Oyster News 49 - Oyster Yachts

NEWS 

O YSTER® 

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF OYSTER - DOUBLE QUEEN'S AWARD YACHT BUILDERS 

UBS OYSTER 

REGATTA ANTIGUA 

Royal Yacht 

Squadron to Host 

UK event 

THE NEW 

OYSTER 72 

OYSTER - WORLD LEADERS IN DECK SALOON CRUISING YACHTS 

ISSUE NO 49 

JUNE 2003

NEWS 

O YSTER ® 

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF OYSTER - DOUBLE QUEEN'S AWARD YACHT BUILDERS 

Oyster’s 3rd 

Antigua Regatta 

Royal Yacht 

Squadron to Host 

UK event 

THE NEW 

OYSTER 72 

OYSTER - WORLD LEADERS IN DECK SALOON CRUISING YACHTS 

EDITOR 

LIZ WHITMAN 

ISSUE NO 49 

SPRING 2003 

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

ROGER VAUGHAN 

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. 

2 www.oystermarine.com 

CONTENTS 

FROM THE EDITOR 

We publish Oyster News 

four 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 

me know. Photographs 

are always welcome with 

or without a story. 

Email: liz.whitman@ 

oystermarine.com 

FRONT COVER PICTURE 

Roger Harding’s Oyster 56, Oyster Rose II. 

Overall winner, out of a fleet of nine Oyster 56’s, 

of the Yachting World trophy. 

Photo: Tim Wright 

BACK COVER PICTURE 

The Oyster fleet, Nelson's Dockyard, 

English Harbour, Antigua 

Photo: Richard Matthews 

Oyster News is published 

by Oyster Marine Ltd. 

3 FROM THE CHAIRMAN 

RICHARD MATTHEWS 

4 NEWS ROUNDUP 

6 A CLASSIC REGATTA 

A REPORT ON THE RECENT 

CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA 

IN ANTIGUA 

8 RUNNING THE GALES OF 

THE SOUTHERN OCEAN 

FIONA CAMPBELL 

12 FLIRTING IN THE CARIBBEAN 

WE RACE – OUR OWNERS GET THE RESULTS 

RICHARD MATTHEWS 

14 ON TRACK WITH THE NEW OYSTER 72 

UPDATE ON OYSTER'S LATEST MODEL 

16 A TEN YEAR LOVE AFFAIR 

OWNER MISTY MCINTOSH ON LIFE WITH 

THEIR OYSTER 435 

20 STILL FLYING UNDER SAIL 

A PROFILE OF BOB CRANDALL EX CEO 

OF AMERICAN AIRLINES 

ROGER VAUGHAN 

26 SAIL TRIM 

HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR SAILS. 

MATTHEW VINCENT 

30 THE UBS OYSTER REGATTA ANTIGUA 

REPORT FROM OYSTER'S ANNUAL 

CARIBBEAN EVENT 

ROGER VAUGHAN 

43 ARC 2003 PREVIEW 

OYSTER TAKES TOP SPOT IN ARC 

ENTRY LIST 

44 OYSTER EVENTS 2003-2004 

DIARY DATES FOR OYSTER OWNERS 

47 THE OYSTER FLEET REVIEW 

48 CHRISTMAS IN CARTAGENA 

THE BARKER FAMILY ENJOY THE 

CARIBBEAN FESTIVITIES 

53 THE 7TH OYSTER SKI WEEK 

OWNER JOHN DIETZ PARTIES 

IN KLOSTERS 

54 JUST LAUNCHED

Welcome to the 49th edition 

of our house magazine 

Thanks to all our readers who touched base recently to say nice 

things about the new format for the magazine, launched with issue 48. 

This edition brings coverage of the UBS Oyster Regatta held in 

Antigua during April. With over 30 yachts attending I think it would be 

fair to say the event was once again a great success. Our thanks go 

to the owners and crews who supported the event and to the staff 

and many volunteers who helped make it happen. 

Our events feature includes details of our upcoming Palma Regatta 

this September and the news that the Royal Yacht Squadron have 

kindly agreed to host a Solent based event for us in July next year. 

Meanwhile we have just received an e-mail from World Cruising to tell 

us that Oyster are once again the most prolific marque in the 2003 

ARC, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, with 19 Oysters entered. 

I sailed the final race in the UBS Oyster Regatta in Antigua with David 

and Linda Hughes on their new 66 Miss Molly. It’s always a privilege to 

sail with anyone who has already circumnavigated, especially in one of 

our yachts. The Hughes' are planning a trip to the Antarctic, where 

they hope to cruise in company with Stephen and Catherine Thomas, 

who also have a new 66 and also have a circumnavigation to their 

credit in their previous yacht – an Oyster of course. Sounds like we 

should be getting some good articles. 

In closing please remember that Oyster News is primarily for our 

‘family’ of Oyster owners. Owner contributions, especially with 

pictures, are very welcome. So… special thanks to everyone who has 

contributed to this edition. 

Enjoy, and as usual we wish all our readers fair winds and good sailing. 

Richard Matthews 

Founder and Chairman 

Oyster Marine 

2003 BOAT SHOWS 

IJMUIDEN 

2 – 7 September 

Oyster 56 

For a boarding pass and information please 

call our UK office on +44 (0) 1473 688888 

NEWPORT 


Oyster 49 



call our USA office on +1 401 846 7400 

SOUTHAMPTON 








call our UK office on +44 (0) 1473 688888 

GENOA 

4 – 12 October 


For a boarding pass and information 

please call our UK office on 

+44 (0) 1473 688888 

ANNAPOLIS 

9 – 13 October 




For a boarding pass 

and information please 

call our USA office 

on +1 401 846 7400 

HAMBURG 

25 October – 

2 November 


For a boarding pass 

and information please 

call our UK office 

on +44 (0) 1473 688888 

www.oystermarine.com 

3

NEWS ROUNDUP 

A CAUTIONARY TALE OF THE WHALE 

Passage notes from Mike Ritter, Oyster 66 Boundless, on route to Tahiti 

While on passage, sailing at over 9 knots, we felt two quick jerks as though a wave had broken 

on the hull, but sharper. Looking aft we saw the back and dorsal fin of a whale. Sadly, we also 

saw a pool of blood. The whale was spouting regularly (breathing) as we watched it fall behind 

out of our sight. We had obviously struck the whale, which was probably sleeping at or near the 

surface. Fortunately, it was a glancing blow, causing no damage (to the boat). The bilges 

remained dry and a later dive revealed no sign of collision. In over 40,000 miles of sailing and 

several near misses, this is the first time I've actually hit a whale - an unpleasant encounter. 

QUEST FOR PARALYMPIC SELECTION 

Oyster is sponsoring Hannah Stodel in her pursuit of a place in the 2004 

Paralympic team. Since her last report, Hannah has competed in the Disabled 

Midwinters in Florida and taken the helm in two 29er competitions. 

In preparation for the Sonar Europeans in Cowes this summer Hannah, along 

with disabled helmsman, John Robertson, have recently teamed up with a third 

crewmember, Steve Thomas. Steve, who played rugby for Wales at youth 

level, lost both his legs after suffering from meningitis and has since gone on to 

successfully compete in paralympic ice hockey. Steve is currently undergoing 

training on mainsheet duties. 

Oyster recently supplied Hannah with a new set of sails, and is funding toplevel 

coaching to enable her to gain the extra experience she needs to help 

secure her place in the Paralympic squad, in which we wish her every success. 

John Robertson, Steve Thomas 

and Hannah Stodel

OYSTERS TO BERMUDA 

Four Oysters have entered this year's fleet of around 80 

yachts for the 2003 Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race, 

which starts on 20 June from Sippican Harbour. First sailed 

in 1977, the event is a challenging 645 mile, 4-5 day offshore 

passage, and attracts entrants from the East Coast of the 

USA as well as Canada and Bermuda. Noted for being "fun 

at both ends with great sailing in the middle" this premier 

offshore contest welcomes amateur crews and families and 

is the only race to offer a celestial navigation option. Oyster 

will be represented by race veteran Paul Hubbard, Oyster 

435 Bermuda Oyster; Bob Weiler, Oyster 49 Bobby's Run; 

Nicholas Weare, Oyster 45 Zephyr and Peter Savage, 

Oyster 62 Venture. 

LLOYD’S YACHT CLUB 

Congratulations to Oyster 45 owner, 

Paul May (left of picture), who was 

recently elected Commodore of the 

Lloyd’s Yacht Club. 

The Club has 700 members from those 

involved with Lloyd’s, the London 

Market, and the wider insurance 

community. Looking forward to his 3year 

term Paul said "I will be seeking 

to expand the membership and in 

particular encourage new and existing 

members to develop their sailing skills 

by expanding and subsidising our 

training activities". 

FRANK MELLOWS 

Oyster 39 Severence 

We were very sad to learn of Frank's death 

in April, and our condolences go to his 

wife Jean and family. 

Frank, who purchased Severence as a 

70th birthday present, enjoyed over 10 

years sailing in the Caribbean. Frank and 

Jean took part in both the 2001 and 2002 

Oyster regattas in Antigua and nobody 

who was at last year's event will forget the 

sight of Frank, aged 86 and confined to a 

wheelchair, being carried ashore in his 

chair through the surf to join in the party at 

Ffryes Beach, a truly remarkable man. 

Details of the Club’s social, racing, training and charter activities can be found on the 

Club’s web site Lloyds-yc.org.uk. 

Fleet of Oyster 26's 

to race on the Clyde 

The first Oyster 26, Gadfly, built in 

1978, was exhibited as part of 

Oyster's display at the Southampton 

Boat Show in the same year. Now 

renamed Storm Shadow, she will sail 

on the Clyde and race at the Royal 

Gourock Yacht Club in a fleet of five 

Oyster 26's. Proud owner, Steve 

Scott, tells us that "She is in 

remarkable condition. For a boat built 

in 1978 her condition and build 

quality is excellent and says much for 

the standards your boats are 

designed and built to". 


5

6 


A Classic 

Richard Matthews reports on an event held between the UBS Oyster Regatta 

and Antigua Sailing Week. 

Just as Oyster's 3rd Caribbean Regatta came to a close, so the 16th annual 

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta got underway. 

As popular with spectators as participants, the classics are broadly divided 

into two groups. The ‘real’ classics are either original or restored yachts from 

an almost bygone era. Wood or steel construction, heavy displacement, a 

long keel and traditional rig are prerequisites. The ‘Spirit of Tradition’ class 

allows modern yachts that look like classics to join in, but in a separate 

division and at the discretion of the organisers, to maintain the 

authenticity and character of the event. 

Most people agree that the divas of the true classic fleet are the 

magnificent J Class yachts, typically Velsheda, Shamrock and 

Endeavour. This season Velsheda was, sadly, the only J able to take 

part, but even in splendid isolation was magnificent in every sense 

of the word. Velsheda is a special favourite of ours since she was 

completely rebuilt by our own SYS yard in Southampton in 1997 

and returned to the yard for a refit in 2002. SYS Managing 

Director Piers Wilson sailed on board during the regatta. 

Tim Wright, our photographer for the Oyster Regatta, was in a 

helicopter catching the action in the Oyster fleet just as the 

Classics were on their racecourse in near perfect conditions. 

The temptation for a quick detour was too great and the 

results are some outstanding aerial photographs, including 

those illustrated. 

In the 'Spirit of Tradition Class', Oyster 62 owner Terry 

King-Smith and his son Richard were invited to join the 

crew for day two on the beautiful 130' Ketch, Victoria 

of Strathearn and, as the picture shows, were very 

pleased to be ‘seen’ by our camera boat. 

Classic Yacht PS 

I was in our local last autumn and an old friend 

started buying me beer. I should have seen the 

warning signs, but about four beers into the 

evening he told me about Pierrette, a genuine 

"Fife" built in 1898. Adrian bought her in a 

sorry state a few years back and, as a selfemployed 

wooden boat builder, was well 

into her restoration. The evening ended 

with yours truly becoming a 50% owner 

of this 105-year-old 27 footer. My 

partner Denette said "Oh no not 

another boat!" We hope to attend a 

special Fife event in Scotland this 

summer and Oyster News will bring 

readers more news once Pierrette 

gets under way. 

Rebuilt at Oyster's Southampton yard, 

SYS, Velsheda looked magnificent 

Photo: Tim Wright

Regatta 

FACT BOX 

• See the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 

web site for more information: 

www.antiguaclassics.com 

• Photographs from the event can be 

viewed on Tim Wright's web site 

www.photoaction.com 

• Dates for the 2004 Antigua Classic 

Yacht Regatta are 15th to 20th April 

www.oystermarine.com 7

RUNNING 

THE GALES 

OF THE 

SOUTHERN 

OCEAN 


By Fiona Campbell 

Oyster 55 Carelbi 

Fiona Campbell 

Christopher Smith and Fiona Campbell set off on their world 

circumnavigation from Marmaris in Turkey in the spring of 1998. 

