush within the teak toe rail showing the design flair andexperience that has gone into this yacht. As we hope you wouldexpect from an Oyster, everything about this boat is solid andwell put together.The conclusion is that this new design from Rob Humphreys andthe Oyster Design Team feels, looks and sails like a winner. Goodnews for us and for more than twelve owners who signed up forthe Oyster 46 before the first of its class tasted the sea. She is aworthy successor to the two great designs that are now part ofOyster’s history and will be part of our future for a very long time.www.oystermarine.com57

The Yachtsman’s PowerboatSince the London Boat Show in January,the new Oyster LD43 has generatedconsiderable interest.What does theLD stand for?Lunch and dinnerof course!The fact that the first three LD43’s were sold to existing Oyster owners might be acoincidence, or perhaps not as the whole project was conceived from the outset to produce“the yachtsman’s powerboat”.For two of these owners, one of whom circumnavigated in one of our yachts, the LD43 willbe their fourth Oyster. Their priorities were different but linked by the common theme ofliking Oyster quality, our after sales support and wanting to move into power boating withpeople they could trust.The LD43 is being designed, engineered and completed to the same high standards thathave established Oyster yachts as a top quality international brand and brought thecompany two Queen’s Awards for Industry, Britain’s top industrial accolade.Powered by a pair of 440hp Yanmars through Hamilton water jets, the LD43 will be the firstpowerboat to be fitted with a revolutionary computer-controlled joystick device developed byHamilton to offer astonishing low speed manoeuvrability. We have an interesting movieshowing just how this system works in graphic form. For owners preferring conventional propswe expect to offer the new Volvo IPS drive, which like the jet installation offers a package oftechnology driven, leading edge advantages over conventional engine installations.Both engine choices are expected to give the LD43 a top speed in the 35-knot plus range,while the deep V-hull design will make for comfortable, fast cruising. Modern compositeengineering by High Modulus, including the use of Kevlar and Carbon Fibre, will create aStraight out of themould, the Oyster LD43shows off her amazingtopside finish.58 www.oystermarine.com

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITYKim McDell and Bill Howlett of McDell Marine admire the finish on the LD43's topsides.strong, rigid hull and also achieve savings in weight over moreconventional construction, which translates to improvedperformance and range.While there’s little doubt the LD43 will make a great day boat, inreality she’s more than that. Our design team have come up withan ingenious aft door system that creates a secure, fully glazed,lockable saloon whose panels slide away in a few seconds tocreate an open plan saloon and cockpit area.The cockpit incorporates a large table for al fresco dining whosecentre section, like the larger Oyster sailboats, houses acapacious drinks fridge. Unlike most powerboats in this size rangethe saloon also features a saloon area where a table can be laidfor six people to enjoy lunch or dinner in style.McDell Marine in Auckland are the subcontractor chosen to buildthe LD43, a yard that have already built over one hundred motoryachts as well as over twenty Oyster cruising yachts. McDell haveestablished a reputation for high quality composite work andinnovative tooling and there is certainly more thana spoonful of ‘Kiwi ingenuity’ built into this boat.The first LD43 hull came out of the mould in March and was atestimonial to the care and effort that has gone into the tooling,showing a mirror-like finish on the striking dark blue gelcoat,which will be the standard hull colour. We expect to complete seatrials early July in time to get the first boat to the UK in good timefor the Southampton Boat Show in September. LD43-02 will followa few weeks later and will be shipped to the USA for theAnnapolis Power Boat Show in October.For those in the fortunate position to express a preference forquality, the new Oyster LD43 offers an enticing combination ofinnovative design, comfort, performance and real pride ofownership in a vessel conceived from the outset as "theyachtsman’s powerboat".THE KIWIEXPERIENCETake advantage of the opportunity to have your newOyster 53 or LD43 Motor Yacht delivered in Auckland, NewZealand and enjoy some hassle-free Kiwi magic.We are offering a special ‘Kiwi Experience’ package tobuyers of certain yachts in our range whereby owners canopt to take delivery in Auckland and enjoy the beautifulcruising ground of the Hauraki Gulf or perhaps thepicturesque Bay of Islands, one of the SouthernHemispheres best cruising areas.We will launch your yacht fully commissioned and ready togo, lend guides, charts and provide local advice to helpyou really enjoy this unique cruising opportunity. Take aslong as you like, from a week to a couple of months, toenjoy New Zealand and then hand the yacht back to us inAuckland, head for the airport and leave the rest to us.Your yacht will then be shipped to your chosen deliverylocation in either the UK or the US and delivered to you incommission, checked out and ready to go.For further information please call the Oyster Sales TeamTel: +44 (0) 1473 688888Email: yachts@oystermarine.comwww.oystermarine.com59

