Dear All
Welcome to the first of my quarterly updates.
I was honoured (if not a little humbled) when Richard asked me to step into the CEO role at Oyster. It’s a unique job swap with Richard becoming Chairman, but having been in the business since 2018, only the role is new. Since my first day as Chairman five years ago, I’ve been deeply immersed in every aspect of the business.
Going forward, I intend to build on the amazing achievements of the past five years and ensure Oyster yachts remain the world’s finest bluewater cruisers.
My first task has been to define a clear plan on how we take Oyster Yachts to the next level. Quite simply, what do we need to do to achieve our ambition in the coming years? I feel very lucky that we have a fantastic team of over 600 skilled and passionate people who are dedicated to building our amazing yachts. But it gets better – we also support an international family of sailors who live and breathe Oyster. Richard, of course, remains fanatically devoted to Oyster and we will continue to work closely together to ensure we have the strategy and investment required to keep innovating and growing.
We have a full order book and a fantastic range of yachts. We are proud of our fleet, especially the latest addition, the Oyster 495, winner of the European Yacht of the Year Luxury Cruiser 2023. As we celebrate our 50th year, I’m excited to see the new 885 Centreboard model join more than 50 model variants and over 1,000 Oyster yachts afloat.
Moving into my new role as CEO, my focus for Oyster is crystal clear:
1. Deliver the world’s finest yachts on time, to a standard that is beyond expectation.
2. Build on our values-based customer-centric ethos and renowned reputation for customer support and quality.
3. Keep innovating to bring international sailors more iconic, award-winning yachts to go anywhere they choose. Oyster will always be a platform for adventure and I want the aspiration to own a new Oyster to be unstoppable.
This week I am excited to be in Antigua to welcome home the Oyster World Rally 2022 fleet home. After a voyage of a lifetime, over 27,000nm and 16 months at sea, the fleet will be joined in Antigua by a fleet of Oysters preparing to sail in the 2023 Antigua Oyster Regatta. It will be an historic moment, with more than 30 Oysters berthed in the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, the spiritual home of Oyster in the Caribbean. It is also the venue for the first of our three events celebrating our 50th anniversary.
As the show season gets underway, please come and experience our wonderful yachts in person. We will be in London at the Luxury Afloat Show in St Katharine Docks from 18 to 22 April. The Palma International Boat Show follows hot on its heels from 27 to 30 April, as do our owners' events in Ibiza and the Palma Regatta. I look forward to seeing you at one of these events.
On a final note, please know that I am committed to do everything possible to make your every experience with Oyster amongst the best and most memorable of your lives.
Fair winds.
Ashley
Ashley Highfield
CEO, Oyster Yachts
“The Oyster 495 is so reassuringly strong, so surprisingly quick in straight line speed, so great to helm, so easy to handle and so, so comfortable if you want to retreat to her living quarters!”