They crossed the Atlantic with the ARC in 2000 and went through 

Panama to the Pacific arriving on May 1st 2001. Chris has sailed 

dinghies all of his life, and has owned a cruising yacht since his 

mid-twenties; sailing around the world has always been his dream. 

Fiona took to sailing for the first time when she met Chris almost 

five years ago, so is a debutante in time but not in distance! 

Hundreds of yachts each year sail what is 

now the well-trodden path from Panama 

to New Zealand through the beautiful 

Pacific islands of French Polynesia, the Cooks, 

Niue and Tonga. Some North Americans return 

via Tahiti, but only a handful brave the roaring 

forties to the Australs and Gambier. We had 

loved our short time in the Tuamotus so much in 

2001 that we were determined to return and 

since we had been seduced by descriptions of 

these southernmost of the French archipelagos, 

they were to be our first landfall. 

So it was that, at the end of April 2002, with 

Carelbi in great condition after five months of 

hard work, we held a 'Big Sniff' party at Whangarei Town Basin (we grade the severity of 

partings by the size and number of the sobs and sniffs), and set sail for Auckland to pick 

up our final crew member, Ken Russell, who was flying in from Australia to take a break 

from six years hard slog in the oil industry. The passage from New Zealand to the 

Gambier Archipelago is 3000 nautical miles and is well known for its challenging weather. 

Chris felt that we needed a minimum of four on board to cope with the expected bad 

conditions and long night passages, and we found our two other crew members through 

an ad in the local paper. 

One crew member, Peter Ansell, a New Zealander, was an 'old sea dog' and could turn 

his hand to anything on a boat, electrics, engines, woodwork, housework; Pete was in 

there almost before we knew it needed to be done. Before we left he had built in a herb 

garden container for us; fresh coriander, thyme, mint, basil and rosemary flourished in 

pots well secured against the worst the sea was to throw at us, and it did. His other chef 

d'oeuvre was to make 'mags' for us; these are 'multi-angle gravy stoppers', and consist 

of a round of wood covered in tasteful blue non-slip material, set at an angle of about 15 

degrees. When sailing to windward with your boat well heeled over, you place your plate 

on the 'mags' and, magically, your food is horizontal and no longer wishes to rush off the 

table onto the floor.

Chris Smith and Fiona Campbell's Oyster 55, Carelbi during the Oyster Regatta, New Zealand Photo: Richard Matthews 

Leaving New Zealand to go east is tricky, the coast is long and follows you as you head 

south for the westerly winds and east to get away. The land plays havoc with the winds 

and immediately we ran into heavy squalls and confused, unstable seas. It was cold, I 

had gone into fleece trousers and thermal underwear, and was most reluctant to remove 

them, even at night! Ken was the best equipped amongst us; he had a wonderful all-inone 

sailing suit in yellow and black with the very latest in thermal wear underneath and 

sat cosily up in the cockpit in the worst conditions, looking like a demented wasp and 

smiling happily as waves crashed into Carelbi, spraying up over the side and deluging 

him from time to time. There was a lot of wind in those first few days, 25-30 knots as a 

norm, gusting regularly to 40, Carelbi sailing with a pocket handkerchief of a mainsail and 

not much more jib. 

About nine hundred miles away from the New Zealand coast. Sea conditions improved 

and I was given a lovely day's sailing for my birthday, which was celebrated with a lemon 

cake and an entire packet of candles, put on by the crew who did not ask me how young 

I was. We played bridge all afternoon, and my partner and I squeaked in ahead of our 

opponents, which is as it should be for birthday girls. Chris gave me five books which he 

had wrapped and hidden all over our cabin, I had to do an Easter Bunny search at 6 am 

after finishing my watch. He also hid five packets of fudge, outrageous! 

Fiona and Peter enjoy birthday cake 

“I was given a lovely day's 

sailing for my birthday, 

which was celebrated with a 

lemon cake and an entire 

packet of candles” 


9

Peter Ansell at the helm 

“For the first two weeks we 

travelled with an albatross, 

nicknamed Elle because of 

his good-looking legs 

which reminded Peter of 

the model Elle McPherson” 


For the first two weeks we travelled with an albatross, nicknamed Elle because of his 

good-looking legs which reminded Peter of the model Elle McPherson. These beautiful 

birds can soar the ocean waves for months on end, covering up to 8000 kilometres a 

week. There were also a couple of black-backed gulls who kept us company, both called 

Jonathan, as we couldn't tell the difference. Apart from these few birds there was no 

other sea life, just the large grey waves rolling out to the distant horizons. 

During the passage we had been trying to catch fish. There is a lot of ciguatera in the 

Pacific islands, which causes numbing in the human nervous system, and we wanted to 

stock the freezer from the ocean. We had developed a new fishing system for this year, 

involving 400 pound breaking strain line and a good length of bungie to take the strain as 

the fish takes off with the lure; too many fish had got away last year with lure, line and 

hook and we were determined that this should not continue. There is a small problem 

with this system in that the line does not pay out and so there is no noisy rattle to alert us 

to a fish on the hook. After a lot of discussion, Chris came up with a brilliant solution and 

invented the fog horn fish alarm. Through a series of intricate ‘Heath Robinson’ 

manoeuvres, a fish on the hook pulls down a lever, thus depressing the trigger on the gas 

cylinder, which then lets off a stentorian blast through the fog horn trumpet. This was the 

signal for all to rush on deck, reef sails and slow Carelbi down; getting a large fighting 

fish six feet up from sea level in the turbulent conditions we were experiencing was not 

easy. We were not spectacularly successful, however. The cold waters of the southern 

ocean do not seem as well stocked as warmer ones, a couple of fish managed to leap off 

the hook before we could gaff them successfully and one just slid off the aft deck 

propelled by the violently rolling motion of the boat. 

About a week after leaving New Zealand we ran into a major storm lasting 

2-3 days, with winds of 45-50 knots, gusting 60 howling through the rigging. Huge 

waves, spume blowing off their tops, would lift Carelbi up and slide her down their 

backs, pushing her around and slapping her sides with juddering crashes, breaking 

over the coach roof and pouring into the cockpit, finally subsiding into sounds of little 

rivulets and trickles. Carelbi would stagger, slow, roll and tentatively get under way 

again before the whole cycle would repeat itself, endlessly. We hove to the first night to allow 

us to get some sleep. The following day one of the rams on the autopilot failed so we handsteered 

until we could get to calmer waters, unpack the aft locker and repair the damage.

Just to help matters, our staysail had ripped and its furling gear broken. Luckily there 

were five of us to share the watches, but it was exhausting and, for me, very frightening. 

However, it was reassuring to know what a solid, well designed boat we were on; Carelbi 

has severely tested and came through with flying colours. She had looked after us well; we 

had hot showers, our cabins were dry and warm, and the motion could have been a lot 

worse on a smaller, less well-designed boat. I would not eagerly volunteer to go through that 

experience again, but I would feel confident of arriving successfully at the other end. 

Despite the conditions I managed some creative 'nouvelle cuisine', only to find that the 

most appreciated meal was bangers, mash and onion gravy, followed closely by 

shepherds pie! Old childhood favourites. I collected some wonderfully colourful bruises 

on my upper thighs, hips and bottom from being thrown around the galley area, a 

moment's inattention to being properly wedged at all times. One stunner on the right 

buttock spread out to a good six inch diameter. 

We had made our way north to get away from the storm and find calmer waters to repair 

George, our autopilot. Ironically, twenty-four hours later we found ourselves without wind 

and motoring. 

The following day a single circular isobar appeared on the excellent weather faxes which we 

collect through the SSB from New Zealand, defining a 'low' dead ahead of us; twenty four 

hours later there were several. A very fast evolving cyclone, called a 'bomb', was developing 

right in our path. We monitored the faxes anxiously, especially the current and 24-hour 

forecasts. To get out of its way and take advantage of the very strong winds that would 

push us up northwards, we changed our destination to Raivavae in the Australs rather than 

Gambier. This particular ‘bomb’ rapidly became an extremely deep depression and caused a 

lot of damage in the islands, we were lucky that we were not in the middle of it. 

A ‘bomb’ is a word used ‘down under’ to describe a very rapidly developing cyclone. On 

day one, the only clue is a small kink in the isobars, twenty-four hours later you have 

three or four isobars around a centre and forty-eight hours later you have a very serious 

collection of isobars and a lot of wind that usually continues to worsen. 

The weather guru in New Zealand is a man called Bob McDavitt and, as he vividly 

describes these things in an excellent booklet, we fortunately recognised the bomb fairly 

early on and decided to change course from due east to north. The centre was several 

hundred miles ahead of us and caused serious damage in Rapa where a French Super 

Maranu belonging to friends of ours was stove in whilst pinned against the wharf. Rapa is 

a tiny isolated island where the men fish not for a living but to feed their families. It has 

no yachting facilities and the supply boat calls about once every six weeks - not a place 

to damage your boat! They managed to staunch the water flow with mattresses, plastic 

and whatever came to hand, and eventually limped up to the Societies where we saw the 

boat out of the water in a very sorry state in Raiatea. The ensuing gales lashed much of 

the southern Tuamotos and particularly Gambier taking off roofs and bringing down trees. 

Fortunately for us we had made the decision soon enough to head north and the wind, 

which normally would have been against us, turned obligingly to the south and, although 

at times it reached 40 knots, was perfect for us. 

Sixteen days after leaving New Zealand, a fiery red sun came up in the east, outlining the 

mountains of Raivavae in its rays, and a few hours after breakfast we tied up to the wharf 

at the little village of Rairua and headed off thankfully on shaky legs to check into French 

Polynesia with the gendarmerie. 

Fiona Campbell 

Pictures: Fiona Campbell/Chris Smith 

“It was exhausting and, for 

me, very frightening. 

However, it was reassuring 

to know what a solid, welldesigned 

boat we were on; 

Carelbi was severely tested 

and came through with 

flying colours” 

One that didn't get away - fresh tuna for supper 

“She looked after us well. 

I would not eagerly volunteer 

to go through that experience 

again, but I would feel 

confident of arriving 

successfully at the other end” 


11

Caribbean 

WE RACE – OUR OWNERS GET THE RESULTS! 

Built as a research and development platform for Oyster, "Flirt" 

started life in 2002 as a fifty footer but shrunk a little during the 

winter. We wanted to experiment with a different stern shape to see if 

we could get more performance from a slightly shorter hull. 

Oyster designer, Rob Humphreys, helped Flirt's original designer, 

John Corby, with some computer generated performance analysis, 

VPP, the result being two months of surgery in Oyster's SYS yard at 

Southampton. The bow was made slightly deeper while the stern was 

made a lot fuller by the addition of foam and microballons. Fifteen 

inches was lopped off the stern reducing Flirt's LOA to just under 49 

feet. The original keel bulb was thought to have rather too much drag 

so was replaced with an alternative bulb design, but fitted to the 

original fin. 

A passage across the North Sea in freezing conditions just before 

Christmas took Flirt to Antwerp and thence as deck cargo to Puerto 

Rico in preparation for a series of Caribbean races. 

First up was the Heineken Regatta out of St Martin where, with team 

GBR America's Cup skipper, Andy Green, as tactician and GBR 

bowman Nic Pearson at the sharp end we won two races. In blustery 

conditions our new wide-body stern seemed to be working well with 

off wind speeds up to 19 knots, while retaining very positive control. 

The next event was the Rolex Regatta sailed from St Thomas in the 

US Virgin Islands. With a variety of conditions from boisterous to light 

we won 4 races and were second in another three giving us an overall 

racing class win and a Rolex watch! The BVI Regatta that followed 

was a disappointment, since the event was compromised by freaky 

conditions in which we decided not to sail. A good decision perhaps 

because three yachts were struck by lightening in a single morning. 


F L I R T I N G I N T H E 

Antigua Sailing Week is the traditional finale to the Caribbean season 

and here Flirt did well, winning the first race and being placed in all 7 

races to end up a close 2nd in a hotly contested fleet. 

All in all the winter's modifications were successful and provided 

some useful design feedback. We may well experiment with another 

keel bulb this summer and intend to try a series of tests comparing 

asymmetric downwind sails with conventional spinnakers. 

