If you are considering building a new Oyster yacht for the Rally, allowing sufficient preparation time ahead of the start is an important factor and should take into account a build period of between 12 and 24 months dependant on model size, and a potential waiting list for new build slots.
There are lots of benefits to buying new for a Rally adventure, from defining your own individual tastes and requirements in the specification – this will be your home for a minimum of 20 months, through to the latest equipment, technology, performance, storage and warranty support.
We recommend a three-to-four-year preparation period if you are planning to build a new Oyster yacht for the Rally. Typically, this period breaks down into two years for the purchase, specification and build process. Once she is in the water, we recommend a shake down and familiarisation period, ideally 12 months. You then need to factor in time to position her for a January Rally start in Antigua, which for many begins late September, dependant on your home port.
Oyster Brokerage provides the complete package for prospective Oyster World Rally entrants. This end-to-end service extends from brokerage to refit, servicing, finding crew and more. A turnkey package like this can take up to three years to fulfil, dependant on what Oyster yachts are on the market. The ideal starting point is a post-Rally boat; one that has been Rally specified and has already completed a circumnavigation.
If you are considering a Brokerage boat for the Rally, we recommend allowing between two to three years preparation prior to the Rally start. You would need to allow a minimum of 12 months to find and purchase your ideal Oyster yacht, however it can take much longer if there is a certain specification and size you require. It’s then highly likely you will want to personalise and refit the yacht to meet your requirements. To inform specification we strongly recommend a familiarisation period of six to twelve months to fully understand sailing style, features, changes and upgrades required. Dependant on lead times and updates, a typical Rally refit can take three to nine months.
For existing Oyster owners, preparation is naturally accelerated, but just owning an Oyster does not mitigate the need for preparation time. There are a variety of considerations to factor in, from preparation timescales, which include training and qualifications; planning and sourcing spares (Oyster After Sales can help here); ensuring you have the correct charts and pilot books; through to deciding how to personalise your adventure on or off the Rally route with the assistance of Oyster’s Concierge Team.
One specific requirement is that at least one member of crew must have their RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, so it’s a consideration for any owner planning to skipper and sail shorthanded. Overall, we recommend owners allow at least two years of preparation and positioning for the Rally. Bear in mind Oyster’s Rally training programme runs for 18 months prior to the start of the event and positioning for the start can take up to four months dependant on your home port.
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