The name Rí-Rá (pronounced REE-RAW) is Irish for fun and enjoyment with a little mayhem thrown in. Taking ownership of their Oyster 675 Rí-Rá in October 2023, they crossed the Atlantic on the ARC on their way to Antigua, where they made their final preparations for the rally. Departing from Nelson’s Dockyard on 14 January 2024, they returned in April 2025 to complete their round-the-world adventure.
We spoke to them in January 2025 while they were in the South Atlantic Ocean, on route to St Helena from South Africa.
Hugh: Along with us there are two crew and between two and four sailor friends at any time, in three double cabins plus a bunk cabin. We’ve found six is the ideal number on the 675 – she’s the smallest of the bigger boats that are mission-designed for circumnavigation.
Hugh: Patrick has owned other yachts and sailed extensively including a trans-Atlantic crossing. We chose an Oyster specifically for the Oyster World Rally support team. When you’re sailing 30,000 miles in a year that support is vital.
Our preference was originally for a 595 but there was just one build slot left for a 675. In hindsight, it’s worked out way better than anticipated. She’s slightly longer in the waterline, so she’s quicker and we don’t have to put her under pressure to stay in touch with the fleet. The systems have plenty of redundancy built in – dual fuel tanks to manage fuel quality (a must-have on a circumnavigation), a fuel polisher and dual water tanks.
Patrick: We’re very happy with her. She’s a tried and tested boat, sails extremely well and she’s very comfortable. We always feel safe in all conditions – that’s probably the most important thing.
Hugh: Half of the fun of circumnavigation is the social experiment of the people you bring onboard. Crew selection is really important. And then the resilience of equipment – navigation, weather, Starlink and the autohelm. All these things feed into the feeling of trust in the boat, so you feel safe.
We’ve probably had the most guests [of the rally fleet]. Everyone has accepted the invitation, which speaks volumes about the perception of the brand and the comfort and safety of the boat. The social areas, the twin helm positions, ease of moving around and safety of the cockpit area all make her a special boat.
Patrick: Versus a mass-produced boat, the quality of finish, equipment, joinery, bedding, seating and storage all adds up to a luxurious experience.
Hugh: The gamechanger for a circumnavigation was installing Starlink. We can download a movie and keep up with fleet communications and data gathering. And it feels safer if things go wrong. For example, we had a sail issue mid-Atlantic, and we called North and Oyster to diagnose the issue, then ordered a spare which was waiting for us at our destination.
The B&G route planning and forecasting kit is robust, with very clear instruments.
The unsung hero is autohelm – we’re really happy with it, it’s very reliable. And access to systems for maintenance - that’s where you define quality in a boat, beyond the wood and finishes – how you can get to something, identify it and maintain it is a key feature.
Patrick: For me, going all electric. With no gas onboard, it’s much safer. And we have all the mod cons – fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, induction cooker plus aircon in all the cabins. It really adds to the pleasure of being on board.
The social areas, the twin helm positions, ease of moving around and safety of the cockpit area all make her a special boat.
Patrick: For a boat weighing 50-60 tonnes with all the kit onboard, she sails incredibly well and handles easily. Her performance is pretty spectacular.
Hugh: Perhaps the reason we haven’t broken much kit is we’re not pushing her that extra 10%. It protects her and everyone onboard, and that fills me with confidence.
Hugh: We were unsure about having a professional crew but when we saw her in the factory, we realised she’s a big beast relative to a 50-foot boat. And when you’re sailing 30,000 miles, you need a crew. Our mindset originally was that we’d sail her ourselves, but you can bring crew and not feel overwhelmed socially.
Patrick: I’m quite surprised how easy she is to sail. We picked her up from Oyster and sailed straight across the Atlantic [with the crew], so we haven’t sailed her shorthanded yet. Most manoeuvres you can do with three people. But with two on watch, you generally don’t have to wake anyone up. Deck mounted winches, good instrument visibility, a trustworthy autohelm and the ease and robustness of hydraulic system all allow you to sail her shorthanded.
Patrick: We have the latest and greatest passerelle. It doesn’t intrude on the master cabin, and it’s worked very well. In the Med it’s essential.
Hugh: The swim platform has worked very well, and the external shower is fantastic.
Hugh: We’re two of nine siblings and we wanted to ensure they all came to sail on the boat. Not only have they done so but so have many of their offspring have too. They’ve all said, unequivocally, it’s been an amazing experience. If that isn’t how you define a home from home – it’s brought the whole family closer together and it’s been an absolute pleasure to share with friends and family. And that’s golden in anyone’s language.
Patrick: Hear, hear!
Patrick: The quality of Oyster technical support has been simply outstanding. The people – their attention to detail, their willingness to work all hours to fix your problem has been amazing. They’re brilliant, very switched on, very accommodating. I can’t give them enough credit.
Hugh: Ostensibly we bought a boat but when you choose to sail it around the world on a technically supported rally, you’re buying a service. And that’s what gets you all the way around. The technical team defines quality on an Oyster. They’re a remarkable team of people who are both sailors and technicians, who understand the sailor’s psyche, get to the heart of the problem and fix it. One of the reasons you buy an Oyster is for the after sales service and the Palma and Barcelona bases.
Patrick: And we’ve now confirmed you can sail the boat shorthanded - we’ve both been on the phone to you for the last hour and I’m on watch! It’s also proof of the value of Starlink!