TheBob and Mallika De Haven, Roger and Kippy VaughanCaribbean 1500BY BOB DE HAVEN - OWNER OYSTER 62, MISTRESS MALLIKAThe Caribbean 1500 isboth a rally and a cruisein company fromHampton, Virginia in theUS to Tortola in theBritish Virgin Islands,a passage of more than1500 miles, typicallytaking 7-12 days.We have been sailing MISTRESS MALLIKAfor eight months and have put over 6000miles under her hull after taking delivery ofher in Newport in June 2004. We sailed heras far north as Maine and as far south as St.Bart’s. Our short, inaugural passage wasfrom Newport, RI to Annapolis, MD. Wefollowed that with the Caribbean 1500 andthen a 1000 nautical mile beat from Tortola,BVI to West Palm Beach, FL and the Miamiboat show. The Caribbean 1500 was our firstoffshore race, starting in Hampton Roads,VA and ending in Tortola, BVI.The start of the Caribbean 1500 was delayedfor several days due to weather. Somehow, Ikept finding things to add to the boat. After afew days working on the boat my friend RonSzabo and I decided to take several of ourcompetitors for a sail. MISTRESS MALLIKAwas the "scratch boat" and the envy of thefleet. We had no trouble finding crew. Each ofthe other 58 skippers would have loved tosail her. It was a beautiful, Novembermorning. We had the downwind spinnaker upfor most of the day on a broad reach out intothe Atlantic and a beat back home just as thesun set. All of those aboard were impressedwith MS M’S speed, comfort and agility. Theyknew first hand why we were the criterionboat. What a great day.Ron and I were really anxious to leave afterthat sail. My wife, Mallika and Roger andKippy Vaughan joined us the next day. Ron, along time sailing companion, has an Atlanticcrossing and several Bermuda races to hiscredit in addition to years of coastal sailing.Roger, a relatively new friend, sports ahumbling sailing resume. His adventuresinclude: a Fastnet race, a cruise above theArctic Circle, several Bermuda races, a longWhitbread leg and he has been racing aroundthe buoys since he was a kid. I felt like wehad a solid crew despite Mallika and me. Wewere also getting weather and Gulf Streamanalytical support from Bill Biewenga, JeniferClark, and Commander’s weather. Too badour internet satellite connection didn’t work.Our only weather updates were via sat phonewith Bill. But, when you have Biewenga liveon a daily basis you don’t need much more.The noon, start was just north of theHampton channel and east of Fort Monroe.The wind was light and basically on ournose. The rules of the Caribbean 1500permit racers to use their engine and theyadd the engine time to your overall time i.e.if your total time is 8 days 12 hours and youmotor 5 hours your total time becomes 8days 17 hours. Obviously, anytime yourspeed-over-ground sailing drops below50% of your motoring speed, you shouldmotor. Our motoring speed is about 9.5knots, therefore, shortly after crossing theline we motor-sailed.We crossed the Gulf Stream around midnight.It was smooth and pleasant, very clear but nomoon. We were alone. Most of the fleetfollowed the accepted strategy of headingeast then south. The rest stayed close toshore heading south. We chose to head eastsoutheastand hit the Stream at its narrowestpoint. It was a beautiful night and we were allhappy to be underway. One shooting starwas so bright and lasted so long that Ithought it was a white parachute flare.60 www.oystermarine.com

