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NEWS 

O YSTER® 

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF OYSTER • DOUBLE QUEEN'S AWARD YACHT BUILDERS ISSUE 66 AUTUMN 2008 

OYSTER - PROUD SPONSORS OF THE BRITISH PARALYMPIC SONAR TEAM 

OYSTERS IN COWES • THE NEW OYSTER 575 • RACE REPORTS

2 www.oystermarine.com 

EDITOR 

Liz Whitman 

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

Roger Vaughan 

PRODUCTION EDITOR 

Rebecca Twiss 

FROM THE EDITOR 

We publish Oyster News three times a year and we know from our readers that the 

articles they most enjoy reading about are the contributions from Oyster owners. 

If you have a story to tell or information about cruising in your Oyster please let 

us know. Photographs are always welcome with or without a story. 

email: liz.whitman@oystermarine.com or rebecca.twiss@oystermarine.com 

FRONT COVER PICTURE: 

The Oyster 72, Luskentyre during Oyster’s BVI Regatta 2006 

BACK COVER PICTURE: 

The new Oyster 62, UHURU, during Oyster’s Cowes Regatta 2008 

Oyster News is published by Oyster Marine Ltd. 

Oyster News is for promotional purposes only, privately circulated, and cannot form part of 

any contract or offer. Views, details and information herein are not necessarily endorsed by 

the publisher who will not be held responsible for the consequences of any error or 

omission. Pictures and illustrations are liable to show non standard equipment. 

Contents Issue 66 

03 FROM THE CHAIRMAN 

Richard Matthews 

04 NEWS ROUNDUP 

08 THE 2008 FIFE REGATTA 


10 OYSTER COWES REGATTA 2008 

22 THE NEW OYSTER 575 

24 PHILIPPINES – OUR GATE TO SOUTH ASIA 

Yolanda Danoith 

32 RACE ROUNDUP LATEST 

34 SOUTH, SOUTH, SOUTH 

Mariacristina Rapisardi 

42 ONE AMAZING DAY 

Nick O’Donnell 

45 BERMUDA OYSTER WINS 

Barry Pickthall

46 FIJI, LAND OF FRIENDLY PEOPLE 

Donna Hill 

52 PARALYMPIC SAILING UPDATE 

Hannah Stodel 

53 OYSTERS AT THE 2008 AUTUMN SHOWS 

56 OWNER PROFILE – MIKE WALLACE 

Roger Vaughan 

65 REGATTAS, EVENTS, PARTIES 

70 JUST LAUNCHED 

Welcome 

Welcome to the 66th edition of Oyster News, which we hope 

you enjoy. 

As usual many thanks to the owners whose contributions appear in 

this issue and to those of you who are considering writing something 

for a future edition. 

While I was in Scotland for the Fife Regatta I telephoned Owen Parker, 

who had been struggling with cancer, and invited him to the 

Oyster Regatta prize giving in Cowes. Sadly, just three weeks later, 

Owen passed away and missed our event in Cowes by a few days. 

Owen was an outstanding ambassador for the sport of yachting and 

for the marine industry, having represented Lewmar since the 1960's. 

Not only was he a real gentleman, but above all he was passionate 

about sailing and will be remembered for his uncanny knack of 

predicting Solent winds and of course for his time as sailing master 

aboard all of Sir Edward Heath’s Morning Clouds. 

On another tack, just before this issue of Oyster News went to press, 

I went to Sunday lunch, laid on by Hannah Stodel's mum to give her 

daughter and the other two crew, Stephen Thomas and John 

Robertson a send off before leaving for China and the Paralympics 

Games, representing Britain in the Sonar class. The commitment and 

confidence of this crew is immense and I am really proud of Oyster’s 

role as their sponsors over many years. They, I mean we, are really 

hopeful of a medal this time. 

Once you catch the sailing bug it's a disease for life for which there is 

no cure. Forget the doom and gloom of the economy and go cruising, 

all the better if it's an Oyster, but go anyway, life's too short not to. 


Founder and Chairman 

Oyster Marine 

Stop Press 

Congratulations to Britain’s Olympic Sailors 

Once again the worlds best! 

Ben Ainslie Finn Gold 

Paul Goodison Laser Gold 

Iain Percy & Andrew Simpson Star Gold 

Sarah Ayton, Sara Webb & Pippa Wilson Yngling Gold 

Bryony Shaw RSX Bronze 

Nick Rogers & Joe Glanfied 470 Silver 

Congratulations also to the RYA and every member of 

the Team GBR Olympic Sailing - We’re proud of you all! 

www.oystermarine.com 3


Newsroundup 

ELLEN MACARTHUR TRUST 

VOYAGE AROUND BRITAIN 

The Ellen MacArthur Trust has announced an exciting 

new project for 2009. Sponsored by Skandia, 100 

young people in recovery from cancer will sail around 

the UK in the Oyster Lightwave 48, Scarlet Oyster, 

as part of The Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round 

Britain ‘Voyage of Discovery’. 

Starting out from Cowes in May, the voyage will stop at 20 ports around the UK 

including Dover, St. Katharine’s Dock (London), Ipswich, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh, 

Aberdeen, Fort George, Fort William, Largs, Belfast, Isle of Man, Liverpool, Hollyhead, 

Cardiff, Torquay and Southampton before finishing in Cowes in September 2009. 

The young crews will visit hospitals and young person’s principal treatment centres, 

across the UK, who have helped them recover from cancer and leukaemia. 

Both Trust patrons Ellen MacArthur and Shirley Robertson are hoping to join the crews 

for part of the voyage. “This is an amazing project for the Trust,” said patron Ellen 

MacArthur. ”I cannot fully express the impact that the four-day sailing trips have on 

these young people. So I can only imagine the effects that a voyage around Britain will 

have. In 1995, I sailed around Britain and it is fantastic to see them follow in my 

footsteps, the opportunity for these young people to share their experiences with 

others in treatment, and show them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel is very, 

very special. I’m only sorry that Gordon Applebey, who made Scarlet Oyster available to 

the Trust, is not here today to see these children sail around the country in his boat”. 

Oyster looks forward to welcoming Scarlet Oyster and her special crew when they 

arrive in Ipswich. 

For more information about the Ellen MacArthur Trust see: 

ww.ellenmacarthurtrust.org 

TO THE GALAPAGOS 

Well-known US broadcaster, Gary Jobson, 

will be joining the Oyster 82 Zig Zag with 

a film crew and heading for the Galapagos 

in March 2009. The American TV channel 

ESPN has commissioned Gary to make 

a movie about a nature cruise through 

the islands. 

Previous expeditions by the Jobson ESPN 

team include sailing to the Antarctic with 

Skip Novak and an Arctic cruise to eighty 

degrees north aboard Richard Matthews’ 

Oyster 62 Oystercatcher XXII.

SUPERSHOAL 82 ON TRIALS 

The supershoal variant of the Oyster 82 has undertaken builder’s 

trials and has proved to be an excellent performer under sail 

and power. 

Designer Rob Humphreys was confident that this twin rudder, shoal 

draft centreboard yacht would handle well, but to make certain the 

Humphreys design office undertook a series of tank test trials at 

the Wolfson Unit of Southampton University. Some minor tweaks 

were incorporated and the engineering design for the centreboard 

and lifting mechanism was undertaken in house by the Oyster 

design team. 

More news on the Supershoal Oyster 82 will follow in a future 

edition of Oyster News. 

RECORD CIRCUMNAVIGATION 

Congratulations to John and Jean Armitage who have just completed 

a 14-year circumnavigation in their Oyster 435, Ostrica of Orwell, 

which we think is probably an Oyster record. As John told us, 

“The trick is not to be in a hurry, change plans frequently and 

of course have a great boat!” 

Paradise at Le Phare Bleu 

Terry King-Smith, owner of Oyster 62, Dorado, is pleased to pass 

on details of a new marina in Grenada… just don’t tell everyone! 

“ Finding lovely anchorages, the bottom visible in ten metres of 

crystal clear water, are ten a penny in the Caribbean but sometimes 

your boat needs some TLC and a marina is required. Most marinas 

I have experienced don't offer many attractions, but Le Phare Bleu, 

located in southern Grenada in Petite Calivigny Bay just east of 

Calivigny Island, definitely does. 

The bay, while protected by a reef, is open to the south eastern sea 

breezes and the current, always quite strong along this southern 

coast, sluices through the bay past Calivigny Island keeping the 

water clean and fresh. It is the only marina I have been in where 

I am happy to swim in the surrounding waters. 

A major feature is the Light Ship, brought all the way from Sweden. 

It has been fitted out with excellent toilets and showers and the 

upper deck converted to a ‘haut cuisine’ restaurant. Ashore there is 

a fresh water swimming pool plus another larger restaurant that 

serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

The Marina, which is a Customs and Immigration port of entry, has 

a range of services that include power, water, wifi, and refuelling. 

Other services include a canvas shop by Dave Royce, who used to 

supply Oyster in Ipswich, Marine engineering and electrical, 

including fuel polishing, and guardianage services. Island Water 

World chandlery will deliver to the marina as will laundry services. ” 

For more information about Le Phare Bleu see: 

www.lepharebleu.com 



Newsroundup 

NEARLY THERE! 

The Oyster 62, Carpe Diem, owned 

by Keith and Rosemary Hamilton 

set out from Palma after taking 

part in the Oyster Regatta in 

September 2004. This September 

will see them complete their 

circumnavigation as they return to 

Palma for this year’s event and we 

look forward to celebrating their 

achievement with them when they 

sail into Real Club Nautico. 

Windboats Celebrate 25 Years Building Oysters 

To mark their 25th anniversary 

of building Oyster yachts, 

Trevor James of Windboats 

Marine commissioned a 

beautiful perpetual trophy, 

which was presented during the 

Oyster BVI regatta earlier this 

year to the top scoring yacht 

over the whole regatta. The 

winner was David Yelloly’s, 

Oyster 72, Spirit of Montpelier. 

New Director at 

EC Landamore 

Congratulations to Kevin Webster who 

was recently appointed a Director of 

E C Landamore. Kevin joined Landamores 

over 36 years ago, straight from school 

and has occupied a variety of positions 

since, starting in the workshop and latterly 

moving into management. Kevin’s 

contribution to Landamores and the Oyster 

business has been enormous and his 

appointment to the board is well-deserved. 

NEW ATLANTIC 

CROSSING GUIDE – 

CAN YOU HELP? 

Jane Russell, wife of David Russell, 

the Engineering Manager at 

E C Landamores, is editing a new Atlantic 

Crossing Guide for the RCC Pilotage 

Foundation. The new guide will be 

updated and expanded to include 

information on the African coast, the 

passage to Brazil, routes through the 

Caribbean including to Panama, routes 

north from the Caribbean up the east 

coast of North America, and northern 

latitude routes via Greenland, Iceland 

and Faroes. 

From now until July 2009, Jane will be 

collecting information ready for publication 

in early 2010 and would love to have any 

relevant feedback from anyone who is 

sailing the Guide areas over the next 12 

months. In particular she would like to 

hear of any surprises, good or bad – 

anything that, despite all the preparations, 

was unexpected. This could be current 

approaches or port information, or it could 

be aspects of equipment, crew dynamics 

or other observations on passage. Up to 

date photographs would be greatly 

appreciated. Any published contributions 

will be acknowledged. If you would like 

to contribute, either with text or photos, 

please contact Jane by email at 

russell001@btinternet.com. 

Further information about the RCC 

Pilotage Foundation with publications, 

cruising and passage planning information 

an be found at: www.rccpf.org.uk

New Directors at Oyster 

Two long-standing Oyster team members have been appointed to the Oyster Marine 

Board. With over 20 years service, Mike Taylor started out in the Oyster build yard 

before moving to the accounts department and finally production, and has personally 

project-managed over 70 Oysters. Mike takes on the role of Production Director. 

Nick Creed, has over 30 years experience in the marine industry, 13 of those within 

the Oyster Group. An experienced international yacht racer, Nick is Oyster’s new 

Commercial Director. Also new to the board is Chief Finance Officer, Chris Hicks. 

A keen sailor, Chris brings a wealth of financial experience to the Oyster team. 

IRC CHAMPION 

Photo: Ingrid Abery 

Richard Matthews’ Oystercatcher XXVI beat 48 other yachts to become the overall 

winner of the East Coast IRC Championship sailed over six races off Ramsgate 

15-16 August. Following her success in Cork and Cowes, Oystercatcher is Yachting 

World’s September edition “Boat of the Month”. 

Oyster Events 2008 

Cannes Boat Show 

10 – 15 September 

Newport Boat Show 


Southampton Boat Show 


Owners Dinner – Southampton 

13 September 

Monaco Boat Show 


Oyster Regatta – Palma 

30 September – 4 October 

Genoa Boat Show 

4 – 12 October 

Owners’ Party – Annapolis 

9 October 

Annapolis Sailboat Show 


Annapolis Powerboat Show 


Hamburg Boat Show 

25 October – 2 November 

Ft Lauderdale Boat Show 


ARC Party 

20 November 

ARC Start – Las Palmas 

23 November 

Oyster Events 2009 

London Boat Show 

9 – 18 January 

Owners Dinner – London 

10 January 

Düsseldorf Boat Show 

17 – 25 January 

Oyster Regatta – Antigua 

13 – 18 April 


8 www.oystermarine.com

Fast and Bonnie 

the 2008 Fife Regatta 

By Richard Matthews 

Anyone who appreciates beautiful classic 

yachts is almost certain to have heard of 

Fife, as well or better known in their day 

as Herreshoff in the USA, both families 

renowned for not only designing but 

also building their yachts. 

There were three William Fifes; the first 

started building fishing boats on the bank 

of the Clyde at Fairlie at the beginning of 

the 19th century, with little more than a 

sawpit and a small blacksmith's smithy. 

The first and second William Fifes had 

natural genius, were craftsmen in their own 

right and knew how to get the best out of 

a boat when sailing. The third William Fife 

joined the firm in 1885 and had a more 

formal training than his father and 

grandfather but the spark of genius had 

been passed on to the third generation. 

William Fife III, who died in 1944, is 

probably the most famous of them all 

and is remembered for his designs for 

Sir Thomas Lipton's America's Cup 

challengers Shamrock I and Shamrock III 

and the 23-Metre Shamrock, his designs 

for the Metre classes, especially the 

6-Metres, various one-design classes, many 

beautiful cruising yachts and ocean racers. 

Today little or nothing remains of the old Fife 

yard at Fairlie but the wind vane atop the 

village church is modelled on one of Fife’s 

most beautiful designs the ketch Latifa. 

Photos: Denette Wilkinson 

This June, 20 Fife yachts, some well over 

100 years old, gathered off Fairlie in the 

Firth of Clyde for the third Fife Regatta 

of the modern era. I had chartered 

The Truant, a recently restored 45ft 8-Metre 

from 1910, owned by a young Scottish 

artist, Ross Ryan. This really came about 

because I am two thirds of the way into 

restoring a 50ft Fife from 1898, Kismet, 

and wanted to learn about the rig and gear. 

Racing was in two classes with some real 

divas like The Lady Anne, Maraquita, 

Moonbeam and Altair in the big boat 

class with one of everything from 19ft to 

50ft, including The Truant, in class 2, 

which was divided about 50-50 between 

gaff and Bermudian rig. 

Starting and ending with receptions at 

Kelburn Castle, the fleet was based at 

nearby Largs Marina, although the larger 

Fifes had to anchor off. We raced to 

Helensborough where the Royal Northern 

YC put on a traditional Burns Night dinner 

complete with haggis and pipers. 

From there to Rothsay where we were 

hosted for dinner in Mount Stewart, 

an outstanding gothic mansion. Through 

the Kyles of Bute and back to Largs, the 

five race series was keenly sailed but 

with a strong emphasis on camaraderie 

and friendship between crews. 