Oyster have always been recognised as being serious about 

performance and we are determined that in this, our 30th year, 

performance will continue to be an important criteria in our new 

designs. Active participation on the racing circuit and the data and 

feedback that provides really does help us design and build fast 

cruising yachts that are fun to sail. We race – Oyster owners get 

the results. 

OYSTERS AT ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK 

With Flirt taking on the racing fleet, 22 Oysters were in and around 

Antigua during the 36th Antigua Sailing Week. In previous years 

Oyster has twice been top scoring yacht and last year an Oyster 62 

won all five races in Cruising Class 1. 

On the racecourse this year, Sir David Cooksey’s Oyster 53 Illyria, 

sailing in Cruising Class 1 with local navigator Geoffrey Pidduck 

aboard to help cut a few corners, took first place in Race 1. John 

Marshall’s Oyster 45 Josbarrola was looking good in Cruising Class II. 

The now traditional Lay Day party held at Galleon House, in English 

Harbour, was well supported by Oyster owners and crews. 

John Marshall's Oyster 45 Josbarrola Photo: Tim Wright 

Sir David Cooksey's Oyster 53 Illyria Photo: Tim Wright

FACT BOX 

• For more information about 

Antigua Sailing Week see 

www.sailingweek.com 

• Photographs from the event 

can be viewed on Tim 

Wright's web site 

www.photoaction.com 

• Dates for Antigua Sailing 

Week 2004 are 25th April to 

1st May 

"Hands on" - Richard Matthews steers Flirt during Antigua Sailing Week. 

To Richard's right is Stan Pearson, MD of Antigua Rigging, Oyster's 

service agent in Antigua Photo: Tim Wright 


13


WITH THE NEW OYSTER 72

The new Rob Humphreys and Oyster 

Design Team creation, the Oyster 72, looks 

set for success with the first three yachts 

on order and 72-01 now in the mould 

The Oyster 72’s composite hull will be the first Oyster to use the new 

SPRINT resin infusion system developed by SP Systems on the Isle of 

Wight. SPRINT allows a combination of laminate quality, strength and 

weight that would have previously been virtually impossible on a 

cruising yacht. 

The system uses a high performance epoxy resin, which is 

‘cooked’ at 80 degrees centigrade in a huge, specially 

constructed oven at Oyster's own Special Projects facility. This 

process is virtually identical to that used for the current 

America's Cup yachts, and allows the composite structure to 

achieve maximum strength. Unlike America's Cup yachts and 

those of a number of our contemporaries, there will be no 

core in the hull of the 72 as all Oysters are specified with a 

solid single skin hull for maximum strength and durability. 

Nick Beadle, a Kiwi with vast experience in this specialist 

field, heads the composite team set up for the 72. Yachts in 

which Nick has had a hand include KZ1 (132ft), NZL 20 (75ft), 

and maxi’s Fisher & Paykel and NZ Endeavour, Merit Cup (60ft), 

Mari Cha III (147ft), Magic Carpet II (95ft) and Dark Shadow of 

London (100ft). 

The new technology used on the 72 follows a programme of testing and development 

undertaken jointly by Oyster and SP Systems. We built the plugs and moulds for an 18ft 

hull that became known as "Trial Horse" and built a series of hulls, which helped us to 

tackle the 72 hull with confidence. It’s believed that the Oyster 72 is the first large yacht to 

use the SP SPRINT system for hull construction. 

Development of the 72 design, and her racy near sister the 69, was in many ways a process 

of natural evolution from the Oyster 68/70 series, which it replaces, but with a little more 

emphasis on performance. Rob Humphreys has inevitably produced a very clean hull 

design with more beam and a much longer waterline than her predecessor. 

The importance of carefully installed engineering, plumbing and electrical systems can’t be 

over emphasised on a blue water live-aboard yacht. This is where our cumulative 

experience of building and servicing a whole series of yachts in a similar size range over a 

period of years will really benefit every Oyster 72 and her owner. 

Proven on our 66 and 82 series, the interior configuration features an under cockpit 

companionway which separates the owner and guests from the galley and crew 

accommodation forward. Our design team have a virtual library of layout possibilities, while 

each interior will be configured on a semi-custom basis to match owner's requirements. 

Styling is where our in-house design team really score. While the stunning outboard profile 

of the yacht is obvious, careful examination of virtually any area of the yacht's detailed 

design will soon expose the care, thought and experience that has gone into this design. 

The first 72, being built for an existing Oyster owner, will be completed in 2004. With two 

other yachts following in sequence there will be plenty to see in the months ahead. 

Photos: David Body 

15

A Ten Year 

Love Affair 

BY MISTY MCINTOSH - 

OYSTER 435 TAMOURE 

It’s a little known fact that, back in the 

mid-1980’s, Oyster launched a boat that 

was nearly human. Her first three owners 

didn’t recognise this but when Tamoure 

of Lymington came into our lives in 1993 

it soon became obvious she was 

something special, with feelings, quirks, 

little sulky ways - and a great big heart. 

I first suspected she was different when 

she waited for us from September, when 

we discovered her, through till February 

when we were in a position to buy her. By 

then I had looked at 55 boats – 53 sloops 

and two Oyster 435s (the other being 

Hookey of Hamble, a fast little lady, much 

better suited to the experienced Walkers 

than us!) I knew Tamoure was the one the 

minute we stepped inside, but there were 

some obstacles to overcome first: we’d no 

experience of ketches, were a tad scared 

of the big windows – and the asking price 

was outside our budget! Plus the Skipper 

was suffering from boat block and was so 

confused by all we’d looked at and 

rejected, he couldn’t remember a thing 

about her and initially didn’t share my 

enthusiasm! 


Misty McIntosh and Peter Fitch 

Tamoure – winner of the Concours d'Elegance at the recent 

Oyster Regatta in New Zealand Photo: Richard Matthews

‘ I knew Tamoure was 

the one the minute 

we stepped inside’ 


18 

Flower sellers on the church steps, Guatemala 

‘ I remember an early 

log reading: Tamoure 

terrific, M terrified’ 


I should confess at this point that what we 

knew about boats 10 years ago was 

embarrassingly little. Less than two years 

after learning to sail we sold our house 

and contents, gave away our winter 

woollies and decided, on the basis of a 

few RYA courses and a delivery trip with 

six others, that we’d like to sail round the 

world. We’ve had a steep learning curve! 

Tamoure has been an excellent teacher; 

strong, kindly and forgiving, though she 

does like to be the centre of attention – 

and doesn’t give us much time off. 

When we bought her she looked a bit 

forbidding. Her hull was trimmed in black 

and all her canvas work was grey. In truth, 

we were a little afraid of her and not quite 

sure whether she was friend or foe, but 

once we changed her livery to green and 

gold she turned into a proper little girl and 

began developing her own character. Just 

like any little girl, she loves presents! She 

especially likes marinas because she 

understands the relationship between 

breaking things and getting new ones. 

There are shops where there are Marinas, 

though she doesn’t always approve of the 

Skipper’s fondness for trying the repair 

route first. 

When we arrived in New Zealand and 

bought a car we were worried she might 

get jealous of another form of transport, so 

were careful to reassure her we needed 

the car to transport those presents. That 

worked! She loved the year 2000. As well 

as new sails and canvas, she had her 

topsides painted, and emerged from the 

shed looking so stunning that she was 

immediately christened the Little Princess. 

Later that year she had major heart 

surgery when her engine was removed and 

the Skipper transformed the engine 

compartment from a grimy black hole into 

a gleaming white palace, trimmed in silver 

(sound proofing) fit for a Princess! 

With three different owners in her first six 

years, not surprisingly we inherited other 

people’s amendments, tweaks and addons, 

but ten years down the track all the 

tweaks are our own and we can blame no 

one else – as we could in the early days – 

if we haven’t quite got something right. 

Fortunately the Skipper is mechanically 

minded (and a perfectionist!) and if ever 

there was a competition for taking your 

Oyster apart and putting her back together 

again with no bits left over, he would win 

hands down! New Oysters, of course, are 

perfect, but the older ladies do suffer – as 

we all do! - from the ravages of time. 

Right from the very beginning she has 

looked after us. We set off for the Canary 

Islands, in August 1993, after a four month 

refit that emptied the bank account. As first 

time owners, we didn’t realise that boats 

gobble up funds at an alarming rate! We 

also had no idea whether we’d bought the 

right one, or whether we were up to 

handling her. We were soon to find out! The 

weather gods decided to see what we 

were made of and sent us huge seas and 

40-50 knot winds for days on end. We 

were bashed, battered and bewildered, and 

sometimes truly frightened, but Tamoure 

just said, "OK, you’ve looked after me and 

prettied me up all these months. I’m in 

charge now…" I remember an early log 

reading: "Tamoure terrific, M. terrified!" 

When we left New Zealand for Tonga, after 

our 18-month refit, Peter and I were a bit 

rusty but not Tamoure. Twelve tough days 

to windward and three gales in the first 

week didn’t faze her, though on her 15th 

birthday she tried to see if she could fly. 

She found herself on the top of a wave 

with absolutely nothing beneath her, hung 

suspended for an instant, which seemed 

to us like an eternity, and then dropped 

like a stone on her port side. All 18 tons of 

her, our home and all our worldly goods – 

crash, wallop! The racing boys may do this 

regularly but we try not to. I could see 

water rushing past her hull ports for an 

awfully long time and half expected the 

whole side of the boat to split open (not 

on an Oyster, of course!), but the only 

damage was to our hearts which did beat 

rather violently for just a moment or two! 

Later that season in Tonga, she shone 

again when an unexpected 65 knot ‘bomb’ 

ripped through our anchorage in the reeffilled 

Ha’apai group. Conditions were 

blizzard-like with zero visibility. The latter 

was probably a blessing since it was 

better not to see the shore, which by now 

was far too close for comfort.

All around us boats were dragging, canvas 

shredding, windlasses burning out but, 

despite our dry mouths and pounding 

hearts, Tamoure stayed in the same spot 

from start of storm to finish. The fact that 

the Skipper was up half the night 

monitoring the worsening weather and 

was quick with the engine on when the 

first blast struck, probably helped a bit 

too. After the storm other boats insisted 

we must be comprehensively wrapped 

round a coral head, but not so – the 

anchor came up easily. Tamoure was just 

thanking us for one of her recent presents: 

100 metres of brand new anchor chain! A 

sound investment. 

She doesn’t just help on offshore 

passages. She really tries hard during 

docking manoeuvres – unless it’s stern-to 

when she doesn’t try at all, so we don’t do 

that very often! I do all the helming, since 

Peter is much better at line handling than I 

would ever be, but anxiety runs high, and 

Tamoure understands this. Maybe she just 

hears my thumping heart, but I feel during 

these anxious moments she gives her all 

and tries to get it right. Naturally I talk to 

her all the time to encourage her, and am 

careful to thank her afterwards for helping. 

Weird as this sounds, it works for us and 

we haven’t hit anything yet, though I 

suspect the Skipper’s skillful positioning 

and use of warps may also have 

something to do with it! 

When she’s good, she’s very good – and 

she’s good when it really matters. 

Released from shops and the possibility of 

presents, she shows her appreciation by 

taking great care of us. She’s not very 

young and she’s certainly not flawless, but 

she suits us perfectly and the three of us 

have bonded as a nice little family. 

Tamoure in splendid isolation, Languna Grande, Venezuela 

How thrilled we were at the recent New 

Zealand Oyster Regatta when a ‘secret 

committee’ pronounced what we’ve 

known all along – that she’s the prettiest 

girl in the class! 

Well done, Tamoure. And thank you 

Oyster. Here’s to the next 10 years! 

Misty McIntosh 

Oyster 435 Tamoure 

‘ Just like any little girl, 

she loves presents! 

She especially likes 

marinas because 

she understands the 

relationship between 

breaking things and 

getting new ones’ 


19

Still Flying Under 

Wearing a maroon shirt with the sleeves 

rolled up two turns, 50s style, khaki 

pants and running shoes, Robert Crandall 

answered the door of his Turtle Creek 

apartment in Dallas, stuck out his hand and 

quickly introduced himself. Gesturing 

toward the living room, he said to make 

myself at home. He was on the telephone. 

The apartment is more luxury hotel suite 

than "home." The living room is spacious, 

bright, with an exterior glass wall. A glassshelved 

bookcase on a long interior wall 

displays dozens of awards Crandall 

received during the 25 years he was 

President, then Chairman and CEO of 

American Airlines. He retired in 1998, but 

for Bob Crandall retirement means 

applying himself with the same diligence in 

other directions. I could hear his deep, 

radio voice echoing from the kitchen, 

punctuated once by a startling, signature 

cackle he emits when something strikes 

his funny bone. 