CARIBBEAN 1500OWNER REPORTThe wind didn’t pickup until the third day.The forecast was for the wind to build out ofthe northeast for the next several days. Weknew we were leading the pack from ourmorning and evening roll calls on singlesideband. We heard that a large catamaran,about which we were somewhat concerned,had hit an unlit weather buoy and was beingescorted back to Hampton by the CoastGuard. After crossing the Stream, wedecided to bet that the weather gurus werecorrect and headed for the pin (turning pointnortheast of Tortola). It proved to be a gooddecision. We were not only faster than anyother boat, we crossed the stream at itsnarrowest point, hit the eddies on thecorrect side and sailed the shortest courseto the mark. As a result, we were first tofinish, and won the navigation award.The wind built to solid mid-30’s, with gustsinto the 40’s. The seas built to about 20 feetand still no moon. At some point the arrowon the masthead fly blew off. We were hitting13.5 knots surfing down the larger waves. Wehad a double reef in the main and one or tworeefs in the genoa depending on wind speedat the moment. The boat was well balancedwith little weather helm. Remarkably youcould steer her with two fingers. We heardthat some of the smaller boats were heavingto and at least one diverted to Bermuda. Wewere having a fine time. MISTRESS MALLIKAwas in her element. There is nothing betterthan a big, well built, comfortable boat in ablow. Thank you, Oyster.During the day, Mallika and Ron fished. Theycaught two nice sized dolphins. Ron filletedthem and Mallika cooked them for lunch.They also hooked three large bill fish. We arenot sure what kind they were because Iwouldn’t slow the boat and the fish simplysnapped the 150 pound test line and swamoff with Mallika’s lures. "We did not comehere to fish, we came to sail," I told them.By then, Mallika was becoming a solidsailor. Her watches were from 12:00 to03:00. One night when it was blowing hardand we were surfing down the waves in totaldarkness, a big wave slapped the side ofMISTRESS MALLIKA. It sounded likecannon fire. Mallika calmly looked at me andsaid, "This really isn’t for the faint of heart,is it?" That’s my girl!We were all on deck and happy when weturned at the pin and made our final run tothe finish line. Six days, 13 hours and 30minutes after we left Hampton Roads wecrossed the line in the BVI’s at 1:30 in themorning. We dropped sails and headed fora cove at Peter Island for an anchor dramand a quiet night’s sleep. My Norwegianfriend and sailing partner, Finn Arne Olsenintroduced us to anchor drams. An anchordram is a Norwegian excuse to have a drinkeach time the anchor goes down and wewere ready. We had had no alcohol in sevendays but who was counting - besidesMallika, Roger and me? Ron had his icedtea. The next morning we awoke in sailor’sparadise. It was sunny with east windsblowing 15 to 20 knots. It’s like the countrysong says, "If this is like heaven, I ain’tafraid of dying". We all jumped in thecrystal clear turquoise water. We were sohappy to be there, especially with thesecond place boat still well over a hundrednautical miles behind us.After a relaxing morning we sailed to RoadTown and gave MS M a well deserved bath.The next day was dedicated to cleaning andgeneral maintenance. By the third morningwe were anxious to go sailing. As we weregoing out for our sail, some of the otherboats were finishing. That we were goingsailing as they finished, tired but happy itwas over, added insult to injury.The Caribbean 1500 is run by the CruisingRally Association and the 2005 eventstarts on 7 November.For more information see:www.carib1500.com or contact SteveBlack Tel/Fax +1 (757) 788 8872Email: steve@carib1500.comOyster 62, MISTRESS MALLIKAwww.oystermarine.com61

Oysters racing in the UBS Oyster Regatta, Palma 2004.Photo: Nico MartinezTHE CHOICE OF OYSTER MARINEUBS OYSTER REGATTAS 2004BVICOWESPALMAARCCLASS 11ST ROULETTE2ND DORADOCLASS 21ST BOYSTEROUS OF LYMINGTONCLASS 11ST SCARLET OYSTER (PT.INV.)CLASS 21ST SABA2ND FIZZCLASS 11ST ROULETTECLASS 21ST TUSITALACLASS 1 CRUISING1ST VOODOO400 Main Road • Harwich • Essex • CO12 4DN • Tel: +44 (0)1255 243366 • Fax: +44 (0)1255 240920 • sails@dolphin-sails.com • www.dolphinsails.com