Aboard The Truant we learned how to set 

a topsail and won all five races in the gaff 

division. One memorable moment was on 

the penultimate race from Rothsay back to 

Largs when a 40-knot rainsquall swept the 

fleet. Aboard The Truant we tried to reef 

with limited success, as we could not keep 

her long overhanging boom out of the 

water. We dropped the peak halyard, 

pressed on downwind and, thankfully, 

within 15 or 20 minutes, the worst of the 

squall passed leaving us, and the rest of 

the fleet, a little shaken but undamaged. 

Another bizarre moment was just before 

race five when we found we had been 

carrying a stowaway for the entire regatta! 

It turns out the The Truant’s owner Ross 

had been given the boat and the means 

to restore her by his uncle Bob. Bob 

passed away a month before Truant was 

re-launched and Ross discreetly stowed 

the urn, containing Bob’s ashes, in the 

lazaratte. We entered into the spirit of all 

this by taking Bob’s urn to the prize giving, 

and our crew have now been invited to a 

remote pub on the Isle of Skye, later this 

year, for Uncle Bob’s final farewell. 

The Fife’s described their yachts as ‘fast 

and bonnie’ and I would agree. When you 

see a classic yacht look out for the dragon 

carving on the caveta line on the bow - 

a sure sign of a genuine Fife yacht. 

For more on the Fife Regatta see 

www.fiferegatta.com 

2008 FIFE REGATTA 



Photos: Tim Wright/photoaction.com 

Sunshine in 

the Solent 

The Oyster Regatta – Cowes 

Hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron 



Twenty-six Oysters entered this, the 20th regatta for Oyster yachts, which, as usual, 

was very kindly hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron at their landmark headquarters, 

the Castle, on the Cowes waterfront. 

The event opened with the usual skippers’ briefing, which was given by principal 

Squadron race officer, Rear Commodore Yachting, Simon van der Byl, assisted by Oyster’s 

own race officer, Alan Brook. Earlier in the day, Simon’s wife, Suzy, made a thorough 

inspection of the assembled Oyster fleet at Cowes Yacht Haven, in her role as Concours 

d’Elegance judge. Before the first night dinner, Squadron Commodore, The Lord Iliffe, 

extended a very warm welcome to owners and guests, warm indeed being the flavour for 

the week since, with building high pressure, summer had returned and the forecasters 

were talking about record temperatures. 

Tuesday’s plan was for two relatively short inshore races starting and finishing off the 

RYS line, but with the high pressure as forecast, racing was postponed until late morning by 

which time a building sea breeze was enough for even the smallest yachts to make headway 

to windward against a fading foul tide. First away in Class 2, looking very sharp off the line, 

and short tacking up Cowes Green to make best use of a favourable back eddy, was 

John Nelson and Philip Riesco’s Oyster 42 Sundancer of Chichester. In Class 1, starting 

20 minutes later, Richard Matthews, sailing the Oyster 82 Zig Zag, was cleanly away and, 

as expected, led the fleet upwind. 

Most yachts elected to carry offwind sails and with the sea breeze building to around 

14 knots during the afternoon it was champagne sailing all around. There was some keen 

competition between the two Oyster 655 sister ships, Richard Smith’s Sotto Vento and 

Acheron, which included an uncharacteristically aggressive luffing match. In the end 

Sotto Vento had the best of it but was beaten on corrected time by the vintage Oyster 68, 

Jose Alvarez’s Starry Night, sporting a new spinnaker for the occasion, and no doubt 

benefiting from an age allowance befitting her years. > 

OYSTER REGATTA COWES 2008 

Thank you to our day sponsors 

for their continued support: 

FAR LEFT: Richard Smith’s Oyster 655, Sotto Vento 

ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 

Lord Iliffe welcomes the Oyster owners 

The Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes 

Suzy van der Byl and Oyster’s Barry Ashmore judging 

the Concours d’Elegance 




Sunshine in the Solent... continued 

“A strong fair tide made it 

all too easy to be over the 

line early but both classes 

made excellent starts. 

” 


Crew of Oyster 46, Marela winners of the mixed 

Lewmar Grinding Challenge 

Crew of Oyster 461, Blue Fox enjoy the entertainment 

aboard HMS Warrior 

HMS Warrior on a beautiful summers evening 

FAR RIGHT: John Nelson & Philip Riesco’s Oyster 42, 

Sundancer and David Wansbrough & Prue Moon’s Oyster 47 

Jubilate, overall winner of Class 2. 

For the crews that still had some energy left after racing, Lewmar, who sponsored the day, 

put on a winch grinding competition before dinner. No records broken, but some fun and 

camaraderie, especially from the mixed pairs. 

Overnight, the wind swung through 180 degrees giving the fleet a windward start for their 

easterly course from Cowes to a finish line off the historic dockyard in Portsmouth. A strong 

fair tide made it all too easy to be over the line early but both classes made excellent starts. 

During the day the wind faded from 14 to around 6 knots and there was even talk of 

shortening course, but in the event the fleet pressed on and, coaxing the yachts along in light 

airs, managed to round No Mans Land Fort, just to seaward of Ryde, as the penultimate 

mark. This fort and two others were built in Napoleonic times to protect the British fleet and 

submarine barriers were added during WWII, now thankfully removed on the No Mans Fort 

side. Some years ago the fort was massively restored to provide luxurious living 

accommodation with everything including a heli pad and tennis court, and was later sold 

at a fraction of it’s original cost. No chance to pop next door for a cup of sugar! 

Portsmouth harbour was busy with yachts and commercial craft getting ready for Navy Day 

at the end of the week. Oyster’s Liz Whitman had wisely reserved berthing at the Royal 

Clarence Marina on the Gosport side where a ferry had been chartered to carry everyone 

across the harbour to the historic Portsmouth Dockyard for the evening’s entertainment. 

HMS Warrior was the largest warship afloat when built in 1860 and the first with both sail 

and steam propulsion, but throughout her 20 years of service never saw action. There was 

however plenty of action on board for the Oyster fleet, starting with drinks on deck on what 

was one of those truly fabulous English summer evenings, and then below for dinner between 

decks. While admittedly Navy life was never like this, the atmosphere created by scrubbed 

wood tables between the guns, low headroom and dimmed lighting, did give some feel for 

what life might have been like, and certainly created a unique atmosphere for a great dinner 

party. Groups of musicians and entertainers, dressed in traditional sailor costumes, toured the 

tables and never was "What shall we do with the drunken sailor" sung with more gusto! >




The following morning, a fresh 16-18 knot easterly breeze greeted the fleet as they cleared 

Portsmouth and assembled off Gilkicker Point for a windward start out of the Solent and 

across to Bembridge Ledge before running back to Cowes and the Royal Yacht Squadron 

finishing line. 

It has to be said that the standard of sailing at Oyster regattas has improved steadily over the 

years. Steve Powell, who by his own admission is a novice to the racing scene, made what 

was to be the start of the week in his new Oyster 62 UHURU, arriving at the Pin End Buoy 

at warp speed within a second of the starting gun in a move that any America’s Cup crew 

would have been proud of. 

Champagne sailing was the order of the day, and after a vigorous beat to windward from 

Bembridge Ledge to New Ground buoy, just inshore of the Nab Tower, David Wansbrough 

and Prue Moon’s Oyster 47 Jubilate judged a perfect lay line to lead the fleet back to Cowes. 

Most boats carried spinnakers and the only mishap was to Richard Matthews’ Zig Zag 

whose cruising chute failed at the head shortly after setting, but luckily the crew were able to 

recover most of it pending a big visit to the sail loft. There was a spectacularly close finish 

between UHURU and the Oyster 68 Starry Night, both yachts crossing the finishing line at 

10 knots under spinnaker within a matter of seconds of each other. 

With two races to sail on the last day of the regatta, the RYS Race Officer sent the fleet west 

against the tide with a series of cross Solent up wind legs, which allowed the bigger yachts 

to stretch away. As usual the standard of racing was high and, as this was the last day, all 

crews were doing their very best to coax that elusive extra tenth of a knot. > 


“Steve Powell, who by his 

own admission is a novice to 

the racing scene, made what 

was to be the start of the 

week in his new Oyster 62 

UHURU, in a move that any 

America’s Cup crew would 

have been proud of. 

” 

FAR LEFT: Close racing between Steve Powell’s 

Oyster 62, UHURU and Richard Smith’s 

Oyster 655, Sotto Vento 

ABOVE LEFT: The Race Committee at the 

Royal Yacht Squadron 

ABOVE RIGHT: José Alvarez’s Oyster HP68, 

Starry Night, overall winner of Class 1 



“Owners and crews agreed 

that this 20th regatta in the 

Oyster series had been a 

great success. 

” 



ABOVE: The Class 1 boats battle it out, 

led by José Alvarez’s Oyster HP68, Starry Night 

With a strong foul tide close to the entrance to the Beaulieu river Richard Smith’s Sotto Vento 

tried a little too hard to cheat the current and finished up hard aground on the side of the 

shoal with the tide pressing her further aground. Try as they may, the crew could not escape 

for a good twenty minutes, by which time her race was run. 

The fleet were back in time for a leisurely lunch on one of the many vacant moorings off 

Cowes and then once again went to the Squadron start line for the final race of the regatta. 

A guest appearance from the Oyster Lightwave 48 Scarlet Oyster made an interesting 

addition to the fleet and, impeccably sailed, she managed to wriggle ahead of her larger 

rivals and stay there. Now used by the Ellen MacArthur Trust for introducing children suffering 

with cancer to the joys of sailing, Scarlet Oyster did of course win her class in the last 

Fastnet Race proving that both boat and crew are pretty slippery on the race course. 

It was a perfect evening for the prize giving at the Squadron - indeed all five days of the 

event had been blessed with near perfect weather. The Commodore of the Squadron, 

the Lord Iliffe, presented the principal prizes and confirmed that he would very much like 

the Oyster fleet to return to the club for the next event in 2010. 

Owners and crews agreed that this 20th regatta in the Oyster series had been a great 

success. Perhaps the overriding feature of the regatta, expressed by many owners, was the 

pleasure of feeling very much part of the Oyster family. These events are a great place to 

make new friends and Cowes 2008 was no exception. 

Dates for the Oyster Regatta Cowes 2010 are confirmed as 19-23 July. For details about 

all Oyster events please contact Liz Whitman, liz.whitman@oystermarine.com. >




Results 

ABOVE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: 

Richard Matthews with Eliza Martin, Little Morten, 

winner of the Spirit of the Regatta Award 

Prue Moon, Jubilate with Francis Vincent from Dolphin Sails 

John McMonigall and crew, Saba of Hamble with Lord Iliffe 

RIGHT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: 

Steve and Geraldine Powell, UHURU, with Barrie Sullivan 

from Pantaenius 

The Stephen Family, Wanderer with Lord Iliffe 

Aidan Millerick, Tusitala with Fiona Pankhurst from Raymarine 

David Wansbrough, Prue Moon and crew, Jubilate, 

winners of Class 2 

José Alvarez and crew, Starry Night, winners of Class 1 

CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE 

CLASS 1 PRESENTED BY ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON 

CLASS 1 Elvis the Gecko 66 Martin Dent 

CLASS 1 Acheron 655 Skipper: Richard Winder 

CLASS 2 PRESENTED BY ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON 

CLASS 2 Innamorata II HP46 Steve Kerswill 

CLASS 2 Marela 46 Martin and Pam Smout 

DAY RACES 

RACE 1 SPONSORED BY LEWMAR 

CLASS 1 

4th Acheron 655 Skipper: Richard Winder 

3rd Saba of Hamble 53 John McMonigall 

2nd Sotto Vento 655 Richard Smith 

1st Starry Night 68 José Alvarez 

CLASS 2 

4th Marela 46 Martin & Pam Smout 

3rd Wanderer 49 Clive & Anne Stephen 

2nd Jubilate 47 David Wansbrough & Prue Moon 

1st Sundancer of Chichester 42 John Nelson & Philip Riesco 

RACE 3 SPONSORED BY RAYMARINE 

CLASS 1 

4th Acheron 655 Skipper: Richard Winder 

3rd Saba of Hamble 53 John McMonigall 

2nd Starry Night 68 José Alvarez 

1st Sotto Vento 655 Richard Smith 

CLASS 2 

4th Tusitala 45 Aidan Millerick 

3rd Little Morten 45 Peter Martin 

2nd Marela 46 Martin & Pam Smout 

1st Jubilate 47 Clive & Anne Stephen 

RACE 4 SPONSORED BY DOLPHIN SAILS 

CLASS 1 

4th UHURU 62 Steve & Geraldine Powell 

3rd Acheron 655 Skipper: Richard Winder 

2nd Starry Night 68 José Alvarez 

1st Sotto Vento 655 Richard Smith 

CLASS 2 

4th Mythos 435 Andrew Tibbetts 

3rd Sophistikate 46 Richard & Angela Parkinson 

2nd Sundancer 42 John Nelson & Philip Riesco 

1st Jubilate 47 David Wansbrough & Prue Moon 

Photos: Tim Wright/photoaction.com

RACE 5 SPONSORED BY PANTAENIUS 

CLASS 1 

4th Starry Night 68 José Alvarez 

3rd Stardust 56 Paul Bateman 

2nd Acheron 655 Skipper: Richard Winder 

1st Zig Zag 82 Richard Matthews 

CLASS 2 

4th Marela 46 Martin & Pam Smout 

3rd Sundancer 42 John Nelson & Philip Riesco 

2nd Wanderer 49 Clive & Anne Stephen 


RACE 6 SPONSORED BY PANTAENIUS 

CLASS 1 

4th Sotto Vento 655 Richard Smith 

3rd Stardust 56 Paul Bateman 

2nd UHURU 62 Steve & Geraldine Powell 


CLASS 2 

4th Mythos 435 Andrew Tibbetts 

3rd Tusitala 45 Aidan Millerick 

2nd Jubilate 47 David Wansbrough & Prue Moon 

1st Sundancer 42 John Nelson & Philip Riesco 

THE OYSTER REGATTA TROPHY 

CLASS 1 

4th Saba of Hamble 53 John McMonigall 

3rd Acheron 655 Skipper: Richard Winder 

2nd Sotto Vento 655 Richard Smith 


CLASS 2 

4th Wanderer 49 Clive & Anne Stephen 

3rd Marela 46 Martin & Pam Smout 

2nd Sundancer 42 John Nelson & Philip Riesco 


OYSTER REGATTA COWES 2008


75 

The New Oyster 575

Why introduce a new Oyster 575 when 

we already have the best selling yacht in 

Oyster’s 35-year history, the Oyster 56, 

in our current range? 

An increasing number of customers, 

including some that currently own either 

an Oyster 53 or Oyster 56, explained that 

they were looking for a larger yacht but 

that the step up to the very much bigger 

Oyster 62 was just one step too far. 

They explained that although they would 

like more accommodation, comfort and 

performance, a yacht that could be sailed 

short-handed by an experienced couple 

was essential to them. Many owners feel 

that ownership of a yacht over the 60ft 

mark requires a professional crew on 

board. Secondly, over recent years we 

have had a tremendously positive 

response to the twin wheel configuration, 

previously offered only on the Oyster 62 

and upwards. Whilst we were not 

convinced we would ultimately want to 

replace such a good design as the Oyster 

56 we made the decision to embark upon 

a feasibility study and a possible new 

design, larger than the Oyster 56 but less 

than 60 feet and with twin helms. 

The volume of a yacht increases 

exponentially to any increase in water line 

length and although on the face of it the 

Oyster 575 is only slightly larger than the 

Oyster 56 in terms of overall length, in 

real terms it has significantly more water 

line length, beam, freeboard and sail area. 

In other words, it is a significant step up in 

size. This much greater volume also 

enabled a twin wheeled configuration to 

be incorporated - under sail you have the 

benefit of helming from windward or 

leeward depending on your preference 

and perhaps, just as importantly, when 

coming alongside steering from the 

nearside helm position gives significantly 

better visibility and the ability to better 

judge distances, always important for 

good relations between the helmsman and 

the person chosen to jump ashore! 

“The elongated sleek deck 

saloon adds to the elegance 

of the yacht and, whether 

at anchor, alongside or 

under sail, is so well 

proportioned that it gives 

the impression of being a 

significantly larger yacht. 