At 67, Bob Crandall is tall, slim, and fit 

from a lifetime of running four miles a day 

except when hell or high water has 

intervened. But this day he is moving with 

some care, having had surgery for a 

herniated disk just a week before. "I’m 

corseted," he said smacking the hard 

support device under his shirt with his 

hand as he eased himself into a chair. I’d 

heard that Crandall walked a mile the third 

day after surgery. "Yeah," he said with a 

look that asked, doesn’t everybody? "The 

sooner you get going the faster you’ll heal 

and be back up to speed," he said. Then 

he smiled. "But the day after the 

operation when they hauled me out of bed 

for a walk I have to say it hurt like hell." 

For 25 years Bob Crandall applied his 

pragmatic, plainspoken approach to 

20 www.oystermarine.com Just launched, Arway, during handover on the river Orwell, Ipswich

Sail 

American Airlines with mostly spectacular 

results. He once gained considerable 

notoriety when the press learned he’d 

called a high-level meeting during a Super 

Bowl game. "Today I have no recollection 

what that meeting was about," he says 

with a laugh, "but it isn’t important. When I 

was running the business, nothing else 

mattered. If one of my people wanted to 

watch the Super Bowl, I was confident 

there was someone on his staff who’d like 

to have his job." 

It took Crandall 37 years, 14 elementary 

and high schools, three universities, and 

Bob Crandall, American Airlines’ former CEO 

B Y R O G E R V A U G H A N 

jobs at four corporations before he found a 

home at American Airlines. He was born 

in 1935 and raised in Usequepaug, Rhode 

Island, a town so obscure most Rhode 

Islanders have never heard of it. His 

grandparents lived at one end of a potato 

field; he and his family lived at the other 

end. He remembers his father building 

their house, digging the foundation by 

hand and wheeling the dirt up a ramp in a 

wheelbarrow. His father worked for the 

government-sponsored Civilian 

Construction Corps during the depression. 

During World War II he worked for a 

company that made hand tools for the 


Bob Crandall 

21

‘ I don’t choose to be a 

competitor at golf, or 

sailing, or playing Bridge. 

I try to do well, but 

winning at those things 

isn’t crucial for me. 

My competitive instincts 

have always been 

focused on business. In 

business, competitive 

success makes a 

huge difference 

’ 


Seabees. Jobless at war’s end, Crandall’s 

father found employment at Phoenix 

Mutual Insurance as a management 

trainee. Starting in 1945, he travelled 

the country with his family for seven 

years learning the insurance trade in 

different offices. 

It was during that period that Robert 

Crandall became the habitual "new kid" at 

14 different schools, a tough role. "There 

were always fights with other kids to prove 

myself," Crandall says. "It was a big pain. I 

didn’t enjoy it. But it was unavoidable." 

Hard work was also unavoidable. He had a 

paper route and worked in grocery stores. 

In 1952, the family returned to Rhode 

Island. Crandall entered Barrington High 

School where one of the first students he 

met was Jan Schmults, the girl he would 

marry. When he graduated in 1953 Crandall 

was voted best student, most ambitious, 

and "most affectionate boy" in his class. 

After three semesters on scholarship at 

William and Mary College, Crandall 

transferred to University of Rhode Island to 

be closer to Jan. He buffed the cafeteria 

floor and did other part time jobs to cover 

expenses. After graduating with a degree 

in business administration, he and Jan 

married. Their honeymoon consisted of the 

drive to Ft. Benning, Georgia, where 

Crandall did a six-month tour of duty while 

Jan worked as a nurse. 

After a short stint with an insurance 

company, Crandall accepted an Arthur 

Young scholarship to the University of 

Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of 

Business. He managed a radio station at 

night. He would have preferred law school, 

but he couldn’t afford it. 

After Wharton, he joined Eastman Kodak 

as a credit representative. When he was 

told it would take him 20 years at Kodak 

to become a vice president, he left and 

joined The Hallmark Card Company where 

he was asked to run the computer 

programming division. The fact that he 

knew little about computers didn’t stop 

him. He learned, and the decision turned 

out to be pivotal. Three years later he 

joined TWA as assistant treasurer in 

charge of credit operations. Not long 

afterwards he was running data 

processing for TWA. He was then 

attracted to Bloomingdale’s by an offer of 

senior vice president and treasurer, but 

soon discovered he didn’t care for 

retailing. Finally, in 1973, he landed at 

American Airlines as chief financial officer. 

The first thing Crandall did at American 

was upgrade the airline’s data processing 

system. Next he modernised American’s 

computerised reservation system (SABRE), 

to the point where it was eventually spun 

off as a private company serving all 

airlines. Two years later as Sr. VP, 

marketing, Crandall was faced with the 

problem of how to generate revenue from 

unsold seats, the bane of any airline’s 

economics. Charter companies were luring 

customers away with lower fares. So 

Crandall invented the Super Saver concept 

– large discounts for tickets purchased 

well in advance – a plan quickly copied by 

other carriers. 

When the airline business was stunned by 

federal deregulation in 1978, Crandall had 

risen to President and CEO. In the face of 

deregulation, Wall Street took one look at 

American’s long-haul fleet and lack of 

hubs and dubbed the airline a loser. 

Crandall proved them wrong. His solution 

was to build a complex hub-and-spoke 

system and to emphasise technology. 

During Crandall’s tenure, American 

maintained one of the largest staffs of 

operations research professionals of any 

company in the country. The cumulative 

effect of those and other decisions 

resulted in the lower fares and better 

schedules economists had thought 

deregulation would produce and better 

results for American Airlines. 

"Management," Crandall says, "is a twopart 

proposition. First is the creative vision: 

you lay out what you think the future is. 

Conceptualisation. Part two is execution, 

making it happen. You have to adapt, but 

everyone adapts. You also have to have 

accurate vision. What happened at Braniff 

is a case in point. American has often 

been accused of putting Braniff out of 

business, but that’s not what happened. 

When deregulation came along, Braniff 

already had a small hub system in Dallas 

that was working well for them. But their 

top management determined that

deregulation wouldn’t last. So instead of 

expanding their hub, they destroyed it, and 

in one day they entered 50 cities. In this 

business that’s an impossible thing to do. 

Horribly inefficient. But they figured that 

when re-regulation happened, they would 

`own’ all those cities, including Tokyo! In 

the process, Braniff went under. If only 

they had made their existing hub three 

times as big, they would have 

been successful." 

Later on, when upstart airlines started 

making inroads on American’s customers 

with cut-rate fares, Crandall came up with 

the universally emulated Frequent Flier 

concept, a strategy that tied travellers to 

large airlines like American by their 

investments in the future. He personally 

thought code sharing – a practice by 

which two airlines sell tickets on each 

other’s connecting flights under the name 

of a single carrier – was misleading. 

Yet when he saw his competitors pairing 

up, he quickly proposed a code sharing 

deal with British Airways that gave 

American a dominant position at London’s 

Heathrow Airport. 

During his tenure, the press labelled Robert 

Crandall a tough guy and a fierce 

competitor, but generally praised his efforts. 

When asked about his competitive nature, 

Crandall winces. "Too much has been 

made of that," he says. "I don’t choose to 

be a competitor at golf, or sailing, or playing 

Bridge. I try to do well, but winning at those 

things isn’t crucial for me. My competitive 

instincts have always been focused on 

business. In business, competitive success 

makes a huge difference." 

On the other hand, Crandall says he 

always wanted to lead. "You don't know if 

you can lead until you try," he says. "But I 

always wanted to be first in academics, 

and I wanted to lead in the airlines 

business. And I did. Ever since high school 

I was focused on the business world. I 

was poor as a church mouse and I didn’t 

like it. I wanted to make money, and 

having success in business seemed to be 

the best way to do that." 

The Wall Street Journal called Robert 

Crandall "The man who changed the way 

the world flies." One American employee 

who worked under Crandall said the boss 

wasn’t exactly "liked," but that he was 

admired as a great leader. His priority was 

the company, not the employees. If he 

needed cuts, he never wanted the 

customer to see them, so he would cut 

internally. As a result, he made American 

the best airline in the industry, and created 

tremendous customer loyalty. 

When Crandall retired from American in 

1998, he and his company were at the top 

of their games. As he told the Fort Worth 

Star Telegram’s Dan Reed, "There are no 

open labour contracts. The financial 

situation...is good. We’ve got positive 

earnings momentum. The balance sheet is 

in good shape. We finished the fleet plan. 

The route plan is in good shape." With his 

ducks in impeccable order, Crandall left 

American altogether, departing from the 

board of directors as well as the 

management job. He’d selected and 

groomed his successor with the board’s 

approval. "When you’re gone you’re 

gone," Crandall says. "There can only 

be one boss. It’s unfair if the old boss 

sticks around and peers over shoulders." 

And as he often told interviewers, he had 

another ambition: "I want to be a damn 

good sailor." 

Crandall’s wife Jan breezed into the 

apartment fresh from an aerobic 

session. A fit, attractive 

woman with a Texas tan 

that compliments a coif 

of gray hair brushed 

back from her face, 

she and her husband 

are on the verge of 

celebrating 50 years 

of marriage. 

‘ Do unto others is still a 

good guideline for an 

ethical world. Good 

behavior is still about 

self-discipline. Morals 

and manners are 

valuable tools. I tell the 

students, look in the 

mirror. If you see a cheat 

and a liar, there’s not 

much I can do about it 

’ 

Bob, Jan and skipper, Martin Tate www.oystermarine.com 

23

‘ When he was told 

it would take him 20 

years at Eastman Kodak 

to become a vice 

president, he left and 

joined The Hallmark Card 

Company where he was 

asked to run the 

computer programming 

division. The fact that he 

knew little about 

computers didn’t stop 

him. He learned 

’ 


They both hasten to say they dated other 

people through high school, but the die 

was cast when they first met and they 

both knew it. They have been best friends 

ever since. 

The two of them quietly planned Bob’s 

retirement in 1997, confirming it by placing 

an order for an Oyster 485. 

Why an Oyster? They wanted a "real blue 

water boat" for extensive cruising. Oyster’s 

big deck saloon windows that provide a 

light, open feeling below was a factor, and 

they liked Oyster’s reputation for aftersales 

service (little did they know they 

would give that reputation the acid test). 

The 485 was the biggest boat they thought 

the two of them could handle. 

A year or so later their boat was ready, and 

among the charges was a $50,000 bill for 

shipping the boat to the United States. Jan 

Crandall suggested the much less 

expensive plan of sailing the boat across the 

Atlantic. "After all, it is a sailboat," she had 

said. "And it would be a great adventure." 

Bob agreed, although neither of them had 

spent as much as one night offshore. But 

they had sailed a lot, first in a 25-foot daysailor, 

then cruising for ten years on a C&C 

35. "Yes, crossing the pond was a big jump, 

but no matter," Bob Crandall says with a 

shrug. "Sailing is sailing." 

Jan says Bob’s retirement had something 

to do with her suggestion. "I couldn’t 

imagine how Day One of retirement would 

go when Bob asked, `Well what do I do 

now?’ So we gave him something to do 

that required his full attention." 

While looking at a sister 485 during the 

search for the right boat, the Crandalls had 

met Martin Tate, a professional sailor who 

was doing after-sales and commissioning 

work for Oyster at the time. Tate is a salty 

bloke from Yorkshire, England, who has 

sailed since childhood. He’s crossed the 

Atlantic three times single-handed; 

voyages he doesn’t feel are worth talking 

about. "It’s a personal thing," he says in a 

rich, North Country accent. "I’m a sailor. I 

just did it. If the truth were known, I 

couldn’t afford the airfare." 

The Crandalls liked the cut of Tate’s jib, 

and signed him up for the transatlantic 

passage. On May 20, 1998, the Crandalls 

left Dallas/Fort Worth airport after a 

rousing send off by thousands of American 

employees lining the taxiway, and with 

water cannons dousing their aircraft. They 

flew to Ipswich, Suffolk, boarded the boat 

they had christened Arway at Fox’s 

Marina, where Oyster Marine is located, 

and four days later they set sail. Their 

route took them into the North Sea, 

through Dover Straits, and west through 

the English Channel. For Jan, it was the 

worst part of the trip. They bobbed about 

like a cork most of their first night out. 

Then it started to blow. "Oh I didn’t like 

England," she says with a shiver. "Wind 

and waves were on the nose, I was half 

sick and frozen...I remember thinking, 

`Why did I volunteer for this?’" 