SONARTEAMUPDATEHANNAH AND THE SONAR TEAM KICKOFF THEIR BEIJING PARALYMPICSCAMPAIGN WITH A CONVINCING WININ THE MIAMI OCR.We started 2005 by heading out to Miami to compete in the first of the Grade 1 events, anOlympic classes regatta, incorporating nine out of the eleven Olympic classes and both ofthe Paralympic classes.PARALYMPICS SUPPORTDuring the London Boat Show, Oystercommitted to continue its support ofHannah Stodel and purchased the Sonarteam’s Paralympic Boat so the crew cancampaign throughout 2005 and hopefullyon towards the next Olympics in Beijing.This will involve a series of racing in theUSA, Denmark and the UK, including theSonar Worlds off Cowes this September.We have supported Hannah since she was‘Young Sailor of the Year’ and continue tobelieve that through the talent,commitment and dedication of Hannahand crew, not to mention support andtraining from the RYA, we will see Hannahachieve great things in the future. Hannahwill be keeping us up to date on progressvia her reports in Oyster News.MIAMI OCRWhen we arrived in Miami to unload the container we found that the delivery company hadpositioned the container with the doors facing some trees so they couldn’t be opened! Even amodicum of common sense would have highlighted that this was a stupid idea but, eventually, oneangry crane driver returned and after some very heated discussions we finally had a container thatwas the right way round. After a rough container ride our reserve Sonar, RIPOSTE, was in need ofsome repair before being launched and towed to the venue, the Shake a Leg sailing centre. We didsome light training with some of the American teams before the actual event started.In terms of the event we sailed extremely well, dominating from the start, proving a point that wereally are united as a team and this showed in our boat handling around the racecourse. It was alight wind event, apart from the last day, where it blew an absolute howler! Tactically we sailed avery strong regatta, always controlling the fleet and I could tell I was getting it right because ourcoach, Mark Rushall, was asleep on the RIB for most of the beats! With three races to spare, wehad comfortably won the event, although that didn’t stop us racing the last two because thebreeze was up and you all know how much fun a big breeze can be!3 SAIL MIDWINTER’SWith just a week to turn around between the OCR and the next event, the able bodied 3 SailMidwinter’s, life was a little hectic. We all managed to arrive at the airport vaguely on time,including the latest addition to the crew, Jon Waite. For the 3 Sail Events we use four crew, andJon volunteered to be that fourth crewmember, well who wouldn’t want to spend two weeks inFlorida away from University? (Jon also attends Loughborough University).We arrived in St Pete’s in good spirits ready to take on some of the best American sailors. Amongthe line up was top Soling sailor, Dave Curtis and North Sails representative, Brian Hayes.We knew we had our work cut out!We started off by cleaning the slightly grubby RIPOSTE, rigged her and we were ready forbattle. It has always been a part of Brit tradition to train harder and longer hours, and we areno exception to the rule. While the American sailors lay in the sun, we drifted around TampaBay, at times being towed backwards by Mark, our coach, to encourage the spinnaker to fill sowe could practice gybing drills.64 www.oystermarine.com

SPRING BOAT SHOW13th – 15th MayWe started the regatta as we meant to carry on, by taking the bulletin the first race, leaving us in good spirits for the next start, althoughI think we got a little too big for our boots, and were left fighting fora top five position for the rest of the regatta. All said and done, wefinished 5th overall and remained competitive and it is nice to seethat despite the fact that we are technically a disabled team, we canstill compete against the best able-bodied sailors.NOOD REGATTA(National Offshore One Design)The NOOD regatta followed directly on from the Midwinter’s, withonly a day of rest. Despite a slightly disappointing result in theMidwinter’s we realised that we were very competitive and wedecided that, this time, conservative play would be the way forward.I am pleased to say again we showed good form and led the seriesfrom the start, winning the regatta with no less than 5 bullets, a 2nd,and a 3rd place. It’s nice getting that winning feeling especially in anable-bodied regatta and we showed once again we are competitiveeven with our disabilities - watch out guys we are ready for the ablebodied World Championships in Cowes!Thank you to Jon Waite for giving his time to come with us to theevents and for his outstanding work on the foredeck. We lookforward to sailing with him again in the future.Once again I would like to thank Richard Matthews and Oyster fortheir continued support. After the Olympics and Paralympicssponsorship is often in short supply but to ensure success in Beijingit is essential that we continue to push ourselves harder than ever.Thank you so much.See an impressive selection of pre-owned Oyster yachts atthis popular event to be held atFox’s Marina, Ipswich10:00 – 17:00 dailyContact us for further detailsO YSTERBROKERAGESpecialists in Pre-Owned Oyster YachtsHappy Sailing!HannahOyster Brokerage LtdFox’s Marina,IpswichSuffolk IP2 8SAe: brokerage@oystermarine.comT: +44 (0) 1473 602263F: +44 (0) 1473 603192Oyster Brokerage USA5 Marina Plaza, Goat IslandNewport RI 02840e: info@oysteryachts.comT: +401 846 7400F: +401 846 7483www.oysterbrokerage.com