” 

Another huge benefit of the twin wheeled 

configuration is that it keeps the helms out 

of the cockpit leisure area thus achieving 

much more seating space for relaxing. 

The leisure cockpit offers a very 

impressive seating area of a size more 

normally found in a yacht of 60ft. Twin 

wheels also allow the ability to move from 

the leisure cockpit to the helm positions, 

without having to climb around a large 

single wheel and make much safer 

movement around the cockpit possible. 

THE NEW OYSTER 575 

Below decks, the nine-man Oyster 

in-house design team has created this 

very exciting new design in 3D to 

optimise the available accommodation 

area. A luxury of space offers comfortable 

sleeping accommodation for up to eight 

in four cabins with the option to construct 

the fourth cabin, adjacent to the engine 

room as a work shop, office or utility area 

if eight berths are not required. A large 

galley, with twin worktops, offers plenty 

of storage space, with a large front 

opening fridge and room for many 

electrical appliances as required. 

Externally, as with all our latest designs, 

the styling reflects that of very much 

larger superyachts with a rounded 

composite bulwark giving a very clean and 

modern hull to deck join. The elongated 

sleek deck saloon adds to the elegance 

of the yacht and, whether at anchor, 

alongside or under sail, is so well 

proportioned that it gives the impression 

of being a significantly larger yacht. 

As with all our latest designs, performance 

will be optimised using pure hull lines 

from Rob Humphreys. This yacht will be a 

fast passage maker and like every other 

Oyster in the range will result in effortless 

blue water cruising whilst enjoying 

exhilarating performance and wonderful 

on board comfort and stability. 

The end result is a stunning, large and 

spacious yacht that can still be sailed 

short handed anywhere in the world by 

competent crew. 



ABOVE: Yolanda and Rolf 

RIGHT: Moana anchored off Coron Island 

Philippines - Our 

gate to South Asia 

By Yolanda Danioth, Oyster 56, Moana 

Two main characteristics describe the diverse Philippines: over 7000 islands and more 

than 95 million people. This is a country with rice fields in the far north, long sandy 

beaches in the south, hanging cliffs in the west, rigid mountains in the east and remote 

lagoons and small islands in the centre. 

Nevertheless, in comparison to other countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines are not 

equally included in most of the important travel catalogues or visited by many yachts – 

this is incomprehensible! These islands are singular in their place in the world; they are 

green, clean, organised, laid back, unique and reflect a simple, idyllic life virtually 

empty of tourism. 

We enjoyed sailing the archipelago waters of the Philippines. It was easy sailing; 

there is no ocean swell and Moana moved fast in only 10 knots of wind and flat 

seas. Finding a place to anchor was simple because there are no restrictions, no 

reefs and the bottom slopes up from deep water to sandy beaches most of the 

time. As soon as you are in anchor depth water, just drop your hook and enjoy 

your stay. This presents the best conditions for cruisers to go and explore! 

One point you have to bear in mind in parts of the Pacific Ocean is the 

threat of the presence of hundreds of fisherman in the archipelago. 

The crackle from their two-stroke air-cooled engines can be heard from far 

away. They move fast, almost flying over the water, in long outrigger canoes 

headed for where the birds are feeding. They bring their nets and get the 

fish spotted by the birds. The scene looks like confetti flying all over the 

surface: yellow, green, red and violet painted canoes hunting for the fish. 

When you see this you know why nobody likes to be at sea during the night 

– it is too dangerous to navigate. 

We concentrated our cruising on the beautiful Visayas, the central part of the 

Philippines exactly as Ferdinand Magellan did some centuries ago when he arrived as 

the first European in Cebu. 

Closing in on Cebu, the capital of the Visayas, we realised the effects of the big city. 

Outrigger canoes got fewer and fewer; ferry boats and cargo ships dominated the location. 

Due to pollution the colour of the water changed suddenly from blue to brown, the air from 

light blue to black and the land from green to brown. However, after months in remote areas 

we looked forward to our arrival in a vibrant city and our first South East Asian town. >

OWNER REPORT 


“We found Malapascua one 

of the nicest unspoiled 

islands we visited. There are 

no cars and locals and 

tourists live in harmony 

with nature. 

” 


Philippines - Our gate to South Asia continued 

Cebu 

Cebu Yacht Club is a small and dirty marina with mainly local boats and few cruising yachts. 

However, it is a secure and a convenient location, just a short walk to the town. The staff 

were helpful and even managed to get power for Moana. They cut cables, took off the power 

plug and hooked the cables directly into the power socket lying just above the waterline. 

It looked dangerous but worked fine. Checking in was trouble-free. On our arrival we got a 

permit to stay two months and an outward clearance for the port in Palawan we wanted to 

visit. The authorities didn’t need to visit the boat and the paperwork was professionally 

completed. Of course there was baksheesh involved – but an acceptable amount. Berth 

prices are cheap for the first 15 days. From then on the cost gets unbelievably expensive, a 

tacit sign for foreign yachts to move on. 

Everywhere in Cebu are huge billboards, clean and cheap restaurants, big shopping malls, 

congested traffic abound with cars, scooters and thousands of people. As this was our first 

stop in South East Asia, we felt absolutely overwhelmed. There are few traffic signs or zebra 

crossings and the road traffic rules are simple. Whatever is bigger has right of way! 

We crossed the road with only this rule in mind. 

The selection of fruit, vegetables and herbs in the markets and supermarkets are a luxury. 

Almost never-ending shelves are loaded with fresh products packed in different sizes. Shopping 

and eating out is diverse and extremely cheap... and very delicious. A three course Asian dinner 

inclusive with beverages for two is less than ten US dollars in an air-conditioned restaurant. 

Even cheaper food is available from the locals with their mobile kitchens. But be warned – 

there are some Filipino eating habits which are very unusual. It sounds harmless enough 

when you first hear a cyclist with a cool box wandering around and calling "Balut, balut". 

All the local people rush over to buy one or two each which makes you wonder what all the 

fuss is about; after all, a balut is only a boiled egg, isn’t it? No, it is not. This egg contains 

legs and wings, feathers, beak, bones, claws and a few more bits of the un-hatched chicken. 

Filipinos eat these fertilized eggs between the 16th and 21st day. They prepare balut by 

boiling, cooling, peeling off the shell at one end, adding a little salt and swallowing down 

whole. Chew it if you feel the need but definitely don’t look at it, think about it, or smell it… 

just eat it and enjoy! Filipinos believe that eating these eggs improve sexual stamina. 

Happy with our sex-lives, we left the eggs to them! 

Jeepneys are the typical Philippine means of public transportation. When the American armed 

forces left the Philippines after the end of the World War II, they gave their military jeeps to 

the local population. The locals altered these jeeps so that more passengers could be 

transported. They added a metal roof to provide shade and painted the converted vehicles 

skilfully with decorative and colourful pictures. Most owners chose religious motifs and made 

shining engine cooler grills from chrome. They look nothing like army vehicles anymore. 

Jeepneys are taken with pleasure and are popular!

While Moana was moored in Cebu Yacht Club we took a day excursion by ferry to Bohol. The main 

attractions of Bohol are the Chocolate Mountains and the tarsier, a little monkey. The conical shaped 

‘Chocolate Hills,’ as they are called, are well known outside the Philippines. Some geologists believe 

that these unique, approximately 40 metre high formations are depositions of coral and 

conglomerate stones which were formed millenniums ago by erosion. Beyond the geologic 

explanation many mystic legends surround them; The first tells about the fight of two giants who 

pelted themselves for days with stones and sand before they made friends. At the end they left the 

island tired and exhausted without having cleared up the battlefield. The second legend is a more 

romantic one. Aragon, a strong young man fell in love with Aloya, a quiet daughter of a native 

headman. Her death broke his heart and Aragon cried bitterly. The proof of his deep grief are the 

Chocolate Hills; his tears became the hills. 

Tarsier is the name of a small, cute nocturnal forest inhabitant. The tarsier belongs to ghost animal 

or to the ghost monkey family and is a type of primate. They look like a mixture between a Gremlin 

and ET. An outstanding feature is its big eyes with up to 16 mm in diameter. This size, in comparison 

with a human eye, would make it a medium sized apple for a person! There is no other mammal with 

such unusual proportions. Interestingly, the tarsiers’ eyes weigh more than their brains. Tarsiers not 

only have enormous eyes, they have long feet, too. Their feet have extremely elongated tarsus bones, 

which is how they got their name. They are primarily insectivores and catch insects by jumping at 

them. They are also known to prey on birds and snakes. As they jump from tree to tree, tarsiers 

can catch even birds in motion. Typical of the tarsier is a round head capable of a rotation up to 

180 degrees and good hearing. 

Unfortunately tarsiers are threatened in the Philippines. The main menace of the tarsier is the 

destruction of their living space. In addition, these tiny monkeys are hunted for their meat! Tarsiers 

have never bred successfully in captivity. Caged tarsiers have been known to injure and even kill 

themselves because of stress. Therefore it is important that the animals are kept in protected 

surroundings and locals as well as tourists are informed about the endangered state of the species. 

Who knows how long this small ghost will still move in wild nature. 

Malapascua 

We found Malapascua one of the nicest unspoiled islands we visited. There are no cars and locals 

and tourists live in harmony with nature. Electricity flows only between 6pm and 9am – to coincide 

with the time when tourists return from excursions. 

Malapascua is popular with divers. Two diving areas we particularly liked were Gato Island and a 

sunken island called Monad Shoal. Gato is a special habitat under nature conservation and offers 

underwater tunnels running from one side of the island to the other and submerged canyons. 

After a 40 minute speed boat trip we reached the island. Bear in mind, ‘speed boats’ in the 

Philippines are big wooden canoes with two outriggers. > 


Jeepneys, the local public transport 

A local fisherman in Cebu 

One of the never-ending market stalls in Cebu 

Yolana and Rolf at the Chocolate Hills 

A luxury forest house 

A friendly tarsier 

OWNER REPORT 




“The wind influenced our 

route and one day we 

ended up in Sibuyan. 

This little village is 

overlooked by tourism. 

” 

On our dive through the tunnel we watched different reef sharks sleeping. Nevertheless, our 

absolute high point was to spot seahorses! Luckily our diving guide had trained eyes because 

we would have missed these small animals hiding in ferns. Seahorses belong to the most 

remarkable species of the deep. Biologically they are normal fish in a special packaging. 

Everybody likes seahorses. A quite unusual fascination with these sea animals with their 

horse heads grips most people. They are gorgeous to watch! 

Sibuyan 

The wind influenced our route and one day we ended up in Sibuyan. This little village is 

overlooked by tourism and even by Manila – which tends to overlook retirement payments 

and other governmental responsibilities. 

The island has 50,000 inhabitants and no more than 50 to 100 western tourists visit a year. 

In every respect the remote 2,058 metre high, egg shaped Mt. Guiting-Guiting controls the 

climate of the place. Guiting-Guiting magically draws all clouds from the wide surroundings. 

Accordingly, measured with other islands, the territory is rich in water and has one of the 

best preserved primeval forests of the Philippines. Another reason for the thick virgin forest 

is the streams and waterfalls that are abound along the abrupt flanks of the mountain. 

Instead of hiking up Mt Guiting-Guiting we travelled on a tricycle around the island. Tricycles 

are light coloured motorcycles with painted side cars. Here on Sibuyan these are the only 

motorized vehicles and the main transportation. Most of the time these vehicles are loaded 

with many adventurous Filipinos and their luggage and domestic animals. On our small tour of 

Sibuyan we discovered two German settlements, passed the fresh produce market, colourful 

colonial style terraced houses and beautiful virgin forest – we had a lovely relaxing time. 

Boracay 

One of the best known destinations in the Philippines is Boracay. The small seven kilometre 

long island lies north of Panay. Everything here happens at the ‘white beach’ one of the 

nicest palm tree lined beaches in the Philippines: sunbathing, relaxing, outdoor massaging, 

shopping for souvenirs, eating, drinking and even diving tours. 

A contrast to the beauty and cleanliness of the white beach was life behind the beach. 

Everything looked to be under construction or at least refurbishment. Power supply lines were 

hanging loose from house to house. Dogs, rats and other small animals searched for food in 

shops or in commercial waste. The weird architectural activity led us to suppose that a recent 

typhoon or tsunami had swept the place. But our belief was wrong... the locals were 

constructing and extending buildings due to the increasing number of visitors. Back on the 

beach we felt like we were in another world.

Coron 

On arrival in Coron we left the province of Visayas. Coron Island is part of the Calamian 

Group and offers similar beauty to the neighbouring world-renowned Palawan, for its 

vertical limestone formations - although the Corons’ are more concentrated and on a 

much smaller scale. 

The entrance to our anchorage was very adventurous. Between precipitously sloped 

limestone rocks and water varying in different blue to turquoise colours, we found just 

enough water to get Moana into the small space. We were in the midst of a stony upright 

surrounding! Due to the limestone bottom the anchor would not dig in, so Moana was held 

only by the weight of anchor and chain. At that time of the year, the weather conditions were 

moderate so we had no concerns. The place was idyllic, impressive and quiet and we 

enjoyed the very clear and clean water in this Philippine fjord! 

"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, keep nothing but memories, kill 

nothing but time" a sign said before we climbed up the stairs to Kayangan Lake. After a rise 

and a descent we reached the clear freshwater lake with its three arms nestled into the 

limestone of Coron Island. The steep, sharp-edged rock walls are reflected in the clear plain 

water. We paddled along the shore of this lake that lays 80 metres above sea level. 

We experienced the scenery of Kayangan as sole visitors, the silence was only interrupted 

by the humming of our kayak pilot. 

Back at sea level we found out that this lake and its surroundings still belong to the 

Tagbanuas tribe and therefore is custom ground. All income goes directly to the Tagbanuas. 

Even with some income these people live a very simple life. Their houses are built directly on 

shore, on stilts and have no flowing water or electricity. They gain additional income by 

collecting swallows’ nests. The soup made in Chinese restaurants from these nests is a 

delicacy. To prepare one soup requires about 300 nests! The nest contains a protein which is 

the main ingredient of the soup. Of course, to collect the nest is not easy. The swallows build 

their nests in inaccessible caves on vertical face walls. But Tagbanuas set up a bamboo 

construction and climb up into the heights of the cave to get their prize. Back in Europe any 

health and safety man would have a stroke from this vibrating, unsecure construction without 

any safety measures. What an indescribable endeavour to get some pesos. > 


Beautiful limestone formations of Coron 

Fishing boats of Boracays’ white beach 

Diving in Malapascua 

The local children in Sibuyan 

Our transport in Sibuyan 

OWNER REPORT 




“It was clearly a wonderful 

place but a good weather 

window opened and 

allowed us the opportunity 

to sail most of the way 

to Borneo. 

” 

El Nido 

El Nido in north Palawan is a small tranquil fishing village with some 23,000 inhabitants. 

The name El Nido is Spanish for ‘the nest’ referring to the swallows’ nests which are also found 

on this island. We did not spend a lot of time in El Nido. It was clearly a wonderful place but a 

good weather window opened and allowed us the opportunity to sail most of the way to 

Borneo, our next destination. We had not expected a favourable wind! This area normally has 

poor winds in the beginning of March so we hoisted sail and went for the 360 nm trip to Borneo. 

Passage to Borneo 

The weather forecast was correct and we sailed the whole way. Indeed, with light winds 

we did not reach record-breaking speeds, but we sailed in calm waters and made steady 

progress. We entered the South China Sea without even noticing it. Close to oil fields, 

which are plentiful in this area, we began to spot countless vessels including supply ships, 

numerous freighters and some tankers and fishing vessels. In the Balabac Strait the lonesome 

times at sea were definitely over. We shared the waters with other ships whose courses 

built a virtual thick net of routes over the sea. 