After a stop in Southampton to have the 

radar repaired, they set course for the 

Azores. With just three people on board, 

devising a good watch system is a 

challenge. Tate would go off for a nap at 4 

pm. At 6 pm, Jan would make sandwiches 

to be eaten during the night, and then go off 

watch. Martin would relieve Bob at 10 pm 

and stand until 2 am alone, when both Jan 

and Bob would relieve him. At first light, Bob 

would leave Jan on watch alone until either 

Martin or Bob awoke. Once into the rhythm, 

Crandall says the system worked well. 

Two hundred and fifty miles out of 

Southampton, Arway’s water maker quit. 

Seven days from the Azores, they 

decided to press on with the 70 

remaining gallons of water. They used 

salt water for the toilets and for cooking 

when possible, rationed coffee, and 

eliminated showers. They made it by 

draining the hot water tank the last day 

for coffee. It turned out all the water 

maker needed was a larger fuse. 

On leg two, 450 miles out of the Azores 

bound for Bermuda, they encountered 

their first storm. Half a day into it, Arway’s 

electronics failed, from boat speed 

indicator to autopilot. With a crew of 

three, the autopilot is a very valuable 

player. With 1,700 miles to Bermuda, there 

was nothing to do but turn back. They ran 

smack into a larger storm, with 50-knot 

winds and 15-foot seas. "Sailing at night, 

in high winds and blinding rain and big

seas, without an autopilot, and with seas 

breaking over the bow every few seconds, 

is a scary experience," Crandall says. 

"And it was cold." 

Martin Tate says returning to the Azores to 

get the electronics fixed was the right 

decision. "It was his call," Tate says, "and 

a good one. But the thing about Mr. 

Crandall is that if he suggests a course of 

action, and I disagree, if he takes my point 

he’ll be quick to say he likes my plan 

better. The Crandalls are the two most 

honest people I’ve ever met. Honest and 

direct. You don’t get anywhere with him if 

you aren’t straightforward. And he’s got a 

phenomenal memory." 

With the help of Crandall’s ex-colleagues 

at American, an Oyster technician was 

flown to the Azores with a bag of spare 

parts. Jan topped off the freezer with a 

few more of the Azores’ delicious farmraised 

chickens, and they were off for 

Bermuda. The rest of the passage was 

trouble-free. Jan made bread every other 

day, and her chicken dishes (stir-fries with 

vegetables; casseroles) kept the crew 

happy. They entered the harbour in 

Newport, Rhode Island, two months after 

leaving Ipswich. 

Five years later, Martin Tate remains 

Arway’s skipper. "Mr Crandall made me an 

offer I couldn’t refuse," Tate says with a 

chuckle. The boat usually winters in the 

Caribbean, hauls out in Norfolk or 

Annapolis for a spring face-lift, and then 

meanders toward Gloucester, 

Massachusetts, where the Crandalls have 

a summer home. They sail out of 

Gloucester all summer on practically a 

daily basis, and cruise Maine with friends 

when possible. Winters are divided 

among visits to the boat, a Florida 

condominium, and Dallas, where they 

can be close to their daughter and 

many friends. 

Dallas is also a good central base for 

Crandall, who sits on four corporate 

boards of directors. And with the airline 

industry in serious financial difficulty given 

the sluggish economy, concerns about 

safety and 9/11 - and war-generated 

nervousness about being away from home, 

Crandall is in demand as a speaker. 

In a speech in Las Vegas last October, 

Crandall took off on the "hassle factor," one 

of his pet peeves. "A friend of mine said 

recently that the U.S. doesn’t have a 

security system - it has a system for 

bothering people." During his tenure at 

American, Crandall was known as a tough 

labour negotiator, and he spoke about that 

aspect as well: "Every major airline’s labour 

contracts must be dramatically modified to 

bring labour costs closer to those borne by 

the so-called `low cost’ carriers." And he 

had his old CEO hat firmly in place when he 

addressed the industry’s future: "There will 

be lots of restructuring and perhaps more 

than a few bankruptcies..." 

Crandall enjoys speaking to business 

school students. "It’s tough out there right 

now," he says. "It’s a less civilised world 

with lots of bad examples. Political leaders 

are dishonest. And the level of respect for 

business leaders is low because too many 

are cheating. So I tell the students that 

while the time and tools and techniques 

are new, the fundamentals are the same. 

The problem is that a lot of what we older 

guys learned as kids from our families – 

ethical and honest behaviour, the value of 

hard work – are no longer taught as 

fundamentals. Do unto others is still a 

good guideline for an ethical world. Good 

behaviour is still about self-discipline. 

Morals and manners are valuable tools. I 

tell the students, look in the mirror. If you 

see a cheat and a liar, there’s not much I 

can do about it." 

It’s hard to imagine that while still very 

involved in the business world, and living 

close to the corporate headquarters of 

American Airlines, Bob Crandall doesn’t 

think about what he would be doing in 

these troubled times if he were still 

American’s CEO. "Sure, I think about that 

all the time," he said. "And I wonder 

whether I might have done some things 

differently, and how they might have come 

out. But I don’t have the facts, the data, or 

the opportunity to do anything anyway, so 

all I can do now is think, and talk to Jan. 

She’s totally informed." 

Jan just smiled. 

Roger Vaughan 

Bob and Jan Crandall 

‘ For 25 years Bob 

Crandall applied his 

pragmatic, plainspoken 

approach to American 

Airlines with mostly 

spectacular results 

’ 

© American Airlines images are reproduced with the kind pernission of American Airlines and are protected by copyright. www.oystermarine.com 

25

SAIL TRIM 

Welcome to the second in 

our series on getting the 

best from your sails. In the 

first article we looked at 

headsails, the tension 

applied to them and the 

effect on your yacht's 

handling and performance. 

In this issue we are taking 

a closer look at mainsails. 

We will consider their 

settings and adjustments, 

relationship to the headsail 

and overall sail care. 

Windward sailing is where 

attention to detail in sail 

trim creates most impact. 

This applies particularly 

to mainsail trimming. 

To windward the main 

needs to be set relatively 

flat (compared to the 

headsail). Adjusting the 

halyard, outhaul, backstay, 

and to a lesser extent the 

battens, will have a 

noticeable effect on 

performance. 


By Matthew Vincent of Dolphin Sails 

HALYARDS 

As with the headsail, once the main is up, the halyard tension will be the first control you need to 

check. The tension should be enough to just remove the horizontal wrinkles that occur in the luff. 

This should set the draft at the correct position, which is approximately 45-50% aft in the sail. 

You can check this by looking up the sail from the centre of the boom, where you can judge the 

draft position by the seams or draft stripes. 

Older sails, and in particular those made from Dacron, tend to lose their shape. As a result the 

draft will increase and move further aft. This means you will find it difficult to flatten the mainsail 

sufficiently and consequently a reduction in overall performance will occur. 

OUTHAUL 

When windward sailing in a breeze (Force 3-4+), you need to apply firm outhaul tension. Doing so 

will maintain a desired 5-9% draft in the lower sections of the main. More draft will increase 

backwind in the sail, likely to produce weather helm and a decrease in performance. 

BACKSTAY 

Increasing the tension in an adjustable backstay will straighten the forestay and flatten the 

headsail. Depending on your rig type, this may also have a flattening effect on the mainsail, which 

is desirable for windward performance. 

BATTENS 

Battens are best considered as relatively passive in your sail. A good sail is cut so that the battens 

will blend into the shape of your main. However, a sign that increased batten tension could 

improve your performance is when vertical wrinkles occur across the battens. (Note: The windward 

side of your main, which is in compression, will tend to look more wrinkly than the leeward side). In 

vertical furling mains the battens will be sewn into the sail and will not be adjustable. 

For off wind sailing, in order to deepen the sail and therefore generate more power in your main, 

a good rule of thumb is to decrease the halyard tension by approximately 0.5% of the luff length, 

and the outhaul by up to 1.5% of the foot length. You will also need to reduce any applied 

backstay tension. 

Once the overall shape has been set using these controls, the sheet, vang (kicker) and traveller 

are then used to position the sail relative to the centreline and headsail. 

MAINSAIL AND HEADSAIL INTERACTION 

A bird's eye view of a yacht (diagram) shows us that when sailing to windward, the headsail is set 

at a relatively wide angle from the centreline at 11-13 degrees (slightly less on performance 

boats), compared to the mainsail, which is set at an angle of 0-10 degrees. This indicates that the 

headsail provides more of the forward drive, whilst the main, which operates in a permanent 

header (from the headsail), is set closer to the centreline, and should be thought as more of a 

steering and helm balancing sail. 

TRAVELLER SHEET AND VANG 

The best way to judge if the sails are well trimmed is to feel it through the helm balance. You 

should be seeking to minimize rudder movement and keep it within a 0-5 degree band. For 

example, say you are sailing to windward in about 12 knots of breeze; the sails are well set, the 

main is near the centreline; the helm is nicely balanced, then a strong gust strikes your boat. She 

could be kept on track by applying excessive helm. However, a much better move is to ease 

down the traveller. Enough traveller should be eased to keep the helm within the 0-5 degree 

band. You will lose a little pointing ability for a moment. More importantly though you will be able 

to keep the helm straight, your boat on track and you will probably increase boat speed. As the 

gust passes, you can trim the traveller back up. Easing the traveller is preferable to easing the 

sheet or vang, as pointing ability is more easily maintained. A consequence of easing the traveller 

down may be to increase the backwind in the main. Moderate backwinding is preferable to 

excessive helm use.

The headsail develops a larger 

force, because it is fuller than the 

main. This force acts in a more 

advantageous forward direction 

because it is set at a wider angle to 

the centreline. Therefore if either 

sail is eased out (set at a wider 

angle) the drive forces will propel 

the boat faster, although this will be 

at the expense of pointing ability. 

Yacht centreline 

Side or 

heel force 

Total force 

Good vertical shot showing relative sheeting angles of Main and Headsail 

Forward 

drive force 

Side or 

heel force 

Total force 

Forward 

drive force 


27

FACT BOX 

As with any sail, regular inspection of 

the sail for chafe and general 

wear and tear will be of benefit in the 

long run, and reduce repair bills. 

Particular attention should be paid to 

batten pockets where they may 

touch spreaders or shrouds. Chafe 

protection patches should be applied 

in the area of the spreaders. Carry 

spares in your sail repair kit. 

Pay particular attention when folding 

away mainsails ensuring battens lie 

flat, not twisted, and the sail is curled 

rather than creased along edges. 

Annual washing removes salt and dirt 

which work their way into the 

fibres of the sail and cause damage. 

After use ease the halyard, outhaul 

and batten pocket tensions, 

particularly if they have been heavily 

tensioned. 

Always cover your mainsail with the 

sail cover after use, particularly in 

areas of extended sun exposure. 

RECOMMENDED READING 

Easy reading: Looking at Sail, 

Bruce Banks and Dick Kenny 

Medium reading: The Art and 

Science of Sail Making, Tom Whidden 

Reference book level: The Aero/ 

Hydrodynamics of Sailing, 

Tony Marchjai 

Other interesting reading: 

Sail Power, Wallace Ross 

More to do with racing but 

nonetheless an interesting insight: 

Winning in One Designs: 

Robert Hopkins 


REEFING 

If the main is constantly 

backwinding and perhaps even 

wiping out (totally backwinding 

from luff to leach), it is time to 

consider reefing. Most boats will 

benefit from reducing headsail size 

first. Either set a reduced foot 

length sail or roll some headsail 

away. Once the headsail has been 

reduced to the point where the 

clew has reached the mast and 

wind conditions are still too strong, 

then look to reef the mainsail. 

Generally it is best to try and match 

the leach profiles of the main and 

headsails (see Article 1 - Headsails). 

If you have moved the headsail 

sheeting car back a little to open up 

the genoa leach in slightly over 

pressed conditions, you should try 

to match the leach profile of the 

mainsail. You can achieve this by 

twisting the main leach by easing 

the sheet or vang a little. 

Additionally if the headsail is eased 

then the main should be eased. 

WINDWARD SAILING MODES 

When sailing to windward, you 

should try to decide which mode 

you wish to sail in. There are two 

Good comparison of high traveller and closed 

leach with eased traveller and more open leach 

modes. Mode one when sailing close to the wind is referred to as high pointing mode. Mode two, 

which is still sailing close to the wind but slightly further away from it, is called footing mode. You 

can judge which mode by watching the mainsail's upper leach telltales. 

When high pointing (mode one), is desirable, the upper leach telltales should be stalling about 

50% of the time. This means, having applied more leach tension through the sheet and or vang, 

the telltales should disappear behind the main about 50% of the time. High pointing is excellent 

to make a weather mark or keep above another yacht’s dirty air. 