JUST LaunchedA selection of recent Oyster launchingsOYSTER 72 LUSKENTYREFollowing her première at the London Boat Show earlier this year, the Blythe family havejust taken delivery of LUSKENTYRE their second Oyster and the first of the sleek, newOyster 72s. Big plans for the coming 18 months, include the Scottish Islands PeaksRace in May, family cruising in Croatia, Oyster’s Trafalgar celebrations in Cadizand then over to the Caribbean, New England and Greenland in 2006.LUSKENTYRE is also available for luxury charter through Oyster YachtCharters – see wwww.oysteryachtcharter.com for more details.Mark BlytheOYSTER 56 SPELLBOUNDFirst time Oyster owners Paul and Lynn Armson, who have justtaken delivery of SPELLBOUND, already have a busy scheduleplanned for their first year of cruising.SPELLBOUND will be on show at Oyster’s Private View in StKatharine Dock, after which the Armson family will becircumnavigating the UK and Ireland before returning to spend thesummer in Dartmouth. SPELLBOUND will be on show again at theSouthampton Boat Show in September before heading for theSpanish coast to take part in Oyster’s Trafalgar Anniversary regattain October and will be crossing the Atlantic with the Oyster Classin the Rubicon Antigua Challenge.Paul and Lynn Armson66 www.oystermarine.com

Marina & BoatyardSpecialists in Oyster Refits • Repairs • RiggingWorkshopsRiggingElectronicsGENERAL REPAIRS • NEW DECKS • REFITSENGINEERING • 10,000 SQ FT OF COVEREDWORKSHOP SPACEMASTS & SPARS • RIG SURVEYSRUNNING & STANDING RIGGINGSALES • INSTALLATION • REPAIRCOMMUNICATION & IT SYSTEMSCONTACT FOX’S DIRECTWorkshop Tel: 01473 689111email:ralph.catchpole@foxsmarina.comRigging Tel: 01473 691235email:steve.palmer@foxsmarina.comElectronics Tel: 01473 691412email:henry.stogdon@foxsmarina.comEngineering Tel: 01473 689111email:jerry.blake@foxsmarina.comStainless Steel Tel: 01473 689111email:jerry.blake@foxsmarina.comChandlery Tel: 01473 688431email:cherril.westmoreland@foxsmarina.comMarina Tel: 01473 603585email:john.jonas@foxsmarina.comSprayshop Tel: 01473 689111email:ralph.catchpole@foxsmarina.comStainlessSprayshopOsmosisChandleryMarinaFABRICATION • CUSTOM FITTINGSREPAIRS • POLISHINGHEAT & DUST CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTTO THE HIGHEST STANDARDSTHE LATEST TECHNOLOGY ANDHULL DRYING EQUIPMENTTHE MOST COMPREHENSIVELYSTOCKED CHANDLERY ON THE EASTCOAST FOR BLUE WATER CRUISINGTRAVEL HOIST AND DOCK WITH CAPACITYTO LIFT BOATS OF 85' OVERALL LENGTHAND 22' BEAM, UP TO 70 TONS WEIGHTAN OYSTER GROUP COMPANYFox’s Marina Ipswich Ltd Ipswich Suffolk IP2 8SATel +44 (0) 1473 689111 Fax +44 (0) 1473 601737email foxs@foxsmarina.comwww.foxsmarina.com

THE WORLD'S YOUR OYSTERNew46 Deck Saloon53 Deck Saloon 62 Deck Saloon49 Deck Saloon 56 Deck SaloonNew68 High LevelDeck SaloonNew655 Deck Saloon 72 Deck Saloon82 High LevelDeck Saloon100 High LevelDeck SaloonO YSTERDouble Queen’s Award Yacht BuildersOYSTER MARINE LTDFOX’S MARINA IPSWICH SUFFOLKIP2 8SA ENGLANDTEL: +44 (0)1473 688888 FAX: +44 (0)1473 686861EMAIL:YACHTS@OYSTERMARINE.COMOYSTER MARINE USA5 MARINA PLAZAGOAT ISLAND NEWPORT RI 02840TEL: +401 846 7400 FAX: +401 846 7483EMAIL: INFO@OYSTERYACHTS.COMWWW.OYSTERMARINE.COM