The highlight on this trip was Rolf’s birthday. We received many greetings from members 

of the family and friends by email. I spoilt and surprised him with culinary lusciousness the 

whole day. Our Champagne and red wine remained unopened and had to wait until we 

reached land – the Captain himself had prescribed our ship policy, "no alcohol while en 

route". Still, Rolf enjoyed eggs (without garnish) for breakfast, an ice cream at midday, 

cinnamon rolls for afternoon tea and an Indonesian curry for dinner. Rolf’s present was a 

Scrabble – English issue! Now we fight for words… my next article will contain new words, 

thanks to Scrabble!! 

At 2am we arrived in Sutera Harbour Marina in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, from where I complete 

this article. From now on we know anchorages will become rare. Yachts sailing from here up 

to Thailand hop from marina to marina so the same will apply for Moana, we will spend the 

next 12 months mostly visiting luxury marinas with all amenities. Half of this time we will 

dock Moana in Singapore to enable land-trips and visits back to Switzerland to meet with 

friends and family. 

Cruising will become somewhat different in this area of South East Asia. Marinas are used 

as bases for excursions and trips on land. Kota Kinabalu is our base to explore Borneo. 

Our program is the ascent of Mt. Kinabalu, an excursion into the jungle to meet with 

Orang-utans, a diving safari in Sipadan (a world first class diving place) and a visit to the 

world’s largest cave systems near Miri, Malaysia.

PHILIPPINES FACTS: 

Weather Resources: 

Moana is equipped with an Inmarsat 

Fleet33 system and receives weather 

charts and GRIB files via MPDS as well 

as Met Area reports with SatC. 

The Philippines have a high risk of 

typhoons, which are most frequent 

between June and October. The rainy, 

SW monsoon season is from June to 

September, the dry season October to 

May. The best season for cruising in the 

Philippines is from early January to 

mid-May when the weather is pleasant 

and the danger of typhoons is minimal. 

Met Area 11 weather report: 

http://weather.gmdss.org/navimail/GMDS 

S_METAREA11_INMARSAT 

The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre: 

https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/ab/ab 

pwweb.txt 

Synopsis Analysis and Prognosis 

and other weather chart products by 

radio-facsimile are broadcasted by 

T’ai-pei, Tokyo and Australia. 

Travel Guide Books: 

• Cruising Guide to Southeast Asia 

Volume I, South China Sea, Philippines, 

Gulf of Thailand to Singapore from 

Stephen Davies & Elaine Morgan, 

Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson 

• Lonely Planet Philippines 

• Lonely Planet Diving & 

Snorkeling Philippines 

An excellent addition to the above 

guide with places to see, background 

information and listings of dive spots 

Money: 

Philippine peso (PHP). 

Exchange rate £1 = 84 PHP (Aug 2008). 

US Dollar is widely accepted. 

Abundant ATMs and credit cards widely 

accepted. 

Clearance: 

Immigration: No visa is required for stays 

of up to 21 days. 60-days visa can be 

obtained in advance. Visas or extensions 

of an existing 60-day visa can be 

obtained from immigration in either 

Cebu or Manila only, although some 

people have managed to renew their visa 

elsewhere. Fees vary but should be 

displayed in the immigration office. 

Customs: 

Firearms must be declared to customs 

on arrival. Prohibited items include 

pornographic material, narcotics and 

internationally prohibited drugs, unless 

accompanied by a medical prescription. 

Yachts with animals on board must 

contact the Animal Quarantine office in 

Manila. Tel (2) 992-836, for clearance 

and permit. The yacht will be inspected 

and a fee charged. 

Officially yachts gain free entry for one 

year and the only charges are for 

immigration visa extensions. Although 

the government is trying to stamp out 

corruption and also to standardise the 

entry and exit charges applied to yachts, 

in practice, many local officials charge for 

what they call ‘special services’. 


The beautiful ‘white beach’ of Boracay 

Local freight transportation 

Moana anchored off Coron Island 

Our guide in Coron 

Moana in Malaysia 

OWNER REPORT 



Race Roundup Latest 

We race … our owners get the results 

While Oyster build comfortable live-aboard cruising yachts, we are serious about trying to 

combine comfort with excellent sailing performance. 

For over 35 years, Oyster has maintained an active racing profile, which we continue to 

believe empowers us to be serious and authoritative about performance and the factors that 

contribute to it. Our latest trial horse, Oystercatcher XXVI, designed by Rob Humphrey’s son, 

Tom, made extensive use of a velocity prediction programme, VPP, to evaluate and optimise 

the yacht’s theoretical performance. 

On the racecourse we constantly monitor the ‘numbers’ to measure actual performance 

against the theoretical VPP data. This is the same tool that the Humphreys Design Office 

uses to optimise the latest Oysters. For example the VPP programme was used extensively 

to optimise the new super-shoal centreboard and twin rudder Oyster 82 and compare her 

performance against her standard keel sister. 

Photos: Tim Wright/photoaction.com

The bi-annual ACC Bank Cork Week is one of Europe’s largest regattas and Oystercatcher 

was racing in a highly competitive Class Zero fleet against 17 other yachts. With the best 

seven races to count, Oystercatcher scored 6 x 1st and 1 x 2nd to easily win her class and 

became a strong contender to claim the best overall performance. On most races times were 

taken between every leg upwind and downwind and compared with the competition. These 

were then re-calculated against each yacht’s IRC rating to get a net gain or loss on each leg. 

These comparisons create a learning tool that can and does find its way into the design 

process for Oyster yachts. 

Oh yes, and then there was Skandia Cowes Week, the most competitive fleet yet including 

many of the yachts that had taken part in the Commodore’s Cup the month before. Tides 

play a big part racing from Cowes and we were very pleased with our 1 x 1st and 1 x 2nd. 

We continue to believe that while we race our owners get the results. 

RACE ROUNDUP LATEST 



South, south, south... 

by Mariacristina Rapisardi, Oyster 72 Billy Budd 

OWNER REPORT 



There was great excitement as our aircraft neared the very southernmost tip of 

the earth; we spied a strip of water: could it be the Beagle Channel or the 

Straits of Magellan?... It was Beagle, Ushuaia, a big bay and a plethora of 

smaller ones. Or at least that’s how it looks from the air. Somewhere down 

there was our Oyster 72, Billy Budd. I tried to pick out her mast with its two 

blue stripes but we were too far out. 

Our small aircraft landed and we excitedly made our way to the boat. There were 

seven of us altogether: my husband and I, the usual two friends who’ve now ‘put down 

anchor’ on Billy Budd, two Alpine guides and a ski instructress from Courmayeur. 

This time we hoped to make it to 66 degrees South even though it was late in the season. 

By February the ice would normally be starting to make its way northwards. We knew what that 

meant in the Arctic, we had to get going as fast as possible. We had a month to do the whole trip 

in. We hoped that six or seven days would be enough for the trip to the Drake Channel and the 

rest of the time we hoped would be spent sailing down along the Antarctic peninsula. 

On the day we were due to leave, a storm was forecast for Cape Horn with 60 knot winds; the 

harbour master in Ushuaia decided on a lockdown with no boats or ships allowed to leave the 

safety of port. So we settled in to wait. We got our skis, ski boots and ice axes ready: at the same 

time wondering if we really would be able to ski, climb and trek down there? 

Towards evening the wind had dropped and the port reopened; we cast off in the dark, not that 

it made much difference with 700 miles of the Drake Channel ahead of us! In the end we got 

through the passage with the greatest of ease with the wind practically astern; one or two of us 

fell prey to seasickness but to be honest it was nothing like we had expected. 

After three and a half days at sea we thought we must be nearing land; we couldn’t see land, 

but we could smell... penguins! It was an incredibly strong smell that hit us well before we caught 

our first glimpse of terra ferma. This was partly due to the fact that Billy Budd was surrounded by 

thick fog. A light sprinkling of snow dusted the deck and gave the air much more of a zing than 

we got on our mountains back home. 

We set foot on Antarctic soil for the first time in a bay dominated by the ruins of an old whale 

processing plant complete with huge boilers, shipwrecks, sheds and houses where the workers 

once lived. This is a site of archaeological importance so although we look, we’re careful not to 

touch anything. 

This was our first taste of adventure in the Antarctic: we found the Deception Island thermal springs 

and ended up swimming in a pool in which the water was... 60 degrees! The pool was only a couple 

of metres deep but the water was scalding hot and the air temperature remained Antarctic cold.

We cast off once again; and after a few dozen miles reached the peninsula. The weather was 

fabulous with the sun beaming down on us from a cloudless sky. We arrived at Cape Herschel 

surrounded by icebergs and gorgeous mountains. We quickly dropped anchor and prepared 

ourselves for our first ski excursion. 

This turned out to be trickier than we had expected. There was an awful lot to get ready before we 

could head ashore – skis, crampons, ice axes, ropes – getting to the snow proved even trickier. 

The Antarctic coastline is steep to the point of being inaccessible in some spots; we used 

crampons and ice axes to get up to a plateau from where we could get started on our long ski trip. 

Obviously we stayed tied together by ropes and harnesses; there were huge crevices everywhere 

and worse still they were dusted with snow so we couldn’t really see them. Luckily though, we had 

our mountain experts with us so they very calmly helped us pick our way through. 

Our first descent on Antarctic snow was marvellous, the kind of descent that you rarely get in the 

Alps – perfect curves on spring snow on a warm, sunny day. 

Our night at Cape Herscel was far from peaceful, with too much ice and too many icebergs none 

too gently grinding against and slamming into Billy Budd’s hull. We cast off again early in the 

morning bound for Enterprise Bay, a tiny harbour where we anchored by a half-submerged wreck. 

This was an incredibly calm spot sheltered from the winds by gorgeous mountains. We took 

advantage of the wreck, the sun and the warmth to embark on our first dive in Antarctic waters. 

After struggling into our dry suits, which weigh 16kg a piece, and donning hoods, gloves and 

masks, we finally slipped beneath the surface of the sea…and saw nothing but icebergs and the 

wreck! No fish, no penguins, nothing. 

The weather started to change and it began to snow. Billy Budd was soon blanketed in snow. 

It fell off the mast and the boom and filled up the cockpit. The deck became an ice rink. 

Despite the weather we continued to the Lemaire Channel, Port Charcot and Mount Scott in turn 

and with every night and day that passed we came across more and more of the most famous 

channels, fjords and bays in the Antarctic. Each one has its own history of explorers, single-handed 

sailors and boats that have spent the winter iced-in in these secret coves. We now saw penguins, 

penguins and more penguins - elegant Gentoos, blue-eyed Adelies and cute Chinstraps. 

The weather turned so ugly we were no longer able to explore the mountains, our trips were 

confined to long walks near the shore and to visiting the penguins. We obviously never touched the 

birds. For a start they won’t let you any nearer than two metres before they back off a foot or two, 

making it quite clear that they want to maintain a certain distance. > 

“The weather started to 

change and it began to 

snow. Billy Budd was soon 

blanketed in snow. It fell off 

the mast and the boom and 

filled up the cockpit. The 

deck became an ice rink. 

” 

OWNER REPORT 



South, south, south... continued 

Many of the penguins were still very much chicks, staring at us curiously, walking around and 

hopping along after us on tiny feet, skittering down snowy slopes and tumbling head over heels 

which was a really funny sight! We saw thousands of penguins. It truly is incredible how many 

penguins can fit on to a single beach and how they can cluster so closely together. Our encounters 

with them continued and evolved with each passing day. 

We’d often find an adult just starring at us, probably asking itself who or what we were. It would 

then follow us and almost seem like it wanted to get onboard the boat. But then it would decide 

that its native land is more hospitable than Billy Budd and swim away with great dignity. 

To us however, Billy Budd, always seemed very warm and welcoming: the stove in the saloon is 

fantastic and when we lit it in the evenings it would raise the room temperature up to 20 degrees. 

It was a little chillier in the cabins, particularly our aft cabin. Temperatures fell to three or four 

degrees in the mornings but our skipper Clive had the ingenious idea of connecting the towel rails 

in the heads to the batteries (rather than the generator) so that they were deliciously warm which 

also meant we could actually dry some clothing. Because the truth of the matter is, we were always 

wet. The continual snow showers didn’t give us time to dry off our clothes, oilskins and, most 

importantly, our gloves. 

Our journey continued in the Lemaire Channel and we headed for Port Charcot; the sailing was just 

the same – no wind, the sea was calm and we were surrounded by icebergs. On one iceberg we 

caught a glimpse of something dark. Was it penguins? Seals? We edged closer to see what kind of 

animal might be stretched out so calmly on this flat iceberg. Then we noticed there was a large 

creature swimming around the iceberg heading for the boat and we suddenly realised what it was... 

a leopard seal!

At long last a sighting of the famous leopard seal that everyone had told us about. 

This hungry, aggressive seal can apparently attack tenders and devour hundreds of penguins; 

in short it is the polar bear of the south. It was big too, it swam towards Billy Budd and what 

we experienced then was the most thrilling spectacle of our entire journey; the seal began a 

strange dance around the boat, diving and resurfacing. It swam around the bow, surfaced at the 

stern and then appeared to start attacking the hull, hurling its enormous mouth and razor sharp 

teeth at Billy Budd. But then at the very last second, it would veer away, barely caressing the 

boat with its enormous three-metre-plus body. 

Meanwhile the other animal stretched out on the iceberg, another leopard seal, didn’t move, merely 

raising its big head giving us a bored look. We couldn’t understand what this strange dance/attack 

meant. Perhaps the seal was trying to defend its iceberg. Perhaps it was its home. Maybe the seal 

on the iceberg was a female and the one in the sea a male. We all had our own theories but none 

of us are animal experts and so our questions stayed unanswered. 

Nevertheless, after this strange encounter I decided I wasn’t interested in diving any more and 

Clive agreed. The idea of meeting the big leopard seal underwater didn’t appeal one bit, even if 

the experts claim they won’t attack humans. You just never really know. 

This was far from the end of our leopard seal adventures. One not so pleasant experience was 

during one of our disturbed nights amid the icebergs, we were hit by a particularly annoying one 

that began repeatedly pushing Billy Budd whilst we were trying to asleep. 

At Port Charcot we met with Jerome Poncet and his guests aboard his boat Golden Fleece. 

This was a very important meeting for us as he is a great sailor, one of the foremost seafarers 

in these southern seas. We invited him and his friends to dinner. It turned out that they were 

there working for the BBC and looking for killer whales whose highly evolved and fascinating 

social life they wanted film. 

They told us wonderful stories of their adventures and the animals they’ve come across. They told 

us tales of how long they had to stay in the water to snatch just a few moments of interesting film 

and how difficult it is to find just the right shot and then slot it in a wildlife documentary. They’d 

been in the Antarctic a month already and had nothing to show for it. It seemed that there were no 

killer whales or at least that they’re keeping out of sight if they were around. 

As we journeyed south we encountered more and more ice with each passing day. Nights were 

less than peaceful and we often had to get up to move small chunks of ice clunking against 

Billy Budd’s hull before they could cause any harm. We used a hook to push the smaller chunks 

away but we had to get out the tender when things got more difficult. 

This meant we could only continue our journey by day, merely managing part of the way 

we planned as the weather was so bad. It snowed a lot but it was neither too cold nor too 

warm, just wet. The worst thing about this kind of weather was that we were only able to > 

“Billy Budd, always seemed 

very warm and welcoming: 

the stove in the saloon is 

fantastic and when we lit it 

in the evenings it would 

raise the room temperature 

up to 20 degrees. 

” 

OWNER REPORT 


“As we journeyed south we 

encountered more and 

more ice with each passing 

day. Nights were less than 

peaceful and we often had 

to get up to move small 

chunks of ice clunking 

against Billy Budd’s hull 

before they could cause 

any harm. 

” 


South, south, south... continued 

catch very occasional glimpses of the mountains. Their lofty peaks would suddenly appear, 

high and inaccessible. 

When we reached Vernaski, the Ukrainian Antarctic station, we had reached the southernmost point 

of our voyage. That evening we drank a toast in the world’s most southerly bar where Caterina, our 

young ski instructress, proved a major hit with the base’s scientists and staff who challenged her to 

a vodka drinking competition! 