When footing (mode two) the upper leach telltales always stream aft. This is achieved by reducing 

tension on the sheet and or vang. Incidentally this is how the main should always be set when 

sailing off wind. Footing is slightly quicker and is best used when you know you are going to lay 

the mark or you believe there will be an imminent wind shift. 

The overall difference in speed between high pointing and footing is approximately 10% of your 

overall boat speed. Whilst you may seek to adopt one of the modes, by necessity you often find 

you are working between the two. 

An appreciation of why you may want to be in either mode generates a better feel for sail trim. 

It also helps bring an awareness of where you would like to be on the course both strategically 

(your position relative to the conditions) and tactically (your position relative to the other boats). 

In the next issue we will be looking at the art of offwind sailing with reference to spinnaker and 

cruising chute setting and trimming.

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PUBLICIS

Antigua on the

Half Shell 

Pearls provided by Oyster 

Roger Vaughan reports on Oyster's 3rd Antigua Regatta 

SPONSORED BY 

Raymarine 

ON BOARD

ENTRY LIST 

Iain Mellows/ 

Mike & Betty Starr 

Severence Oyster 39 

Peter & Anne Thomson Muskrat Oyster 406 

Roger & Valerie Ellison Nosille Oyster 435 

Edward Ducket Gallivanter II Oyster 41 

Paul & Diane May Taboo of St Helier Oyster 45 

John & Sonia Marshall Josbarrola Oyster 45 

Mike & Jane Gerard-Pearse Iona Bess Oyster 45 

Gerald & Anne-Marie 

Goetgeluck 

Crescendo Oyster 45 

Keith & Maureen Mills Frequent Flyer Oyster 485 

Carl Mischka 

& Linda Emmons 

Ti Amo Oyster 485 

Doug & Linda Garde Ariel Oyster 485 

Robin & Birgitta Fowler Sunbird Oyster 49 

John & Barbara Podbury Crackerjack Oyster 53 

Andrew Orr Magically Happens Oyster 55 

Mike Dickinson 

& Deborah Johnson 

Renee Two Oyster 56 

Jonathan & Jane Mould Kuyenda Oyster 56 

Roger & Rosemary Harding Oyster Rose II Oyster 56 

Mark & Jo Blythe Luskentyre Oyster 56 

David & Susan Hibbitt Grace Oyster 56 

James and Marina Siepiela Avolare Oyster 56 

Lee Button Crazy Daisy Oyster 56 

Barry & Jeanne Green Kathara Oyster 56 

Casey & Melanie Fannin Bliss Oyster 56 

Hannes & Steffi Fehring Rasmus Oyster 61 

Terry & Mollie King-Smith Dorado of Beaulieu Oyster 62 

Robert & Sally Gillespie Sarita of Iken Oyster 66 

David & Linda Hughes Miss Molly Oyster 66 

Ron Mika Altair Oyster 68 

Jose Alvarez Starry Night Oyster 68 

Bill Dockser Ravenous Oyster 70 

Oyster 485, Ariel 

Oyster 56, Kathara 

Oyster 56, Crazy Daisy 

Oyster 68, Altair 

Oyster 56, Grace

Oyster 45, Taboo 

Oyster 66, Sarita 

Oyster 56 Avolare 

UBS Oyster Regatta Antigua 2003 


‘ We had a wonderful 

week and I now know 

that Oyster not only 

build the best sail boat 

but put on the best 

beach party ’ 

BARRY GREEN, OYSTER 56, KATHARA 


Mark Blythe, Oyster 56 Luskentyre

Green Island 

Each celebrant held two glasses. One 

contained water. In the other was a "tot" 

- one-half gill (one-eighth of an imperial pint) - 

of Mount Gay Rum, the colour of rich 

mahogany in the waning sun. Mount Gay 

had been grudgingly approved for that day by 

the Royal Navy Tot Club of Antigua and 

Barbuda, host of this special Oyster tot. The 

club’s rum of choice is Pussars, made to the 

recipe of the Royal Navy’s official daily rum 

ration (unpopularly discontinued in 1972). 

Since Mount Gay is a most welcome sponsor 

of the Oyster Regatta, the club yielded, much 

to the relief of all who would partake. 

Antiguan Mike Rose, a dedicated Tot Club 

stalwart and Oyster’s race officer for the week 

– compatible jobs if ever they existed - read 

several excerpts of naval encounters with the 

French from The Royal Navy Day by Day for 

April 12 in the late 1700s. Then he instructed 

those gathered to cleanse their palates with a 

sip of water. He recited the Saturday toast 

that all repeated: "Sweethearts and wives, 

may they never meet. And the Queen, God 

Bless her." On cue, everyone knocked back 

his half-gill of Mount Gay, and the UBS 

Oyster Regatta Antigua 2003 was off to a 

lusty, eye-watering start. 

Mountainous, rocky Antigua was hot and 

crispy in April. The rainy season had not lived 

up to expectations, and now the strong wind 

was incessant under blue skies where puffy 

white cumulus clouds loomed. 

Sunday’s run (a non-race) from English 

Harbour to Green Island off the eastern tip 

of Antigua was a rolling power reach in 25knots. 

On board Starry Night, the Oyster 68 

being sailed for the week by Oyster 

Chairman and founder, Richard Matthews, 

we were grateful for the shade of the big 

Bimini. Starry hit double figures on the 

speedo the whole way under shortened 

sails, and we were at ease in the big seas. 

But it was a relief to 

tuck in under Green 

Island in time 

for lunch, 

and prepare 

for the 

afternoon’s 

Games by 

inflating eight 

Lilo swimming 

pool rafts. It 

looked like 


Terry King-Smiths, 62, Dorado Mathilda and Murdo Blythe, with crew Fabrizia 

Promptly at 1800 on Saturday, April 12, a hundred or more owners and guests participating in the UBS Oyster Regatta 

Antigua 2003 gathered at Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, in an impressive circle around the huge capstans once 

used for careening ships. In an even more impressive 270º arc behind them, 34 Oyster yachts from 39 to 70 feet were 

moored stern-to along the old stone bulkhead behind a web of crisscrossing lines. 

The ladies lilo racing 

was hotly contested 

an impossible job until Starry Night’s 

exemplary skipper, Phillip Scully, came up 

with the perfect electric pump. You need it? 

Chances are Phillip’s got it. 

There were more than a dozen children aged 

from two to twelve on board Oysters in the 

regatta. With that (and the Easter holiday) in 

mind, the first event ashore was an egg hunt. 

Mike Rose and his crew had hit the beach 

early and hidden six dozen ceramic eggs 

amid the prickly tangle of foliage behind the 

beach. On a signal, children and adults 

crashed into the brush. Soon shrieks of 

delight mingled with muffled grunts of pain 

as eggs were discovered, and sharp flora 

encountered. 

Next were the Lilo races. The idea was to 

paddle the flimsy rafts around an anchored 

boat after a running start off the beach. 

In the adult division, this event was totally 

silly, pure Monty Python. After a spirited run 

with raft poised, when the likes of David 

Hughes (Miss Molly) and Richard Matthews 

flopped onto their Lilos , they went down like 

mighty oaks while the slippery rafts popped 

to the surface. Richard is still trying to find 

out who put his name on the entry list. The 

ladies had better luck, while the children, 

being the lightest fared the best. 

The tugs of war brought out the group’s true 

competitive spirit. Teams of three went at it 

for more than an hour, alternately gritting 

their teeth and collapsing with laughter as 

they tried to drag each other through the 

shallows. The Games were well attended, 

participation enthusiastic. 

Dinner that night was at celebrated Harmony 

Hall on the mainland toward the western end 

of Nonsuch Bay. The Oyster fleet motored 


35

sedately across from Green Island as the sun 

was setting. Everyone went ashore by dinghy 

and walked up the steep, candle-lit path into 

the manicured charm of the hilltop resort. 

Originally Brown’s sugar mill, part of the huge 

Montpellier Plantation, Harmony’s stone 

tower and main storage buildings were 

elegantly restored 23 years ago. Only the 

grand buffet presented by Harmony Hall can 

compete with the beauty of the surroundings. 

First-timers had been warned to pace 

themselves. So many intriguing tastes 

combined with the vast quantity of food 

presented a gastronomic challenge. We 

sampled marinated conch and mahi-mahi 

salads; mixed vegetables and fish tempura 

on seaweed; home made mozzarella tomato 

and basil salad; polenta medallions with four 

cheese sauce; and a dozen other treats 

before moving on to entreés of home-made 

lasagne; a variety of quiches and meat 

pasties. We staggered up to the dessert table 

and tried to choose among lemon and 

chocolate profiteroles, tiramisu, white 

‘ This bunch of cruising 

sailors, who love to 

joke about how tacking 

more than once a week 

is bad behavior, were 

all showing the early 

symptoms of race fever ’ 


chocolate cheese cake, lemon tarte, zuppa 

inglese, and killer chocolate cake. The smart 

diners opted for a plate of samples. 

The first race was on Monday, a 33-mile run 

north to Barbuda, Antigua’s companion island. 

Big winds and seas on the nose had cancelled 

last year’s trip to Barbuda, but this year the 

wind was astern. I joined owner Iain Mellows, 

who now lives in Jolly Harbour, Antigua, his 

brother Mike Starr and Mike’s wife Betty, on 

Severence, the oldest and smallest Oyster in 

the fleet (39). Iain and Mike’s father, Frank 

Mellows, bought Severence when he was 70 

years old, and sailed her thousands of miles 

around the Caribbean for ten years. Now 

Iain is in command, and he put 

Severence across the starting line 

within 10 seconds of the gun, well 

ahead of the rest of Class II (under 

55'). After a hull-speed broad reach 

for an hour, the wind suddenly 

dropped to nothing. Soon we were 

making under a knot of speed. 

Then it began to rain. Sitting in our 

rain jackets with the mains’l snapping as the 

boat rolled in the sloppy seas, Betty Starr 

began to laugh. "This," she said goodnaturedly, 

"isn’t quite what the brochure 

offered." Not long afterwards, Iain started the 

engine in the interest of getting to Barbuda 

before dark. All the boats would be too late for 

the promised visit to Barbuda’s renowned 

frigate bird sanctuary, something to look 

forward to another year. 

The fleet were 

entertained by a 

spectacular 

firedancer at 

Ffryes Beach

The barbecue on Barbuda’s south beach was 

spectacular, and well worth the exercise of 

bringing the dinghies in through the tricky 

surge. More than one couple arrived soaked 

from being flipped out of their RIBS. But the 

night was balmy, the moon approaching full, 

and the anchor lights of the fleet 

hovering over the sea like fireflies 

were mesmerizing. The children 

were busy building 

David and Linda Hughes, 66, Miss Molly was 

an easy winner of the Concours d'Elegance 

sand castles on a coral sand beach so 

smooth the water-slick surface reflected 

images as the waves receded. 

Volunteers Sandy and Andy Burridge, who 

formerly skippered Bill Dockser’s Oyster 70, 

Ravenous, had prepared over 

900 skewers of 

marinated shrimp, 

lamb, beef, 

‘ The children were 

busy building sand 

castles on a coral sand 

beach so smooth the 

water-slick surface 

reflected images as the 

waves receded ’ 

chicken, and seafood that were cooking on 

two large charcoal grills. The salads and rice 

dishes and grilled vegetables were laid out in 

profusion, and the bar was doing brisk 

business. One had to pause amid the 

festivities to marvel at the work involved, the 

amount of gear that had been landed on the 

beach under the difficult conditions– tents, 

tables, huge coolers full of ice and beer, 

cases of wine, soft drinks and liquor, lights to 

be strung on the tents and generators to 

power them, and all the food. It was a huge 

operation, and two on the fetch-and-tote end 

were directors of Oyster Marine – just sailors 

pitching in. It was impressive. For dessert, 

Richard’s partner Denette Wilkinson 

appeared with a tray as big as her piled high 

with delicious brownies and carrot cake. By 

midnight, there wasn’t so much as a bottle 

top left on the beach. 


Tuesday’s race from Barbuda back to a finish 

off Jolly Harbour on Antigua’s west coast was 

the sail and the race of the week. Overnight 

the wind shifted 180 degrees and piped up to 

25 knots, providing a rail-down broad reach. I 

joined David and Linda Hughes and their 

captain and mate - Mark and Charlotte 

("Charlie") Durham -- on the Hughes’ third 

Miss Molly, an Oyster 66. Hughes, who hails 

from Hampshire, England, the few months 

each year when he’s not sailing, is a rugged, 

gregarious man with a shock of straight hair 

bleached platinum from the sun. His blue 

eyes are mischievous. A country/western, 

rock and roll guitar player whose hero is 

Chuck Berry, Hughes keeps his axe on board 

and will launch into "Johnny Be Good" at a 

moment’s notice. David and Linda have sailed 

literally hundreds of thousands of miles 

together since their marriage 36 years ago, 

including a circumnavigation in their previous 

Oyster 55. So in the pre-start when David was 

going on about how they were "just a bunch 

of bumpkins from Hampshire" when it came 

to racing, I welcomed the grains of salt 

coming aboard. 

