How Oyster Manages A New Start With The 565

Outline drawing of the Oyster 565

It almost sounds a little too smooth, too good to be true. Because a new start in boat building is not always successful. Finngulf sank after two attempts at resuscitation, as did Etap. Najad stumbled several times for almost a decade. And how things are going with Discovery Yachts, whose managing director Sean Langdon, who has since been killed, had to file for bankruptcy a few days before Christmas, cannot yet be conclusively assessed.

At Oyster, however, this flagship of the now badly shrunk British yacht builders, things are running again. This is partly due to Richard Hadida, the new owner, who has made a fortune on the Internet and has made saving the shipyard a matter of the heart. And it is up to the employees, many of whom have worked for the brand for generations and are a guarantee of continuity.

Oyster 565 sailing BarcelonEYOTY 2019 RTo_RT-0797

Can do something: Oyster 565

Among other things, this explains why the newest, currently smallest yacht - the Oyster 565 - actually has everything that makes an Oyster. And a little more. This was shown in the YACHT test off the coast of Catalonia, where the boat was available to us for a whole week as part of the selection for Europe's Yacht of the Year - in a wide wind range ranging from 5 to 25 knots.

The Oyster 565, designed by Rob Humphreys, was equally impressive under sail and under machine. Even rough seas and strong winds she put away without complaint, almost bored. And still reacted pleasantly agile even in light conditions.

Oyster 565 Details Interior 2019 JRi_IMG_9512

Can tell: Paul Adamson

But it would be a mistake to judge them only from such aspects. Because the Oyster 565 only reveals its real strength below deck and deep in the innards of the construction. We accompanied Paul Adamson there, once captain of the Oyster of racing team owner Eddie Jordan, now the shipyard's chief commercial officer. A sailor through and through who is now at the helm of the company.

What he says about the brand's DNA, why he still considers dipsticks for the diesel and fresh water tanks to be indispensable and why he gives all YACHT readers a drink if they are on hull number 3 of the Oyster 565, which is at boot Düsseldorf will be seen, squeaky floorboards should be found - all that and more in the test report.