The next morning we made our way north again, to Port Lockroy, a large bay with a museum that 

attracts tourist ships. We anchored in a nicely sheltered fjord, but had to move because the wind 

turned and ice began coming in. It even reached as far as the bay, so Clive spent a sleepless night 

checking that Billy Budd didn’t get surrounded and damaged by mini icebergs and growlers. 

The skipper of the boat Pelagic Australis, which was anchored near us, hailed us over the radio at 

one point when he was woken by larger chunks of ice hitting his boat. The weather was dreadful, 

the barometer hits its lowest point – 960 mb and there was a 60-knot wind! So we stayed aboard 

and only went ashore to visit the museum where we made a few purchases. 

The locals said that the weather had been particularly bad so far this year with very little sun, high 

winds and squalls. Which was a pity but it also gives us the perfect excuse to visit another time! 

Sadly we had to start thinking about our return journey and checked the weather bulletins. 

We had to get to Ushuaia by February 28 at the very latest and we couldn’t risk being slowed 

or stopped in our tracks by a squall in the middle of the Drake Channel. Our plan was to leave 

the Antarctic around February 23rd or 24th but the Gribs was forecasting 60 knot winds for the 

23rd – that means big seas and waves – and in the Drake Channel. 

So we set off from Port Lockroy at dawn on the morning of the 20th. We discovered that our radar 

wasn’t working so stopped off at Melchiorre Bay, where a base is located, though now closed, to try 

to fix it. Anchoring was tricky as the wind was high and the sea rough. Richard and Clive climbed the 

mast to try to find out what the problem was but there was nothing they could do. So we set off for 

the open sea with an 800 mile trek ahead of us, hoping that it wouldn’t be too rough. 

It was rough but not overly so, just enough to do the trick. Perhaps it was our emotions, the fact 

that we had to leave so quickly and the forecast of storms in two days, taking their toll 

psychologically as some of the crew fell prey to a bout of severe seasickness. It was almost a bow 

sea. Even though the waves weren’t too bad they really slammed the bow and with each slap the 

already pale faces got paler. It’s wasn’t exactly pleasant for the rest of us either as every time the 

bow slammed into the sea, a shudder ran through the entire boat from stem to stern, before it 

started all over again.

Those of us not too seasick took the watches. We tried to cook a bit – the usual risotto that we 

rustle up on long crossings. But hardly anyone had any appetite for it. Three days dragged or flew 

by – depending on who you asked. 

We approached Cape Horn by the evening our second day. The Gribs forecasted a 65 knot winds 

for 09.00 the following day so we tried to go as fast possible and finally we dropped anchor in 

Caleta Martial on the island of Herschel at two o’clock in the morning. 

The sea was now as calm as glass, there wasn’t a breath of wind and the sweet smell of land 

drifted towards us on the wind. We toasted our return to dry land and then headed off to bed in a 

boat that was still at last. 

We awoke the next morning in a 69.8 knot wind and our friends turned pale with dismay, all too 

well aware that if we’d been a few hours later, we’d be at Cape Horn where the winds by then 

would have been reaching 105 knots…not a pleasant prospect at all. 

It was far too blustery to go ashore or even put the dinghy in the water. So we were all stuck 

aboard again. Those of us who’d been looking forward to a bit of sunshine and a walk on the 

beach were a bit down, but we all knew that’s just how changeable it is in these parts. To prove my 

point the following day was wonderfully warm and sunny. We went ashore to the beach at Caleta 

Martial and climbed a small mountain covered in brambles and bushes; one of us fell asleep in the 

sun on the beach whilst the others photographed flowers and saplings. 

The ice and cold are behind us now. But we’ll be back – that’s a promise and we’ll be venturing 

even further South next time... 



“Forget the National 

Geographic - this is real life 

Fijian culture, bought to you 

by Oyster and the team on 

board Kealoha 8. 

” 

One Amazing Day 

By Nick O’Donnell, Oyster 72, Kealoha 8 

‹When you are sailing around the world 

in an Oyster 72 on the World ARC, 

amazing days can seem two-a-penny, 

but some stand out more then others 

and this day was no exception. 

We were invited to the local village of 

Nacula in the Yasawra group of islands, 

north of Fiji, for an annual fundraising event, 

and we really had no idea what to expect. 

We set off in blistering sunshine with 

our excellent local guide, George, at 

around 09.30 to weave our way through 

the reefs in our trusty dinghy (which is a 

good enough reason to make sure you 

have a big one!) On shore the locals 

greeted us. “Bula Bula” the local greeting 

was said by everyone we met and we 

returned the welcome. 

At George’s house, we changed into local 

Fijian dress that he loaned to us for the 

occasion and watched as the local ladies 

in their brilliantly coloured outfits, prepared 

for their special day, as they walked past 

his house. For this was the day that every 

woman in the village presented to the 

Chief of the Island their fund raising 

efforts towards the building of the village 

hall. Every woman was expected to have 

raised or saved Fijian $100 (£30) over 

the past year. 

Now we knew we were special, but what 

we didn’t realise was that the three of 

us from Kealoha 8, owner David Holliday 

with crew Rosie and myself, were the only 

guests at this event with 250 locals. After 

opening prayers, the men sat with the 

men, and Rosie with the local women, 

under the shade of a temporary cover, 

men and women divided by the enormous 

Kava Bowl. 

Clan by clan, the ladies went forward to 

meet the Chief, generally each clan in 

matching dresses. Rosie got to join our 

host’s wife, Zulu. A compère announced 

the donations in a style not too dissimilar 

to Terry Wogan in his role for Children in 

Need! All the while the younger men 

of the village served tea, juice, cakes, 

and Kava to the elders (and us) as we 

looked on and applauded in the traditional 

Fijian way. 

Our gift of Kava root was gratefully 

received and sealed our fate as welcome 

guests. Kava is made from Kava roots or 

stems, which are carefully mashed into the 

Kava bowl to which water is added. It is 

drunk out of shaped coconut shells, small, 

medium, and large. In a surreal way the 

chief chose the music to accompany the 

ceremony and much was conducted to the 

sounds of Johnny Cash! > 

OWNER REPORT 


OWNER REPORT 


One Amazing Day continued 

The local ladies were enormously proud 

of their donations and danced with joy as 

they returned from the Chief’s table, 

some taking pleasure in getting David 

dancing, to howls of laughter from all. 

What a colourful and fun occasion. 

All the while George, our guide, provided 

a ‘David Dimbleby’ style commentary on 

the proceedings, kindly leaving every two 

hours to check and re-anchor our dinghy 

as the tides were quite big. All of the 

other elders were keen to talk to us and 

swap stories of life and adventures. 

We also toured the makeshift outdoor 

kitchen, where whole pigs were being 

cooked in a pit and huge pots of food 

had been prepared. The barbecue 

consisted of two railway line like steels, 

with the logs burning underneath for a 

length of 10 metres. 

While all of the ceremony was in Fijian, 

the Island chief welcomed us in English 

and gave David about 15 seconds to think 

of a suitable response to the assembled 

audience, which, as such an experienced 

public speaker, he managed flawlessly! 

Then to lunch with the ladies and 

honoured guests (us) heading into the 

partly completed village hall for a feast of 

all things Fijian. David was seated on the 

head table, along with 25 of the female 

village elders. Having sat crossed legged 

on the floor for three hours, we were 

grateful to be found some chairs and 

invited to take food from the head table as 

well as the buffet. Forget your hotel and 

tourist events, this was a real feast, 

complete with young men fanning our 

food to keep away the flies! 

What did lunch consist of? Yams, five 

types of fish, pork, chicken in palm leaves 

cooked in the earth oven, rice, curried 

vegetables, local spaghetti with mixed 

vegetables and limpets which were huge, 

just to name a few, all piled high and 

eaten with our fingers. We were served 

fruit juice to drink. 

And so back to the ceremony where it 

was the turn of all the village men to pay 

homage to the Chief. We moved to sit in 

the shade with George, who was excused 

from duties to look after us, and continued 

to explain the proceedings as various gifts 

from the village were presented to the 

Chief. A mix of very serious tradition, 

formal Kava offerings (unfiltered – ugh!) 

and much hilarity at some of the local 

war dancing as the women sought to 

disrupt the men. 

But it was great to hear that overall the 

village had raised more than Fijian 

$11,000, $6000 of which was donated 

by the Chief! With the formal ceremonies 

over, after a mere six hours of tribal 

events, we returned briefly to George’s 

house for late afternoon tea with his 

family, where they presented us with 

gifts of Kava cups for myself and David 

and a traditional dress for Rosie. 

Before heading back to the boat, as we 

walked the beach with our guide, George 

paid us an enormous compliment, telling 

us we were “Very good tourists”. Meeting 

the Chiefs of each village we visited 

(along with presenting Kava root), asking 

permission to snorkel and take 

photographs, bringing gifts for the local 

school and villagers of tee-shirts and 

tinned food and donating money towards 

the village hall. Apparently not all 

yachtsmen are as considerate. 

So forget the National Geographic - this is 

real life Fijian culture, bought to you by 

Oyster and the team on board Kealoha 8. 

David Holliday and his crew are sailing 

around the world as part of the 

World ARC 2007/2008 on his Oyster 

72, Kealoha 8. The fleet which includes 

the Oyster 82 Tillymint and Oyster 56 

Into the Blue are currently in Australia. 

Further information about the World ARC 

can be found at: 

www.worldcruising.com/worldarc

Bermuda Oyster 

wins cruiser Division in 2008 Newport to Bermuda Race 

By Barry Pickthall 

Paul Hubbard and his crew on the veteran Oyster 435, Bermuda Oyster, returned to their 

home port with something to celebrate in June after winning the 43-boat Cruiser Division 

and the famous Carleton Mitchell Finisterre Trophy in this year's Newport Bermuda Race. 

The champagne and bacon sandwiches that greeted this crew at the Royal Bermuda Yacht 

Club dock was part of a tradition that dates back at least eight years when fellow Bermudian, 

Neil Redburn, started sailing with Hubbard, but several others on board for this year’s race 

had competed in this biennial classic on this venerable Oyster 435 for the past 18 years. 

Asked to describe his yacht to Bermuda's Governor General Sir Richard Gozney, Hubbard 

responded. "Well, compared to most other boats around, this is a caravan with a stick. 

We were docked next to one racer in Newport before the start and their crew was offloading 

provisions and liquor while we were stowing ours below. We have an extensive wine list 

onboard" he joked, adding, "This was the roughest trip on the boat. The wind was on the nose 

the entire way, but she is a heavy boat that sails well upwind and we dine well all the way!" 

The Newport to Bermuda Race was founded by Thomas Fleming Day and the Rudder 

magazine in 1906 and is the oldest ocean race in normal boats for amateur sailors. 

After a period of inactivity from 1911-12, it was revived in 1923 by Herbert Stone and 

Yachting magazine. Since 1926 it has been run by the Cruising Club of America and the 

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. 

For more information on the Newport to Bermuda Race see: www.bermudarace.com 

The crossed flag lighthouse logo is a registered mark of the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. 

BERMUDA OYSTER WINS 



Fiji, Land of Friendy People 

and Beautiful Cruising Grounds 

By Donna Hill, Oyster 56 Baccalieu III

We had our first experience drinking kava shortly after arriving in Fiji. We joined a 

local man sitting on a woven pandama mat, crossed our legs yoga style in front of 

a four legged wooden kava bowl and threw back a coconut shell filled with a muddy 

looking mixture that immediately numbed our tongues and throat. 

Not many years ago the kava would have 

been drunk from the skull of an enemy 

and the roots of the kava pepper plant 

chewed by young women who spat the 

grounded root into a wooden bowl for the 

consumption of male village elders. 

We had arrived in Fiji a few days before 

with the Blue Water Rally whom we had 

joined in Panama. We tied to a mooring 

at the Copra Shed Marina on the island 

of Vanu Levu, the more remote of the two 

larger Fijian islands. There are fewer 

tourists on Vanua Levu than on Viti Levu 

and the streets of Savu Savu were busy 

with local activity. Indo Fijians are the 

foundation of the country’s economy, 

operating small businesses and stores, 

growing produce and offering it for sale 

in a large covered market where we 

purchased the customary gift of kava root 

to offer to the chiefs of villages that we 

planned to visit. 

Fijian natives on the other hand prefer 

to live in villages along the coast 

independent of others except for the 

purchase of basic staples and every day 

the sidewalk outside the bus stop would 

include an array of colourful ankle length 

dresses as native women waited to be 

transported back to their villages. 

A former secluded village located 20 km 

outside Suva Suva had recently decided to 

experiment in the tourist trade with guided 

tours to one of their most sacred of sacred 

commodities, the Red Prawns. Red Prawns 

are one of Fiji’s endemic species, a rare 

shrimp that appear pink in colour before 

cooking. They are found in two locations in 

Fiji and have probably survived throughout 

the centuries due to the fact that native 

Fijians declare them sacred and claim 

those who attempt to remove them will fall 

prey to the evils of the sea. 

A hike over aging bridges, through mango 

swamps, salt water pools, overgrown 

vegetation and a 500 metre salt water 

channel, mid calf deep with low tide, lead 

us to an islet. We lowered ourselves down 

a shallow rock face to a small cave where 

the red prawns often take refuse until a 

gifted member of the Narwani clan sings a 

solemn calling song summoning them into 

the open lava rock pool. Traditionally, 

gifted natives call for sea turtles, sharks 

and other sea life during practiced rituals. 

We left Suva Suva to join our Blue Water 

Rally friends on Malolo Leilei Island located 

in the Mamanuca Islands about 15 km 

west of the large island of Viti Levu. 

The group of twenty islands, mostly of 

volcanic origin and now blanketed in 

greenery amidst crystal turquoise waters, 

sit on the North Western limit of Fiji and 

are exposed to open sea allowing a north 

swell to ruin a night’s sleep if you do not 

tuck into a protected bay. 

Musket Cove, located inside the barrier reef, 

is one of the safest and most sheltered bays 

in the Mamanuca’s and sits amongst several 

smaller reefs lying incognito like land mines 

in an unsuspecting field. 

In the approach to Malolo Island, we sailed 

within close proximity of several 

surrounding islands watching waves break 

over an assortment of reefs while our 

charts indicated there were far more coral 

impediments than what we could visualize. 

Amongst the small islands there are few 

international navigational markers and we 

found only current mangled, windblown 

naked sticks lying at an assortment of 

angles, some adorned with bundles of 

upright branches with a sort of army 

brush-cut appearance. We learned later, 

the upside down bristle broom look were 

taboo markers erected by natives 

indicating areas of native fishing rights. 

There’s not much chance anyone would 

try to approach Musket Cove after sunset, 

not even the Malolo ferry runs after dark, 

but if you did attempt it, using the present 

navigational leading lights you would find 

yourself high and dry on the sandy 

extremity of Malolo Leilei Island, as the 

lights were reportedly never installed in 

proper alignment. Well I guess all would 

not be for lost, as you would be beached 

only metres from the Four Dollar Bar. 

Moorings are available outside Musket 

Cove as an alternative to tying to dock 

inside the cove or hanging out for the 

arrival of high tide in order to navigate > 

LEFT: Anchored alongside a fellow Oyster in Musket Cove 

ABOVE: One of the village children, Namara 

OWNER REPORT 



Fiji, Land of Friendy People and Beautiful Cruising Grounds continued 

“The sparkle of the night sky 

persuades you to believe 

there are no worries in the 

world. It is a place where 

just by being there is an 

euphoric experience. 

” 

the incoming channel. Even at high tide 

we had only inches to spare beneath our 

2.4 metre keel. Docks? When had we last 

been to a dock? 

From the city wharf in Tahiti, we had 

visited the French Polynesian Islands, 

Mourea, Huanine, Raiatea, Bora Bora and 

tied our stern to a deep cement wall in 

the small fishing boat harbour in 

Rarotonga, Cook Islands. With only 

moorings available in Niue and Tonga, 

it had been several months since we had 

seen the luxury of a dock. 