With 8 minutes to the start, Hughes made a 

close pass by Mike Rose and the race 

committee aboard the Trojan 44 Express, 

Blue Martini. On cue, Charlie flipped the 

switch on the stereo and Little Richard’s 

version of "Good Golly Miss Molly" blasted 

out of the cockpit speakers at full volume. 

Mike Rose grimaced and held his ears. With 

two minutes to the start, Hughes dropped the 

boat smartly into a weather berth. When the 

gun went off Miss Molly had a full head of 

steam at the committee boat end. After that, 

all you could say was "good golly" as the 

boat blasted toward Antigua. We rolled up 

two feet of mainsail to ease the weather helm 

pressure, and kept the pedal to the metal. 

"This," David Hughes said from the leeward 

helm with a big smile, "is big boat sailing." 

Three hours later we rounded the special 

mark off Reed’s Point and commenced a 

two-mile weather leg to the finish that 

bunched the fleet. The wind coming off the 

hills was fluctuating wildly in both speed and 

direction. Molly tacked in a header and 

gained on the three boats ahead of us. 

Astern, the smaller, more maneuverable 

boats were closing. The finish was full-on 

excitement as four of us were separated by 

as many boat lengths. Enhancing the drama, 

cameraman George Johns clattered above us 

in a helicopter to capture the moment on 

video. David Hughes was beside himself. 

We’d logged over 11 knots for thirty miles, 

and now this spectacular finish. Only Little 

Richard could put a stinger on the day. 

Charlie cranked up the volume. 

The fleet anchored off Ffryes beach and for a 

while all was quiet as the nap flags were 

raised. It wasn’t the racing that took its toll. 

The crews were gathering strength for the pig 

roast that evening on the beach. The real 

challenge of the week was the array of 

gourmet dining that had been planned. 


37


‘ Thank you and the 

Oyster team for a very 

memorable week. 

Having organised a 

few customer activities 

myself in the past 

I appreciate how 

much effort and work 

is needed and we 

really enjoyed it ’ 

TERRY KING-SMITH, 

OYSTER 62, DORADO OF BEAULIEU 

Rasmus, Hannes and Steffi Fehring's Oyster 61 won the UBS Class 1 Trophy 

‘ It wasn’t the racing 

that took its toll…the 

real challenge of the 

week was the array of 

gourmet dining that had 

been planned ’ 

At sunset the dinghies began landing on the 

beach. The generators were humming; the 

Mount Gay bar opened for business, and it 

was all on once again. 

Wednesday was a lay day, spelled g-o-l-f. 

It rained, of course, but just long enough to 

soften the sun-baked fairways of the Jolly 

Harbour Golf Club. Many went off on sight 

seeing and shopping expeditions, but 42 

showed up for a Texas Scramble tournament 

with a shotgun start. Carts and clubs were 

lined up, and three balls apiece and tees 

were provided by Chartering International 

Limited, one of the event’s sponsors. A local 

golfer chuckled when he was handed his 

pack of balls. "These should last about 4 

holes," he said, and headed for the pro shop 

for more. Several of us thought it prudent to 

follow him. 

Gourmet dining 

at Harmony Hall

I teamed up with Andrew Orr, owner of the 

Oyster 55, Magically Happens. Our foursome 

included Don Jeffers and Gary Jacques, 

Andrew’s crew. Andrew said the name of the 

boat came from the oil and gas software 

company he and Don had put together. "I 

was the ideas guy. I used to tell them if we 

did this and that, the rest would magically 

happen," Andrew said. "And it did." Don, the 

software creator, laughed. "The magic only 

took five years." 

The Jolly Harbour course is flat, short, and 

hazardous with mud flats, sand traps the 

consistency of concrete, lots of water, and 

noisy sheep in the gallery. We lost a bunch of 

balls, as promised. Andrew and I managed 

an 82, while Don and Gary zapped us with a 

79. Don’s 24 handicap – 24!!?? Yep, he’s a 

software creator – helped net them a 65, but 

it wasn’t good enough to win. Rosemary 

Harding and her son Neil (Oyster Rose II, a 

56) won with a net of 49. 

Thursday the fleet motored half way around 

Antigua to Great Bird Island. It was a singlefile 

procession through a narrow, winding 

coral channel led by Andy Burridge on Altair 

(68). The day was overcast, and the wind 

continued to howl over 25, which made the 

serpentine formation of 30 Oysters even 

more impressive. Other cruising boats 

paused to marvel at the sight. That evening 

the third beach picnic was compressed by 

high tide, which didn’t leave much terra 

firma. But by now we were old hands at 

simultaneously balancing plates of delicacies, 

managing a drink, and making amusing 

conversation. 

The previous Sunday someone had turned 

the wind on high and forgot to shut it off. 

Friday it was honking out of the north, 

providing more, good reaching for the race 

around the buoys starting off Boon Point, the 

northernmost tip of Antigua. The first leg of 

race 3 was marred by a collision between the 

Oyster 68, Altair and the 56, Avolare. 

Fortunately crews escaped serious injury but 

Avolare’s owner, Jim Siepiela, did spend a 

night ashore under observation with broken 

ribs. Both Siepiela and his wife, Marina, 

shrugged it off in the name of sport, and 

Photos: Tim Wright 

Oyster 41, Gallivanter II The Tug-of-War, Green Island 

received a huge round of applause from the 

fleet at the prize giving party, a class act. On 

the plus side, both boats took the hit without 

major damage, a tribute to the strength built 

into Oysters. 

The course took the fleet around Sandy 

Island, a tiny lump of sand just off the coast 

of the capital St. Johns, still marked by the 

wreck of a small coaster that decided to 

take the overland route into town. The finish 

was in azure blue water just off Dickenson 

Bay, followed by a surprisingly good party 

and dinner at the Sandals Hotel resort on 

the beach. 

Saturday’s final race around the island from 

north to south – Boon Point to Curtain Bluff – 

featured more spray flying in a brisk 

northeasterly. I sailed on Rasmus (61) with 

owners Hannes and Steffi Fehring, and 

Oyster commissioning and customer care 

representative, Will White. Will, at the wheel, 

put Rasmus across the starting line with 

good speed at the weather end. We were first 

to the short weather mark, and off like a shot 

for the turn at Pelican Island on the 

southwest corner of Antigua with the fleet in 

hot pursuit. 

We hardened up at Pelican, and so did the 

wind. Puffs registered over 30 knots true 

several times. We played the beach for 

smoother seas and port tack lifts, exciting 

stuff as Rasmus sailed alongside breaking 

reefs for minutes at a time. At the finish off 

Curtain Bluff we mingled briefly with some of 

the eye-popping classic yachts whose 

Antigua meeting overlapped the Oyster 

regatta by one day. 

That night we gathered at Abracadabra's 

restaurant in English Harbour for dinner and 

awards. The fact that the last revelers stayed 

into the wee hours of the morning was 

testament to a week that no one wanted to 

end. Conversation focused on two elements. 

One was the racing. This bunch of cruising 

sailors, who love to joke about how tacking 

more than once a week is bad behavior, 

were all showing the early symptoms of race 

fever. Some were overheard talking about 

rudder sizes and shapes, while others 


contemplated 

weight that 

could be eliminated 

by draining tanks. 

The other discussion was an appreciation 

of the children at the regatta. Everyone found 

their presence entertaining, lively, and totally 

charming at times. Several of the girls, aged 

around five to seven, lent considerable 

sparkle to prizes-of-the-day ceremonies by 

dressing in tulle and sequined ball gowns. 

Their good mothers had these beauties 

stowed aboard for just such occasions. The 

parents admitted being a bit nervous about 

bringing their children to the regatta. But after 

communicating with one another, they 

developed security in numbers. Mike 

Gerrard-Pearse (Iona Bess, 45) said the 

Regatta had been a big hit from a parent’s 

point of view. At week’s end he said that 

while he didn’t score well in the racing, he 

figured the first, second, and third registered 

by him and his crew (wife Jane, daughters 

Emily, 7, and Annabel, 5) in the Green Island 

Games should have gotten Iona Bess first 

overall for the week. 

Racing in the Trades upon Antigua’s striking 

turquoise waters is a joy recognized around 

the world. Combine that with a dazzling array 

of dinners and beach parties, the 

camaraderie enjoyed by the Oyster family of 

owners and staff, and – well – it’s a whole lot 

better than what the brochure offers. 

Roger Vaughan 


39

UBS OYSTER REGATTA – ANTIGUA 2003 - RESULTS 

BEST OVERALL CLASS 1 UBS TROPHY 

1st Oyster 61 Rasmus Hannes Fehring 

2nd Oyster 56 Oyster Rose II Roger Harding 

3rd Oyster 70 Ravenous Bill Dockser 

4th Oyster 56 Kuyenda Jonathon Mould 

BEST OVERALL CLASS 2 UBS TROPHY 

1st Oyster 41 Gallivanter II Ed Duckett 

2nd Oyster 45 Josbarrola John Marshall 

3rd Oyster 49 Sunbird Robin Fowler 

4th Oyster 55 Magically Happens Andrew Orr 

BEST OYSTER 56 – THE YACHTING WORLD TROPHY 

Oyster Rose II Roger Harding 

BEST OVERALL – BOTH CLASSES 

1st Galleon Beach Prize Oyster 61 Rasmus Hannes Fehring 

2nd Mount Gay Prize Oyster 56 Oyster Rose II Roger Harding 

3rd Mount Gay Prize Oyster 70 Ravenous Bill Dockser 

4th Lord Jim's Locker Prize Oyster 56 Kuyenda Jonathon Mould 

RACE 1 SPONSORED BY RAYMARINE 

Class 1 1st Oyster 68 Altair Jeff Hill 


3rd Oyster 70 Ravenous Bill Dockser 

4th Oyster 61 Rasmus Hannes Fehring 

Class 2 1st Oyster 49 Sunbird Robin Fowler 

2nd Oyster 45 Taboo Paul May 

3rd Oyster 41 Gallivanter II Ed Duckett 


RACE 2 SPONSORED BY LEWMAR 

Class 1 1st Oyster 61 Rasmus Hannes Fehring 

2nd Oyster 68 Altair Jeff Hill 

3rd Oyster 62 Dorado of Beaulieu Terry King-Smith 

4th Oyster 56 Grace David Hibbitt 

Class 2 1st Oyster 39 Severence Iain Mellows 


3rd Oyster 55 Magically Happens Andrew Orr 

4th Oyster 41 Gallivanter II Ed Duckett 

RACE 3 SPONSORED BY HOOD YACHT SPARS 

Class 1 1st Oyster 56 Oyster Rose II Roger Harding 

2nd Oyster 70 Ravenous Bill Dockser 

3rd Oyster 61 Rasmus Hannes Fehring 

4th Oyster 56 Kuyenda Jonathon Mould 

Class 2 1st Oyster 49 Sunbird Robin Fowler 

2nd Oyster 41 Gallivanter II Ed Duckett 

3rd Oyster 45 Josbarrola John Marshall 


RACE 4 SPONSORED BY PANTAENIUS 

Class 1 1st Oyster 56 Kuyenda Jonathon Mould 


3rd Oyster 61 Rasmus Hannes Fehring 

4th Oyster 66 Miss Molly David Hughes 

Class 2 1st Oyster 41 Gallivanter II Ed Duckett 


3rd Oyster 55 Magically Happens Andrew Orr 

4th Oyster 485 Frequent Flyer Keith Mills 

CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE Presented by Sevenstar Yacht Shipping 

Best Yacht in Class 1 Oyster 66 Miss Molly David Hughes 

Best Oyster 56 Oyster 56 Grace David Hibbitt 

CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE Presented by Antigua Rigging 

Best Yacht in Class 2 Oyster 485 Frequent Flyer Keith Mills 

Best over 10 years old Oyster 39 Severence Iain Mellows 

SPIRIT OF THE REGATTA PRIZE Presented by Mount Gay 

Oyster 56 Avolare Jim & Marina Siepiela 


Yachting World trophy 

winner, Roger Harding, 

owner of the top scoring 

56, Oyster Rose II

Hannes and Steffi Fehring 

with the crew of Rasmus 

Bill Dockser's Oyster 70 

Ravenous, a participant at 

every Oyster Antigua 

regatta, leads the 68, Altair 

Ed Ducket and the crew of Gallivanter II, winners of the UBS Class 2 trophy 

GREEN ISLAND GAMES 

EASTER EGG HUNT 

1st Frequent Flyer 

2nd (JOINT) Iona Bess and Sarita 

3rd Nosille 

LILO OLYMPICS 

Mens 1st Mike Langford Gallivanter II 

2nd Mark Blythe Luskentyre 

3rd Mike Gerard-Pearse Iona Bess 

Ladies Charlie Durham Miss Molly 

Juniors 1st Emilia Ellison Nosille 

2nd Pippa Ellison Nosille 

3rd Hamish Blythe Luskentyre 

Juniors 1st Emily Gerard-Pearse Iona Bess 

TUG OF WAR 

1st Scottish Fish 

2nd Gallivanter II 

3rd Renee II 

GOLF MATCH 

SPONSORED BY CHARTERING INTERNATIONAL 

1st Sandy Mair & John Shaw 

2nd John & Barbara Podbury 

3rd Rosemary Harding & Neil Harding 

Longest Drive (mens) John Marshall 

Longest Drive (ladies) Barbara Podbury 

Nearest the Pin (mens) Roger Ellison 

Nearest the Pin (ladies) Jeanne Green 

‘ An extraordinary 

and wonderful 

UBS Oyster 

Regatta ’ 

BILL DOCKSER, 

OYSTER 70, 

RAVENOUS 


41

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Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 

 

2003 ARC 

PREVIEW 

OYSTER TAKES TOP SPOT 

Once again, ARC entries have eclipsed the previous year with the 

ARC2003 entry list closing after the 225th yacht – the maximum 

number - was accepted on 9 May, two weeks earlier than last 

year’s record breaker. 

