Dear Friends of Oyster,
I hope many of you are already back on the water and enjoying the start of the summer sailing season.
As I approach the completion of my first year as CEO, I have spent much of that time listening, travelling and getting to know Oyster at close quarters. I have had the opportunity to see Oyster from many perspectives: in our yards and service centres, at sea, at regattas, at our recent Captains’ Forum, and in conversation with owners sailing their Oysters around the world.
What has stood out most clearly is that Oyster’s strength does not rest on the yacht alone. It rests on the knowledge, judgement and support provided throughout ownership. That combination of build quality, bluewater experience and long-term owner support is the foundation upon which we are planning the future of Oyster. The business has many strengths. My focus has been to understand them clearly, concentrate our efforts where they matter most and ensure that Oyster continues to develop with discipline and purpose.
A clear priority is manufacturing. Oyster’s boatbuilding story began in Wroxham in 1973, and the yard remains central to our business today. It is where much of the knowledge, skill and craftsmanship that define our yachts has been developed and preserved over more than five decades.
We now plan to strengthen that foundation by developing Wroxham further as Oyster’s manufacturing Centre of Excellence. This will include new investments in facilities and increased build capacity to support our expanding range and larger models. As part of this plan, production at Saxon Wharf in Southampton will be phased down over time. Current build commitments will, of course, remain our priority.
I am pleased to report that our recent London Private View was extremely well received. Oyster’s depth of expertise was clear as we brought together four yachts from the current fleet, hosted a programme of bluewater talks, and shared an early preview of our exciting new 50 foot model.
Ahead of the event, I proudly sailed the Oyster 565 up the Thames into London, with members of our commissioning team. It was a useful reminder of how much care and technical judgement is involved in preparing a new Oyster for her owner. These are complex yachts, built for serious sailing, and the final stages before handover matter enormously.
At the show, I very much enjoyed meeting Oyster owners Amy and Matt of Sailing Florence. They have sailed more than 70,000 miles and completed a circumnavigation aboard Florence, their 1985 Oyster Heritage 37. Few stories demonstrate more clearly what an Oyster is designed to do: cross oceans, endure over decades and remain trusted by their owners.
The Private View also delivered significant commercial results, with new yacht sales across several models. Recent Oyster 595 SII orders have moved the next available build slots into Spring 2028, while Oyster Brokerage completed the sale of two Oyster 885s in May. Together, these point to continued confidence in both new and pre-owned Oyster yachts.
I am excited to inform you that we will soon be revealing our new 50 foot model in greater detail. We have spared no effort in ensuring that this elegant and accessible yacht is deeply moored in our brand’s DNA. The brief was straightforward: to create an Oyster yacht that combines serious bluewater capability with a new approach to space and life on board. The yacht combines long-range capability, practical offshore design and the standards of comfort and finish that owners rightly expect from Oyster. Together with Oyster’s global owner support, she will offer a complete ownership proposition for those looking to sail further with confidence. She forms part of a wider product roadmap, details of which I will share with you later this year.
Our ongoing investment plan extends beyond the yachts themselves. We are continuing to strengthen Oyster’s Global Service Network, including new dock infrastructure at our Barcelona Service Centre and continuing development of our established operation in Newport, which supports owners and clients across the Americas. After Sales, Refit and technical support sit at the heart of that network, providing owners with practical expertise throughout their time with Oyster.
The Oyster World Rally is, I believe, the clearest demonstration of the Oyster sailing ecosystem working at sea. As I write, the Oyster World Rally 2026–27 fleet is deep into the South Pacific, having sailed through French Polynesia, with Tonga and Fiji ahead. The World Rally is still one of the clearest expressions of what Oyster seeks to provide: capable yachts, experienced support and a community of owners sharing a remarkable experience together.
Alongside technical, service and logistics support, our Destination Experiences team is creating tailored opportunities for owners along the route, from cultural tours in Panama to island expeditions in French Polynesia. No other yacht brand can equal this level of owner engagement, passage support and destination experiences. If you haven’t already participated in an Oyster Rally, may I invite you to consider doing so. It is undoubtedly one of sailing’s greatest experiences.
Richard Hadida continues to sail with his family aboard Lush, reflecting his personal commitment to the business and to our owner community. Looking ahead to the Oyster World Rally 2030–31, demand has been exceptionally strong since entries opened in March, underlining the continued appeal of sailing around the world with an experienced team supporting you.
Our direction is clear: to strengthen the way we develop, manufacture and support every Oyster yacht and to ensure that the confidence owners place in us is earned not only at delivery, but throughout the ownership journey.
Thank you to our owners, suppliers, partners and colleagues for your continued trust and commitment. Your feedback, experience and support continue to shape the decisions we make. I would encourage owners to share their views through our new Oyster Owner Survey by clicking here.
Ultimately, every investment we are making in manufacturing, service, product development and owner support has a single purpose: helping Oyster owners sail further, explore more confidently and enjoy their time at sea to the fullest.
I look forward to meeting many more of you, in our yards, at Oyster events and, most importantly, out at sea, doing what we love most – sailing!
Fair winds,
Stefan Zimmermann Zschocke
Chief Executive Officer
Oyster Yachts