A number of Blue Water Rally members 

had arrived before us, their boats tide 

stern-to just footsteps from the Four Dollar 

Bar. Their circumnavigation schedule 

allowed them to stay three weeks in the 

cove. As for us, this was where we said 

our goodbyes. Not only were we taking a 

leave from the boat to return to Toronto, 

but upon our return our plans were to 

spend more time exploring the southern 

portion of the South Pacific than the rally 

schedule would allow. 

The following spring, after completing our 

leave in Toronto, we returned to Musket 

Cove. A coup had taken place since our 

leave and the new self proclaimed 

president, Commadore Voreqe Bainimarma, 

promised a cleaner government. All we 

know is that we obtained our new cruising 

permit very quickly without the need to 

grease any palms. 

We fully expected to drive the boat out of 

the storage hurricane hole and turn the bow 

towards the outward islands in quest of new 

adventure. Our good intentions however 

were marred by the knowledge that the 

annual sailing regatta was soon to take 

place at the Cove, a regatta that after 27 

years continues to attract reuniting sailing 

friends from around the world. One older 

couple from New Zealand had just made 

their 10th crossing to attend this year’s 

regatta and later in the week when they 

held a wet t-shirt contest, she was front and 

centre with a bevy of others males. With 

great hesitancy, we deferred our departure 

and stayed on for the events. It was one of 

the best decisions we ever made. 

Musket Cove is a haven for sailors passing 

through the tropical South Pacific. Often after 

arriving in such a welcoming haven, some 

never really venture far, perhaps a circuit to 

Tonga, New Zealand and back, but always 

back. Here at the Cove you will find 

yachtsman from all over the world and I have 

heard it said by those who have already 

completed a circumnavigation and returned 

to the Cove for a second time, that the Cove 

is a unique place in the world for sailors. 

It may surprise you to know that sailors 

are not always welcomed to drop anchor 

at every resort. In all fairness, we tend to 

be a casual lot, often not possessing 

resort wear and can appear, well, unkempt 

at times. OK, we can look downright 

scruffy, so there I’ve said it.

But at Musket Cove, owner Dick Smith 

offers his entire resort including restaurant 

and swimming pool to all transient sea 

going bums. Dick knows the needs of a 

seaman and provides his blue water 

visitors with their own island affectionately 

called Dick’s Island. He has furnished it 

with picnic tables, wood burning 

barbecues and a thatched roofed outdoor 

bar known as the 3 Dollar bar, (which by 

the time we had returned from Toronto 

was the 4 Dollar bar), and every evening 

when sailors get together for a sundowner 

and cook out, many of the inquisitive 

resort guests join the scruffy lot for some 

down to earth seafaring talk and a good 

drink to boot. 

The bar celebrates Sunday night as 

‘mates night off’, and offers pre-cooked 

baked potatoes, pasta and green salads at 

a reasonable price to accompany whatever 

you are flaming over the barbecue. 

Every night the resort supplies the dinner 

ware, napkins, and condiments to use at 

the picnic tables. It seems too good to be 

true. God Bless owner Dick Smith who 

once was a sailor. 

With lit torches and beating of the Lali 

drums the regatta festivities began. Pirates 

Day initiated a boat race to Beachcomber 

Island; the rules of the race – get there 

any way you can! Participating boats 

soon found themselves in friendly battle 

hurling water balloons, tomatoes, and 

biodegradable toilet tissue. 

Hobby Cat races, barbecues, dress your 

boat day, dress your man for drag night, 

and a pig on the spit feast were all part of 

the finale. It was all great fun and when it 

was over, we left on a high morning tide 

and ventured into the Yasawa islands. 

The Yasawas’ are a long chain of islands 

and islets, some so close together you can 

wade from one to the other, all stretching 

80 km into the yonder blue waters of the 

Pacific. Many are uninhabited. Rimmed 

with craggy coastlines, bare rocky 

pinnacles poke skyward through dark lime 

green foliage. Virgin beaches support 

numerous bays, inlets and lagoons, some 

offering good holding for an anchor. 

An ocean roll from the north can make the 

small bays lumpy and if dropping a lunch 

hook is the plan, arriving early to leave 

early is a good idea as the more protected 

bays are far and few between. 

With few real navigational aids, the 

occasional bare stick leave the helmsman 

to ponder which side of the post the hull 

crushing coral is located. Many of the 

sticks have been blown off course leaving 

the dangerous zones naked and now 

unjustly mark the safe ones and there 

were times when steering towards the 

visible whiteness of breaking waves then 

turning the boat towards the next foamy 

breaker was the only way to discover a 

passage through it all. Our fear was to get 

into the middle of a coral maze and not 

find our way out so we often used the 

chart plotters trail marker to visualize 

where we had come from, causing the 

computer screen to look more like a plate 

of spaghetti than an aid. It became 

important for us to travel when the sun 

was at its highest in order for one of us to 

be stationed on the bow pointing out the 

water covered obstructions. Sometimes my 

arms would be flailing like I was dancing 

to the YMCA. 

The 16-20 volcanic Yasawas’ lie 20 km off 

the north west of Viti Levu and are a back 

packer’s haven serviced by a catamaran 

called the Yasawa Flyer that whisks casual 

tourists to laid back resorts, some run by 

local fishing and farming families. The low 

cost resorts provide dormitory facilities, 

communal meals, outdoor plumbing, and 

drinkable rain water. Limited electricity 

demands the resorts keep in touch with 

other islands by radio and light disappears 

with the setting sun. It is a natural haven 

where coconuts fall out of trees daily, you 

can easily find a precious beach and the 

sparkle of the night sky persuades you to 

believe there are no worries in the world. 

It is a place where just by being there is an 

euphoric experience. 

The miniature islands of Vanua Levu and 

Navadra are separated only by a narrow 

passage of water forming a small bay 

between them. They say you can always 

expect at least a little roll in this cove but 

once there, are committed for the night 

because the distance to the next sheltered 

island is not reachable by sundown. 

We were the only boat in the inlet and 

chose a spot in deep water to drop 

anchor so as to avoid the abundant soft 

corals flourishing in an unspoiled undersea 

garden stretching from shore to 

camouflaged reef mid bay. The clarity of 

the water was like a brand new piece of > 

LEFT: Musket Cove 

FAR MIDDLE: A mooring in Suva Suva 

FAR RIGHT: The annual regatta ceremony 

ABOVE: Baccalieu anchored off Dick’s Island 

OWNER REPORT 


Fiji, Land of Friendy People and Beautiful Cruising Grounds continued 

“We dinghied ashore that 

morning to visit the village 

of Namara where we were 

met by a child of about 

three who did not hesitate 

to help drag our boat 

onto the beach. 

” 


glass and we snorkelled the area 

discovering colourful coral microbes 

housing fish so well camouflaged we could 

not detect them until they moved within 

their hideaways and others so intensely 

coloured they might have been painted 

with a box of florescent crayons. 

The island, uninhabited except for goats, 

offered us total privacy. It meant I could 

shower nakedly carefree off the stern and 

wind dry on deck with only the goats for 

company. That was special. Not the goats, 

the solitude. 

That night, the almost half moon offered 

enough light to never let the islands totally 

disappear, glazing the white reflecting sand 

beach like a glowing luminescent strip. 

I could see the black silhouette of a lone 

goat standing on the narrow peninsula like 

a black cut out pasted on a piece of art. 

The following morning we carried on north 

keeping well out from the neighbouring 

islands which seemed to magically support 

trees and shrubs in seemingly invisible soil. 

It was rolly once we left the anchorage and 

the smell of lamb shanks stewing in the 

bread maker below was not as enticing to 

me as it might have been in steadier seas. 

Small waves were capped with white and 

when one hit the side of the boat splashing 

salt water over the fore deck, Mike grumbled 

about the salt residue it would leave on our 

recently washed boat. See, what happens 

when you stay on land too long? 

A little motoring and a little sailing brought 

us into Blue Lagoon, but not before we 

almost met with a submerged reef by 

taking one of those bare reef markers on 

the wrong side. 

Besides offering one of the most 

protected anchorages in the Yasawa 

Group, Blue Lagoon, offers a casual resort 

of cottages nestled amongst a forest of 

coconut trees. Lunch is available to 

cruisers, and dinner if you are willing to 

chance your motor prop navigating the 

shore reef after the sun goes down. 

You can walk around the island if you time 

the walk at low tide or take a twenty 

minute walk across the island on a well 

worn path used frequently by backpackers 

staying at a casual resort on the windward 

side. I loved that walk through the tall 

grasses, they sway in the breeze like 

waves rippling through an anchorage and 

as many times as we have enjoyed 

spectacular views from hill tops. I never 

seem to get quite enough of them and 

always take a moment to inhale the 

surrounding view; white caps on the 

windy shore, blue calm in the lee. 

We decided to leave the bay and go in 

search of the manta rays at a snorkel 

sight in Manta Ray Bay four hours away. 

The morning we left a rain shower was 

dousing the far end of the island and a 

double rainbow reached over the islands 

unimpeded by clouds.

We were first to arrive in the small quiet 

anchorage but not long after, a second boat 

then a third and by the following day we 

had the lime green Awesome party cruiser 

as a very close neighbor as well as the 

cruise ship, Spirit of Yasawa. The clipper 

ship, Spirit of the Pacific was anchored on 

the far side of one of the passes and as it 

regularly drove by in close proximity cutting 

between us and the Awesome, passengers 

leaned over the side shouting their friendly 

bulas. I made note that if they came any 

closer, we should get to know their names. 

There was a back packers resort located 

nearby where we attempted to send a fax 

home and although the fax never got away, 

the people were so very friendly and tried 

repeatedly to solve our dilemma. As I sat on 

the beach waiting for Mike by the dinghy, 

I was joined by an employee who came to 

wait for new resort arrivals. She had a name 

tattooed on her hand that a friend had 

punched out with a sewing needle. 

We moved the boat again in search of 

another resort called ‘Octopus’ that we 

had learned from other cruisers was worth 

a stop. The only information we had was 

that it was located somewhere on the 

North West corner of Waya Island and we 

headed the boat in that direction although 

our electronic charts were pretty useless. 

Once we arrived, the manager of the 

Octopus invited us to make use of all the 

resort amenities while anchored off his 

shore, swimming pool, beach volley ball, 

and happy hour each evening. A Fijian 

lovo feast was being prepared for that 

evening and a seafood buffet the following 

night. It sounded like we might never want 

to leave. But that very night, our first 

night, the swell came into the open 

anchorage and rocked us like Ray Charles 

standing on stage singing, "What I’d Say". 

The next morning we dragged ourselves 

away from what could have been a very 

nice retreat and headed for another bay. 

When we arrived at our new location we 

dropped anchor between two islands off 

the southern shore of Waysasewa Island. 

There was one other boat in the spacious 

bay but it left the following morning just 

after the roosters from all three villages 

cock-a-doodle-dooed their way into 

daylight. Each morning vibrated with 

rooster mania in surround sound but it 

was actually the beating drums from one 

of the villages that woke me, or was it 

the church bells from the other village? 

I expect the beating drums woke the 

roosters or maybe it was the squealing 

pigs being tormented by the dogs, but it 

was all before the first light of day break. 

We dinghied ashore that morning to visit 

the village of Namara where we were met 

by a child of about three who did not 

hesitate to help drag our boat onto the 

beach. Dry brown kava roots poked out 

from the newspaper wrapped bundle in my 

back pack like a dehydrated bouquet of 

flowers. The island chief was away on other 

important matters and the daughter of the 

acting chief invited us into their home. 

Mike lay the kava at his feet and we sat on 

the coconut mat in front of him while he 

ran through the traditional welcome 

dialogue. We were thankful he skipped the 

part about sharing the kava root with us. 

We spent four nights anchored off the 

island; we toured the boarding school 

where approximately 70 children, most 

from neighbouring islands attend grades 

one to eight. Parents of the boarding 

children pay two dollars per semester per 

child and pay for the pickup and drop off of 

the children by local boats on weekends. 

The children of various ages slept in a two 

room brightly painted dormitory, one room 

for boys and a separate one for girls. If they 

had diesel for their generator, lights stayed 

on until 8pm. 

The weekly rugby match was to take place 

across the bay in another village. Although 

Anita, the kindergarten teacher had a fear 

of drowning, she requested that we take 

her and her two children to the match. She 

had never been across the bay before and 

I guess felt safer in our dinghy than in the 

small village long boat that over flowed with 

twelve rugby players and a few local fans. 

The following day, we pulled our dinghy 

away from the village shore for the last 

time. A young boy whom I had not met 

before was standing knee deep in water 

helping a fisherman shove his long boat 

out to sea. Asking my name, he stretched 

his hand towards me and presented me 

with a small beautiful highly polished shell. 

"Here, you can have this, he said with a 

smile". Eeli and I knew each other for no 

more than sixty seconds and yet I shall 

never forget his friendship or the unselfish 

kindness of the Fijians. 

FAR LEFT: Village children lend a helping hand, Namara 

FAR RIGHT: The Volcanic Yaswaras’ islands 

ABOVE: Namari school children 

OWNER REPORT 


HANNAH STODEL 


Countdown to Qingdao 

and the Beijing Paralympics 

Cowes 2 Sail Open Regatta 

As we had no more international 

competitions scheduled before the 

Paralympic Games, Team Oyster decided 

to create our own regatta. 

Enlisting the help of long time Sonar sailor, 

Andy Cassels and the Cowes Corinthian 

Yacht club, we got a fleet of seven boats 

to join in, including the Irish and Norwegian 

teams and, the current Paralympic Gold 

medallists, the Israeli team. We also invited 

some able bodied sailors, including our 

long time tuning crew of Dan Parsons, 

Jon Waite and Joe Erskine. 

All in all we had four days of great 

competitive racing. In the end it came 

down to the last race between 

Team Oyster and the Norwegian team. 

Going into the last race on equal points 

is something we have been discussing 

recently as a possible scenario for the 

Games so to have some first hand 

expereince in Cowes was brilliant. 

Following a textbook start we covered 

the Norwegians all the way for two laps 

of the course, putting us last and last but 

one. Then on the final lap we sailed them 

to the wrong side of the course and split 

with them to what we knew was the 

favoured side. In the end we even 

managed a last race win, leaving the 

Norwegians fighting it out at the back. 

So Team Oyster took the title with our 

tuning crew coming in a very credible 4th. 

Great job boys! 

A huge thank you to the Cowes Corinthian 

Yacht club especially Debbie Macdonald 

for all their help with the organisation. 

Finally thank you to Andy Cassels and 

your Foundation for the loan of charter 

boats and the fantastic prize-giving dinner! 

Irish 2 Sail Open Regatta 

Following our regatta in Cowes, the Irish 

team decided to host a similar event in 

Kinsale, Cork. Loading up two boats, six 

sailors and one coach, Team Oyster took 

to the road once more. A special thank 

you must go to our driver, Steve Wood, 

for the two trips all the way from our 

warehouse in Colchester to Ireland – it’s a 

pretty long way, and we really appreciate 

how much effort it takes to get two boats 

and all the kit that we carry around to the 

various venues! 

We welcomed Martin Boatman to the team 

for the first time, taking over from 

Dan on the helm. All in all it was a great 

regatta with the Australians making the 

long journey over together with the 

Norwegians and of course the Irish! 

Nine boats took to the water from the 

stunning Kinsale Yacht Club and made for 

some incredibly tight racing in conditions 

not that dissimilar to those we might 

find in Qingdao. 

With nine races scheduled over three days 

we had some very long days on the water 

but it was well worth all the effort. Martin 

and the boys must be congratulated on 

their brilliant sailing – they came away 

to take the title and gave us some 

well-deserved grief around the racecourse. 

We finished 2nd, 16 points clear of our 

old rivals the Norwegians. 

Photo: Liz Harrison 

It sent a great message to all of our 

Paralympic competitors, as effectively it 

was the British that came out on top once 

again. Things are certainly looking up and 

finally all those long hours on the water 

are starting to stick. 

We fly out to Qingdao on August 21 

with our tuning crew. Let’s hope the 

outstanding Olympic sailing success 

rubs off on us! 

So the waiting is almost over and my next 

report will tell the whole story of our 

Paralympic regatta. Without all the support 

over many, many years from Richard, 

Oyster and a number of Oyster owners 

there would be no story to tell so a big 

thank you to you all.

Oysters at the 2008 

Autumn Boat Shows 

The boat show season is now upon us and as always we extend a very warm welcome to 

you to visit us and see some of the newest Oysters afloat, kindly loaned to us for the 

shows by their owners. 

Because we can only accommodate so many people on board at any one time and 

because we want you to enjoy your visit, without the yacht being overcrowded, we do 

operate an appointment system at all boat shows. 

You can book an appointment to view our yachts by completing the online Boarding Pass 

request form on our website at www.oystermarine.com or by calling our sales team direct: 

UK/EUROPEAN SHOWS +44 (0) 1473 688888 

USA SHOWS +1 401 846 7400 

CANNES 

10 - 15 September 

Oyster 655 

NEWPORT (USA) 

11 - 14 September 


Oyster LD43 

SOUTHAMPTON 






MONACO 


(Oyster Superyachts Booth) 

GENOA 



ANNAPOLIS SAILBOAT 

9 - 13 October 



ANNAPOLIS POWERBOAT 



HAMBURG 



FORT LAUDERDALE 

30 October - 3 November 

(Oyster Superyachts Booth) 

Buy tickets for the Southampton Boat Show online and help the 

Ellen MacArthur Trust 

Buying your tickets to the Southampton Boat Show via the Oyster website 

saves you money on the gate price and ensures you fast access to the 

show without queuing on your arrival. But even better, Oyster will 

make a donation to the value of 10% of all tickets purchased via our website to the 

Ellen MacArthur Trust. Tickets can be posted to you or you can print your own tickets 

to take to the show with you. www.oystermarine.com 

Up to date details about boat shows, how to make appointments, buy tickets and general 

visitor information about each show can be found on our website at www.oystermarine.com 



Mike Wallace is Optimistic 

By Roger Vaughan 

TOP: Arbella during the Oyster BVI Regatta 2008 

MIDDLE: Mike aged 25 aboard U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson 

(SSBN 618), polaris missile submarine, 1972 

BOTTOM: Mike and Vicky Wallace and crew, Pirates Party, 

Oyster BVI Regatta 2008 

One of the boats at the spring Oyster 

regatta in the BVI was the Oyster 53 

Arbella belonging to Mike and Vicki 

Wallace from Annapolis, Maryland, USA. 

The Wallaces, with their old friends 

Jeri and Stan Jakopin, from Chicago, 

and Vicki’s sister Johanne Hainz in from 

Florida, were gathered around a table on 

the second floor of Quito’s beach bar 

and restaurant on Tortola’s Cane Garden 

Bay, having a late lunch. The view was 

spectacular. Looking west, the island 

of Jost Van Dyke simmered in the 

mid-afternoon sun. A tape of Quito 

Rymer’s reggae tunes was quietly 

rocking the place. 

Over cold Carib beers and jerk chicken, 

the Arbella crew was animatedly replaying 

the day’s race around Peter and Norman 

Islands. There was lots to talk about 

because it had been the Wallace’s very 

first race. They’d been game, but 

admittedly nervous when a guest 

helmsman had taken the boat into the 

pre-start fray. A couple of times Vicki had 

covered her eyes. Mike had then steered 

most of the race with good concentration. 

It was clear he was excited about being 

on the learning curve. 

A gregarious couple, the Wallaces were 

dashingly costumed for the pirate party at 

Pirates Bight. And Mike was seen jogging 

on Virgin Gorda’s steep roads. Wallace ran 

the Chicago Marathon in 2001, the 

Marine Corps Marathon in 2002 and 

again in 2007, the latter two weeks after 

his 60th birthday just to see if he could 

do it (he could). But in between races, 

drinks parties, dinners, and workouts, he 

was seldom seen. 

He was working. Officially, he was on 

vacation, but Wallace is so involved in the 

nuclear power industry that he simply has 

to be available part of every day. 

There was one phone call in particular he 

was waiting for. As luck would have it, it 

came on the regatta lay day, a full working 

day for Wallace. It was from the White 

House staff calling for the President of the 

United States, confirming Wallace’s special 

appointment to the National Infrastructure 

Advisory Council. Under the Office of 

Homeland Security, NIAC provides the 

President with advice on the security of 

the "critical infrastructure sectors and their 

information systems." There are 18 

infrastructure sectors in the United States. 

Of those, the nuclear sector holds the 

highest security priority. 

Wallace’s appointment to NAIC – one of 

30 members (he was sworn in on July 8, 

2008) – is the result of his dedication to 

nuclear energy security over the last seven 

years. He says safety comes naturally to 

him. "I’m one of those guys who takes out 

the information card on an airplane and 

reads it, plays out escape scenarios," 

he says. "I want the knowledge to act 

responsibly if I have to." 

The bureaucracy of nuclear security is as 

thick and complex as the walls of a 

reactor, and Wallace has run the gamut. 

He’s been chairman of the Security 

Working Group that represents the 104 

reactors operating in the US. He’s been 

chairman of the Nuclear Sector 

Coordinating Council, that includes 

everything nuclear (reactors, fuel 

fabricators, the radioisotope community,

esearch and testing of reactors). 

Above that is the Partnership for Critical 

Infrastructure Security, where he is 

Chairman Emeritus and member of the 

board. PCIS is made up of the heads of 

each of those 15 infrastructure sectors 

mentioned above. 

But all that is extra-curricular activity. 

Wallace’s day job is Vice Chairman of 

Constellation Energy, located in Baltimore, 

Maryland, and President and CEO of 

Constellation Energy’s Nuclear Group. 

As such, he is in the vanguard of the 

nuclear renaissance in the United States. 

At age 60, when many executives are 

preparing for retirement, Wallace has 

increased the pace a couple notches. 

Eighty hour weeks are common. 

Mike Wallace is one of four brothers who 

were raised in the Irish neighbourhoods of 

Chicago on a shoestring by their mother 

after their father died when Mike was 12. 

"That caused me to move into an 

independent role rather quickly," Wallace 

says. "We were scrappy Irish brothers. 

I didn’t lead them, exactly, but I was the 

oldest." There was no money for college, 

but in high school Wallace learned he 

could get an ROTC scholarship. He took 

the test, passed the physical, and selected 

Marquette University. Working summers, 

he made enough money to pay room and 

board. "When my next brother came along 

I said look, this isn’t too hard. He passed 

the test, passed the physical, went to the 

University of Illinois. The third brother 

was two years behind. He didn’t get a 

scholarship, but we helped him. Same 

with the youngest." 

Sitting in the library of his expansive 

house on one of Annapolis’ many creeks, 

Wallace says that early independence and 

responsibility laid the foundation for his 

ability to work with people, and his 

uncommon leadership skills. "I have a 

strong confidence in myself," he says. 

"I’m comfortable with what I can do. 

There’s a lot I don’t know, but not much 

I can’t do." One only had to remember the 

way he took to that first race in the BVI 

to believe him. 

An electrical engineering candidate at 

Marquette, he was attracted to nuclear 

energy junior year when he took the 

introductory course. Wallace owed the 

Navy five years, and with nuclearpowered 

submarines on the prowl since 

1955, when Nautilus was launched, he 

thought nuclear would be an intriguing 

way to go. > 


OWNER PROFILE 

“I respected the sea, but was 

confident I could be safe and 

function on and under the 

sea. I never once had any 

fear of sailing. 

” 


TOP: Arbella during the Oyster BVI Regatta 2008 

MIDDLE: Mike aged 25 aboard U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson 

(SSBN 618), polaris missile submarine, 1972 

BOTTOM: Mike and Vicki Wallace onboard Arbella during 

passage from Bahamas to Annapolis, 2004 

Mike Wallace is Optimistic continued 

After graduation in 1969, he spent 

six months in a classroom at Mare Island, 

California, and six months ‘sailing’ a 

land-based, fully-functional Nautilus-type 

submarine powered by a nuclear 

reactor. His first floating assignment 

was the Thomas Jefferson, a ballistic 

missile submarine. 

His executive officer was Zack Pate, 

founder and chairman emeritus of the 

World Association of Nuclear Operators. 

Pate honed his life-long dedication to 

nuclear safety working as assistant to 

Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the 

nuclear Navy. 

Pate says he knew very quickly the new 

junior officer aboard Thomas Jefferson was 

a cut above the rest. "Mike was always 

thoughtful about what he was doing," 

Pate says. "And very good with people, 

fair-minded. He was always thinking 

beyond where most people think. He was 

an inquisitive, open-minded person and 

had the respect of those who worked 

for him." 

When he left the Navy in 1974, Wallace 

joined Commonwealth Edison in Chicago, 

setting his sights on the highest-flying 

nuclear project in the private sector that 

had government funding: the "breeder" 

reactor at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Breeder 

reactors generate new fissionable 

material faster than they consume it. 

The breeder technology was impressive – 

it still is – but Oak Ridge turned out to 

be a political football. With cost overruns 

over the roof, and President Jimmy Carter 

concerned about the plutonium produced 

by the reactor leading to accusations of 

nuclear weapons proliferation, the Oak 

Ridge project was finally cancelled in 

1982. But the two-and-a-half years he 

spent working at Oak Ridge were 

educational for Mike Wallace, both 

technically and politically. 

He returned to Chicago, working at 

ComEd during the day, and attending 

University of Chicago at night for his MBA 

(in finance). The day job involved two 

nuclear plant construction projects in 

Illinois: Byron in Rockford, and Braidwood 

in Joliet. That’s where Jim Walkington first 

met Mike Wallace. Walkington is currently 

Senior Vice President (Finance and 

Administration) for Constellation Energy’s 

Nuclear Group. In 1975, he was 

crunching numbers for the construction 

of Byron and Braidwood. 

"Mike’s the reason I’m here in Baltimore," 

Walkington says. "He’s quite the visionary. 

He’s always been in the forefront of the 

US nuclear power initiative. Others have 

jumped in, but he was the one who saw 

the need on the horizon in 1975 when 

we were building plants. The energy 

business is run by engineers and financial 

people. Leadership tends to be left brain, 

technically oriented. His innovative 

management style sets him apart." 

Mike had ideas he wanted to try. He was 

casting about for a more exciting job 

when ComEd asked him to manage one 

of its fossil (coal) fuel plants that needed 

a turnaround. Wallace thought that would 

look good on his resume, so he agreed. 

Then he realized he had no idea how a 

fossil plant works. "I’d never even been in 

a plant," he says. "I always wondered how 

the coal transmitted its heat energy into 

the water that would run the turbine. 

I had no text book or real experience. 

I had to call a friend and ask him what 

I should wear!" 

Wallace’s first day of work at the fossil 

plant is an example of what Zack Pate is 

talking about. Wallace is disarmingly 

forthright, whether or not the facts are in 

his favour. One learns that what you see is 

what you get from him. "The various 

department heads gathered in my office 

for their daily orders," Wallace recalls. 

"I said to them, I’m not going to tell you

what to do, I don’t know how this plant 

operates, I’m sure you guys do, and can 

tell each other what to do. But I do know 

about people and building teams, and 

organization, so maybe that will be 

helpful. But I’m going to learn more from 

you than you’ll learn from me. That was 

the start of a fabulous relationship," 

Wallace says. "I learned a lot, and I know 

I made a difference." 

About that time (March 1979), the 

reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear 

plant in Pennsylvania established a 

prominent spot in America’s history of 

catastrophe with a reactor core melt 

down. A combination of equipment 

malfunctions, design-related problems, 

and worker errors caused what was 

categorized at the time as the most 

serious of accidents. But the walls of the 

core were not breached. There were no 

deaths or even injuries to plant workers 

or members of the community. 

Under the gun, the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission reacted with a series of 

policy revisions that staggered the nuclear 

power industry. Since the Three Mile 

Island melt down in 1979, not one license 

has been issued for the construction of a 

new nuclear plant in the United States. 

Several new plants had been licensed 

and were under construction at the time 

of Three Mile Island. Many were never 

completed, testament to the extreme 

difficulty caused by the Regulatory 

Commission’s frequent, confounding, 

and costly re-readings of rules and 

codes. Byron and Braidwood were two of 

the plants in various stages of 

construction. Given Wallace’s experience 

in the initial stages of those plants, 

Commonwealth Edison assigned him as 

project manager of both in 1982. It was 

perhaps a bit more excitement than he’d 

been looking for. Wallace was suddenly in 

charge of a work force as large as 7300 

for six years during nuclear energy’s 

most trying time. When the two Illinois 

plants were nearly completed (April, 

1986), the reactor at Chernobyl in the 

Ukraine exploded, killing 50 people 

immediately, thousands more from 

radiation, and spreading thirty to forty 

times the fallout that occurred after the 

bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

It was nuclear power’s worst day. 

"I was horrified, but not surprised," 

Wallace says. "My submarine experience 

gave me a perspective on how Russian 

nuclear submarines were designed and 

operated, with a low concern for human > 


OWNER PROFILE 

“We started looking at Oysters 

in 1995, when we saw 

photographs in Cruising 

World. Vicki saw all those 

windows and said now 

that’s a boat I could live on. 

We were so impressed by 

the craftsmanship that went 

into the boat, the decking, 

woodwork, panelling. 

” 

It was incredible. 


TOP: Close racing between Arbella and the Oyster 66 

Avolare during the Oyster BVI Regatta 2008 

MIDDLE: The crew aboard Arbella, BVI Regatta 2008 

BOTTOM: The Wallace family onboard Arbella during 

passage from Bahamas to Annapolis, 2004 


life, with lack of respect for nuclear 

safety. Chernobyl was an accident 

waiting to happen." 

In 1998 Wallace resigned as ComEd 

Senior Vice President to co-found a niche 

investment banking firm in the energy 

sector. Called Barrington Energy Partners, 

Wallace guided the new company into 

taking advantage of acquisitions triggered 

by the deregulation of energy that was 

beginning on a state-by-state basis. It was 

a good call. The company grew from the 

two founding partners to a talent pool of 

18 experts in all phases of energy in just 

15 months. Barrington’s clients were major 

utilities in the US. Among them was 

Constellation Energy. 

Just a year into Barrington Energy, Wallace 

did something he’d been looking forward 

to for some time: he bought his second 

sail boat, an Oyster 53. The only other 

boat he’d owned was a Sunfish. 

Mike Wallace remembers the first time he 

went sailing as if it were yesterday, 

perhaps because he very nearly died. 

He was 19, spending the summer of his 

sophomore year in Corpus Christi, 

Texas, going through Naval aviation as 

part of ROTC training. One Saturday his 

roommate, another Marquette student, 

suggested they go sailing. It sounded like 

fun. They went to the harbour and signed 

out a Sunfish from Navy Special Services. 

They picked up a third guy along the way. 

Off they went, the three of them 

crammed onto the 14-foot, minimalist 

boat, with no life jackets. Roommate 

practiced a few tacks in the harbour, then 

confidently sailed through the breakwater 

into the Gulf of Mexico. The onshore 

breeze was building. 

An hour or so later, with land fast 

disappearing, Wallace recalls suggesting 

they turn back. Roommate tried several 

times, but failed when the strong wind got 

behind the overloaded boat and kept 

rolling it over. Finally, Roommate 

suggested it would help if one of them 

got off. The third guy was shivering 

with cold, so Wallace jumped in the water. 

To this day he shakes his head about 

doing that. His pals continued upwind, 

and capsized every time they tried to 

turn back. 

"I could only see them part of the time as 

I bobbed in the waves," Wallace says. 

"Finally they gave up and took the sail 

down. They disappeared." He treaded 

water for three and a half hours before a 

Special Services launch found him. "I was 

in the best shape of my life, and I was 

totally exhausted. I slept for 18 hours." 

Wallace didn’t sail again for 15 years 

when he bought, of all things, a Sunfish. 

When the odd coincidence of that 

purchase was pointed out, Wallace said it 

had never occurred to him. "Perhaps part 

of the reason lies in the submarine 

training I received along the way," he says. 

"When I received my dolphins that meant I 

could drive that war machine, fix it, dive it, 

surface it. I respected the sea, but was 

confident I could be safe and function on 

and under the sea. I never once had any 

fear of sailing." 

By 1982 Mike and Vicki were married 

with two children aged 8 and 10. 

He taught himself to sail on the lake 

across the street from their house in 

Arlington Heights, IL. The family spent 

summer weekends visiting lakes in 

Michigan and Wisconsin with the boat 

strapped to the back of their camper 

and they all caught the sailing bug. 

A few years later, Vicki surprised Mike by 

chartering a 25-foot Catalina on Lake 

Winnebago, in Wisconsin. "I went into the 

office where they asked for my sailing 

resume," Mike says. "I said I didn’t have 

one, but that I was a Navy officer for five 

years. The guy said that covered it, and 

took us out for a trial run. I told my son 

Shawn, who has a photographic memory,

to remember everything he did. Later we 

took the boat out into the lake, dropped 

the anchor, and got out a book we had 

called How to Sail. It was my first time on 

a sailboat with rigging." 

Wallace sailed with a friend on his Morgan 

45, chartered in the Caribbean a number 

of times, took the Annapolis Sailing 

Course for bareboat chartering in 1990, 

and signed a contract with Richard 

Matthews for the Oyster 53 at the 

Annapolis Boat Show in 1999. 

"We started looking at Oysters in 1995," 

Wallace says, "when we saw photographs 

in Cruising World. Vicki saw all those 

windows and said now that’s a boat I 

could live on. A friend had a Hinckley 60, 

a beautiful boat, but with no deck saloon 

so it was dark below." 

The Wallaces made their first trip to Oyster 

in 1996. Today they call it their Oyster 

Adventure. "We didn’t know if we could 

ever afford one, but we could dream, we 

could start down the path." Mike says. 

They visited Fox’s Marina, Landamores, 

and Windboats. They made five trips once 

the boat was in construction, always 

adding a couple of extra days to tour the 

English countryside. "We liked our Oyster 

Adventure," Mike says, "because at the end 

of the day if Barrington Energy went south 

and we had to sell the boat before it got 

finished, we were at least going to enjoy 

the trip along the way. And we were so 

impressed by the craftsmanship that went 

into the boat, the decking, woodwork, 

panelling. It was incredible. Even if we 

could only afford to own it for a while, 

what a great experience it would be." 

Unlike most Oyster buyers who suffer 

through the two-year wait, Wallace put a 

delay on construction. He didn’t want the 

boat until April, 2003, when he and Vicki 

planned to go sailing for eighteen months. 

Then in 2001, just as initial work began 

on Arbella, Wallace got a call from 

Constellation asking him to come in and 

run the Nuclear Group. His initial reaction: 

been there, done that. "But Vicki and I 

talked, and we thought how bad can this 

be? We can take the offer, sell our interest 

in Barrington, move to Annapolis and live 

on tidal waters, take delivery of the boat, 

work another year, and then go sailing." 

It sounds glib, but what really drives 

Mike Wallace is a personal obligation to 

give back. Both Mike and Vicki are 

Marquette graduates, where the 

philosophy embedded is excellence, > 


OWNER PROFILE 

“To sail with our adult kids, 

who learned on a Sunfish 

and chartered with us all 

over the Caribbean, was 

priceless," Mike says. 

"It was a life bonding 

experience for all of us. 

For those six days the world 

really was our Oyster. 

” 



faith, leadership, and service. They are 

both strong believers in a Jesuit education. 

"There’s an old saying, to whom much is 

given, much is expected," Wallace says. 

"Vicki and I are so blessed. Life has been 

good. I feel obligated to use whatever I 

have that is helpful." 

Wallace signed a three year contract with 

Constellation and became responsible for 

78 electric generating units (three of 

them nuclear) and 4000 employees 

stretching from California to Pennsylvania. 

He bought additional units, finished others 

under construction, and that three-year 

contract is now in its seventh year. His 

participation in the network of national 

nuclear security organizations began about 

the same time. He has no regrets. "I love 

what I’m doing," he says. "But `satisfaction’ 

doesn’t describe it. I’m caught by a sense 

of responsibility to make a difference if I 

can. Not to be soapy, but it’s for the good 

of the country. If I can help make nuclear 

power a reality, I don’t want to leave the 

business sooner than I have confidence 

that’s happened." 

Wallace’s, and Constellation’s, most 

significant project is the plan for Unit #3, 

a brand new, 1600-megawatt reactor at 

Maryland’s nuclear plant at Calvert Cliffs, 

on Chesapeake Bay. It would be one of 

the biggest reactors in the world. Wallace 

predicts they will break ground for Unit #3 

in the first quarter of 2009, and have the 

plant operational in 2016. If he’s right, 

it will be the first new nuclear plant built 

in America in 30 years. 

Thanks in part to global warming, and the 

urgent need to control carbon emissions, 

several leading environmentalists have 

come over to nuclear power. 

Former critic, Dr. Patrick Moore, a founder 

of Green Peace, is now a nuclear 

proponent, and friend of Wallace’s. 

James Lovelock, the British biologist who 

is considered a world leader in 

environmental consciousness, has stated: 

"There is no sensible alternative to nuclear 

power if we are to sustain civilization." 

Public perception about the horrors of 

radioactivity has been tempered by 

statements like Lovelock’s, and calmed 

by millions of accident-free hours of 

104 U.S. plants, and many more abroad. 

Mayo Shattuck, CEO, President, and 

Chairman of Constellation Energy, says 

nuclear energy is about anticipating what 

can go wrong. "This is an industry where 

most of the focus is inside the box, 

literally and figuratively," Shattuck says. 

"And Mike Wallace is one of the most 

prominent managers and leaders in this 

world. He’s one of the last people in the 

business who built plants 30 years ago. 

Mike is a crusader in the development of 

new nuclear options. If we are successful 

building a new nuclear plant in the United 

States, that will be an incredible legacy for 

Mike Wallace." 

In 2006, all the Wallaces – Mike, Vicki, 

son Shawn (32), and daughter Amy (30) 

– made a six-day passage on Arbella from 

the Abacos to Annapolis. "To sail with our 

adult kids, who learned on a Sunfish and 

chartered with us all over the Caribbean, 

was priceless," Mike says. "It was a life 

bonding experience for all of us. For those 

six days the world really was our Oyster." 

When Unit #3 becomes a done deal, you 

can bet Mike and Vicki Wallace will go 

sailing. He’s optimistic about it.

HEADING 


Coming Up 

REGATTAS • EVENTS • PARTIES 

With just weeks to the start of our 2008 Palma Regatta, planning is already 

underway for our 2009 events and dates are confirmed for our Antigua Regatta 

as 13-18 April 2009. Later in 2009, there will be another Mediterranean based 

event – details to be announced. Owners and crews can look forward to some 

great racing and plenty of parties! We look forward to seeing you. 

PALMA 2009 PROGRAMME 

TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 

• The Oyster fleet arrives at Real Club Nautico, Palma 

• Registration and Skippers’ Briefing 

• Drinks Party and Barbecue on the terrace at Real Club Nautico 

WEDNESDAY 1 OCTOBER – SPONSORED BY LEWMAR 

• Race 1 and Race 2 in the Bay of Palma 

• Drinks Party and Dinner at Virtual Beach Club, Calvia 

THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER – SPONSORED BY RAYMARINE 

• Race 3 to the National Park of Cabrera, where the fleet will anchor overnight 

• Drinks party at the beach bar 

FRIDAY 3 OCTOBER – SPONSORED BY DOLPHIN SAILS 

• Race 4 back to Palma and Real Club Nautico 

• Drinks Party and Dinner at the atmospheric Pueblo Espanol 

SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER – SPONSORED BY PANTAENIUS 

• Race 5 in the Bay of Palma 

• Prizegiving Party and Dinner at the 17th century manor, Casa Font Seca 

OWNERS DINNER – Royal Yacht Squadron 13 September 2008 

OYSTER REGATTA – Palma 4 September - 30 October 2008 

OWNERS DINNER – Royal Thames Yacht Club 10 January 2009 

OYSTER REGATTA – Antigua 13-18 April 2009 

OYSTER REGATTA – Mediterranean 2009 - To be announced 

For more details about Oyster regattas and events see our website at 

ww.oystermartine.com or contact Liz Whitman at liz.whitman@oystermarine.com

OYSTER COWES REGATTA 2008 

CLASS 1 

1st Starry Night 

2nd Sotto Vento 

4th Saba of Hamble 

CLASS 2 

1st Jubilate 

4th Wanderer 

THE CHOICE OF OYSTER MARINE 

Proud to build sails for Oyster 

Oyster 655 Sotto Vento 

400 Main Road • Harwich • Essex • CO12 4DN • Tel: +44 (0)1255 243366 • Fax: +44 (0)1255 240920 

sails@dolphin-sails.com • www.dolphinsails.com

MARINA & BOATYARD 

Specialists in Refits and Repairs on both 

Leisure and Commercial Craft 

Workshops 

k General repairs 

k New decks 

k Refits 

k Engineering 

k 10,000 sqft of covered 

workshop space 

Rigging 

k Masts and spars 

k Rig surveys 

k Running and 

standing rigging 

k Riggers to Oyster yachts 

Electronics 

k Sales 

k Installation 

k Repair communication 

and IT systems 

Sprayshop 

k Heat and dust controlled 

environment to the 

highest standards 

Osmosis 

k The latest technology 

and hull drying equipment 

Fox’s Marina Ipswich Ltd 

Ipswich Suffolk IP2 8SA 

T: +44 (0) 1473 689111 

F: +44 (0) 1473 601737 

E: foxs@foxsmarina.com 

www.foxsmarina.com 

Stainless 

k Fabrication 

k Custom fittings 

k Repairs 

k Polishing 

Osmosis 

k The latest technology 

and hull drying equipment 

Chandlery 

k Comprehensively stocked 

chandlery for all yachtsmen 

Marina 

k Travel hoist and dock 

with capacity to lift boats 

of 85' overall length 

and 22' beam, up to 

70 tons weight 

Fox’s Yacht Club 

k Well prepared meals 

k Friendly service 

Coming Soon 

k New chandley and outdoor 

superstore - opening 

January 2009 

k New online chandlery - 

www.foxschandlery.com 




Just Launched A selection of recent Oyster launchings 


Tom Howard and Christian Figenschau, Oyster 56, Astahaya 

Mike and Devala Robinson, Oyster 46, Sea Rover 

Vince Dales, The Greenbird, powered only by nature 

Paul Bateman, Oyster 56, Stardust of Burnham 

John Maxwell, Oyster 655, Solway Mist II 

Steve and Geraldine Powell, Oyster 62, UHURU 

FAR RIGHT: Steve and Geraldine Powell, Oyster 62, UHURU 

OYSTER 56 ASTAHAYA 

Tom Howard and Christian Figenschau’s 

new Oyster 56 Astahaya is a stunning 

example of the Oyster marque, thanks to 

Tom and Christian’s interior design 

experience and meticulous attention to 

detail. Astahaya has a very customised 

and contemporary interior, which includes 

gloss finish to the interior teak woodwork, 

dark granite work-surfaces and upholstery 

in charcoal Alcantara. To celebrate the 

launch of their new yacht, Tom and 

Christian took the build team from 

Windboats out for a sail, before 

entertaining them to lunch at Fox’s Yacht 

Club. Astahaya’s launch party will take 

place at the Real Club Nautico in Palma 

just before the start of the Oyster Regatta. 

OYSTER 46 SEA ROVER 

Owners, Mike and Devala Robinson have 

previously travelled extensively around 

Africa in a Land Rover, so chose the name 

Sea Rover for their next big adventure. 

Sea Rover put in a brief appearance at the 

recent Oyster Regatta in Cowes, before 

heading to Guernsey en route to the Canary 

Islands for the start of the ARC, where she 

will join a large fleet of Oysters for her 

transatlantic crossing. Mike and Devala plan 

to head straight to the Pacific for some 

‘extended cruising’ including Easter Island 

and the Marquesas. Sea Rover was the first 

Oyster to leave the new Landamores yard 

earlier this year. 

OYSTER 56 SKYCLAD 

The new Oyster 56 Skyclad is Vince 

Dale’s first boat and he has a varied 

cruising itinerary planned, taking in Turkey, 

the East Coast of the USA and the 

Caribbean, although not necessarily in that 

order! Skyclad will remain in Ipswich a 

little longer as Dale is currently on an 

important assignment in Australia where 

he will be co-piloting The Greenbird in 

an attempt on a world land speed record 

(which currently stands at 116.7mph) 

for a wind-powered vehicle. Skyclad’s 

cruising chute is painted to match the 

wing on The Greenbird, so should be an 

easy one to spot in future Oyster regattas. 

OYSTER 56 

STARDUST OF BURNHAM 

Paul Bateman is an experienced sailor, 

having owned various sailboats since 

racing dinghies out of Burnham. 

He still owns his previous boat, Starlight, 

a Moody 42 that he bought new 20 years 

ago, and can’t quite bear to part with. 

Stardust took part in the Oyster Regatta 

in Cowes and is another Oyster joining 

this year’s ARC after which she will make 

her way to her permanent berth in the 

warm waters of Barbados.

OYSTER 655 SOLWAY MIST II 

John Maxwell’s Oysters have all been 

beautifully fitted out and his third Oyster, 

the new 655 Solway Mist II is no 

exception with her lovely classic teak 

interior and cream leather upholstery. 

Solway Mist II departed Ipswich in May, 

first stop the Adriatic where she is 

spending the summer and taking part in 

the Royal Thames Yacht Club Aeolian 

Regatta, before joining a fleet of over 30 

Oysters, including four other new 655’s, 

at this year’s Oyster Regatta in Palma. 

In December, Solway Mist II will feature 

in a line up of Oysters at the Antigua 

Charter Show and will be available to 

charter in the British Virgin Islands through 

Oyster Yacht Charter. 

OYSTER 53 AEOLIAN PEARL 

Owned by Nicholas and Dee Arnold, 

the new Oyster 53 Aeolian Pearl 

has spent the summer cruising Portugal 

and the Mediterranean before she heads 

off to Las Palmas for the start of this 

year’s ARC. The Arnold family are looking 

forward to some Caribbean sailing and we 

hope to see them at an Oyster regatta 

before too long. 

OYSTER 62 UHURU 

The Oyster 62 UHURU was handed over 

to owners Steve and Geraldine Powell in 

June, just in time to take part in Oyster’s 

Cowes Regatta, where she was a striking 

sight with her dark blue hull and bright red 

‘Parasailor’ kite. UHURU has caught the 

regatta bug and will be joining the Oyster 

Regatta in Palma before heading for the 

Caribbean with the ARC fleet. Steve’s 

plans include some adventurous sailing to 

the Arctic and Antarctic, and with Steve’s 

background in photography, we look 

forward to some eye-catching articles for 

future Oyster News. UHURU is available 

for charter through Oyster Yacht Charter. 


the world’s your oyster 

s s s s s s s s s s s s 

46 54 56 575 62 655 72 82 100 125 

flybridge 

125 

power 

motor 

yachts 

SAIL POWER CHARTER 

O YSTER 

DOUBLE QUEEN’S AWARD YACHT BUILDERS 

Oyster Marine Ltd: Fox’s Marina Ipswich Suffolk IP2 8SA England T: +44 (0)1473 688888 F: +44 (0)1473 686861 E: yachts@oystermarine.com 

Oyster Marine Germany: Saseler Str. 192a 22159 Hamburg T: +49 40 64400880 F: +49 40 64400882 E: yachten@oystermarine.com 

Oyster Marine USA: Newport Shipyard One Washington Street Newport RI 02840 USA T: +401 846 7400 F: +401 846 7483 E: info@oysteryachts.com 

www.oystermarine.com 

®

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