Commenting on the continuing success of the ARC, director of 

World Cruising Club, Andrew Bishop, said: "Last year was 

incredible, with a full list much earlier than expected, however 

entries for this year have been steadily flooding in since the end 

of ARC2002 and we are delighted at how quickly the event has 

filled up." 

Oyster takes the top spot as the most predominant constructor in 

this year’s event with a total of 19 Oysters entered. In fact, 

cumulatively, Oyster yachts have been the most prolific participants 

in the event since it began in 1985. 

Oyster will as usual be sending a service team to Las Palmas to 

provide a complimentary pre-start service to the Oyster fleet. It’s 

expected that many ARC Oysters will also be taking part in the 

UBS Oyster Regatta in Palma, Mallorca, which will take place from 

3 to 7 September, in the build-up to the ARC. 

Helping you get 

Ocean Ready 

Tim Wright 

THE 2003 ENTRY LIST 

Oyster LW395 Amandla Kulu Bob Jones 

Oyster LW395 Rainmaker Julian Nichols 

Oyster LW Boysterous Phil Fleming 

Oyster 39 Songster Brian Palmer 

Oyster 406 Boysterous Colin Hall 

Oyster 435 Lady Menai Fred & Robin Kay 

Oyster 435 Lhasa Chris & Carol Evans 

Oyster 47 Moonshadow of London Peter Mantle 

Oyster 53 Bellamare Aldo Mariotti 

Oyster 53 Jarina Marc Hans Mann 

Oyster 53 tba Aram Shishmanian 

Oyster 53 tba Ken Williams 

Oyster 55 Capriccio of Rhu Michele Colenso 

Oyster 56 Ananda of Hamble Nick Hewson 

Oyster 56 Blue Destiny Richard Morgan 

Oyster 56 Roulette Trevor Silver 

Oyster 56 tba Brad Redmayne 

Oyster 61 Galapago Mark Carmichael 

Oyster 62 Eve II Stephen & Eva Byrne 

Further details about the ARC can be found at 

www.worldcruising.com 

ARC 2003 

Year after year Oysters are the most numerous 

yachts taking part in the Atlantic Rally for 

Cruisers and anywhere in the world you travel, 

in all the most desirable cruising grounds, the 

most secluded anchorages, the chances are 

that you’ll find an Oyster. 

However, even an Oyster with its high 

production standards will need careful 

specification of equipment before undertaking 

such a cruise, which is where Yachting World 

can help. Yachting World’s popular Ocean 

Ready series, published every month, listens to 

what the sailors out there and cruising now have 

to say about everything from communications to 

generators, watermakers to autopilots and 

distills this hard learned practical experience 

into impartial advice. Backed up by equipment 

surveys based on hundreds of thousands of 

sailing miles we’ll help you make your cruising 

dream a success – and save you making some 

expensive mistakes as well. 

Ocean Ready in Yachting World 

– advice from cruising sailors for 

cruising sailors


OYSTER EVENTS 2003-2004 

2003 Events 

PALMA 

With the Auckland and Antigua regattas behind us the 

next major event for Oyster owners is the 2003 UBS 

Oyster Regatta in Palma, Mallorca 3–7 September. 

Once again the Royal Yacht Club of Spain, Real Club 

Nautico, in Palma, Mallorca, has kindly agreed to host the 

event, which by popular demand is being held a month 

earlier than last year. One advantage of the earlier date is 

that it will give ample time for the large fleet of Oysters 

taking part in this year's ARC to support our Med event 

and still have plenty of time to passage to the Canaries, 

well before the start of the ARC on 23 November. 

The emphasis will be on low key racing and cruising in 

company and the programme will include a trip to the 

Island of Cabrerra, a national maritime park offering 

outstanding scenery. 

SOUTHAMPTON 

Next up is our South Coast owner’s dinner on 

Saturday 13 September, the first weekend of the 

Southampton Boat Show. The Royal Southern Yacht 

Club, with its great views over the River Hamble, has 

kindly agreed to host the party and we expect some 

owners will choose to arrive by yacht. 

ANNAPOLIS 

Not to be outdone there will be a party for 

owners on Saturday 11 October in 

Annapolis. This is an increasingly 

popular annual event coinciding with 

the Annapolis Sailboat Show. It will 

probably be held as usual at the 

"Oyster Crew House" in 

downtown Annapolis - details 

will be provided later. 

LAS PALMAS 

Keeping up the party spirit, we will host an Oyster 

owners and crews Pre ARC Party on 20 November in 

Las Palmas in the Canaries. Plenty to celebrate, with 

Oyster being the most popular yacht in the ARC fleet, 

and an opportunity to get to know fellow crews. 

Looking Ahead to 2004 

As you can see from the summary an active programme 

of regattas and social events is planned for 2004. 

COWES 

Royal Yacht Squadron to Host Oyster Regatta 

A major new event for 2004 will be our South Coast 

Oyster Regatta, which is to be hosted by the Royal Yacht 

Squadron, Cowes from 6-10 July. 

A programme is being developed for this event and early 

expressions of interest are invited from owners. The 

emphasis will be on low key racing in Solent waters and 

social activities, including some special events. There 

may need to be a cap on entries so early registration of 

interest is advised. 

NEWPORT 

USA Rendezvous 2004 

We are planning a US Rendezvous in the Newport, RI, 

area for early June 2004. We hope Oysters based on the 

East Coat USA will participate, and also hope to 

welcome the many Oysters that arrive in Newport each 

spring from the Caribbean. We invite owners to register 

interest and we will make a plan around the likely number 

of participants. 

To register interest in all these events please 

contact Liz Whitman at Oyster Marine. 

e-mail liz.whitman@oystermarine.com

A LIST OF 'OYSTER' DATES FOR YOUR DIARY. EVENTS 

EXCLUSIVELY FOR OYSTER OWNERS ARE SHOWN IN BOLD. 

2003 

21 June Round the Island Race – Cowes, Isle of Wight 

2 – 9 August Cowes Week 

2 – 7 September Ijmuiden Boat Show 

3 – 7 September UBS Oyster Regatta – Palma de Mallorca 

11 – 14 September Newport Boat Show 

12 – 21 September Southampton Boat Show and Oyster Brokerage Event 

13 September Owners Dinner – Royal Southern Yacht Club 

4 – 12 October Genoa Boat Show 

9 – 13 October Annapolis Boat Show 

11 October Owners Party – Annapolis 

25 October – 

2 November 

Hamburg Boat Show 

20 November Pre ARC Oyster Party for owners and crews 

Las Palmas 

23 November ARC start – Las Palmas 

2004 

8 – 18 January London Boat Show – EXCEL 

10 January 2004 London Owners Dinner 

17 – 25 January Düsseldorf Boat Show 

12 – 17 February Miami Boat Show 

Date to be announced Oyster Private View 

St Katharine’s Yacht Haven, London 

Dates & location 

to be announced 

Oyster Caribbean Regatta 

25 April – 1 May Antigua Sailing Week 

28 April Oyster Party for owners and crews – Antigua 

26 June Round the Island Race – Cowes, Isle of Wight 

Dates to 

be anounced 

Oyster Rendezvous, Newport USA 

6 – 10 July Oyster Regatta – 

Royal Yacht Squadron Cowes, Isle of Wight 

O YSTER 

BROKERAGE 

International Specialists in Pre-owned Oyster Yachts 

Oyster Brokerage is the international pre-owned Oyster specialist, 

providing a professional service for both purchasers and vendors. 

The vast majority of Oyster yachts that change ownership worldwide 

do so through Oyster Brokerage, reflecting the unparalleled 

knowledge and experience of our Brokerage team. 

We maintain an extensive and varied display of pre-owned 

Oyster yachts at our headquarters in Ipswich, England, 

whilst our office in Newport, Rhode Island, provides local 

expertise for our North American customers. 

Many discerning yachtsmen are discovering that a used 

Oyster yacht makes an excellent alternative to a new yacht 

from a volume manufacturer. Oyster yachts are built to last, 

and the pride of ownership, Oyster Regatta circuit, owners' 

events and excellent after sales support all come as standard, 

regardless of when your Oyster was launched. 

Please call to discuss your requirements, 

or visit our website to see all our current listings. 

www.oysterbrokerage.com 

OYSTER BROKERAGE 

FOX’S MARINA, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK IP2 8SA ENGLAND 

TEL: +44 (0)1473 602263 FAX: +44 (0)1473 603192 

brokerage@oystermarine.com 

OYSTER BROKERAGE USA 

5 MARINA PLAZA, GOAT ISLAND, NEWPORT RI 02840 USA 

TEL: +1 401 846 7400 FAX: +1 401 846 7483 

Info@oysteryachts.com

...make it a 

family affair 

What better place to refit or 

repair your Oyster, than 

Southampton Yacht Services. Our 

skilled team have years of 

experience in building Oysters, so 

it makes sense to entrust your 

pride and joy to a yard that has all 

the experience to bring her back 

to first class condition. The on-site 

200 ton travel lift makes for a very 

speedy affair, allowing us to 

efficiently handle Oysters of 55ft 

and above. 

SOUTHAMPTON YACHT SERVICES 

Repair, refit... 

WHERE TRADITION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP MEET TECHNOLOGY 

GLS Hamburg 

Hamburg · Plymouth · Monaco · Skive · Vienna 

YACHT BUILDERS 

Southampton Yacht Services Ltd 

Saxon Wharf, Lower York Street 

Northam, Southampton SO14 5QF England 

Telephone +44 (0)23 8033 5266 

Fax +44 (0)23 8063 4275 

www.southamptonyachtservices.co.uk 

Oyster recommends Pantaenius. 

It has always been Oyster’s aim to build the world’s best 

blue water cruising yachts. With almost 1000 launchings 

in their wake, the company is established as a leader at 

the quality end of the market. And as the best yachts 

deserve the best insurance it is no wonder that Oyster 

recommends Pantaenius. 

Pantaenius is one of Europe’s largest and most respected 

specialist yacht insurance brokers. Many Oyster owners 

are convinced of the superior service Pantaenius offers. 

They recognise the quality of responsiveness and speed of 

claims settlement being offered by people who understand 

boats, and are passionate about them. 

Pantaenius has also the perfect solution for you. Just call us. 

Pantaenius UK Limited . Marine Building . Victoria Wharf . Plymouth . P4 0RF . Great Britain . Phone +44-1752-22 36 56 . Fax +44-1752-22 36 37 

Hamburg, Phone +49-40-37 09 10, Fax +49-40-37 09 11 09 · Monaco, Phone +377-97-98 43 43, Fax +377-97-98 43 40 

Skive, Phone +45-97-51 33 88, Fax +45-97-51 33 89 · Vienna, Phone +43-1-71 09 22 2, Fax +43-1-71 09 22 21 3 

www.pantaenius.com · E-Mail: info@pantaenius.com

The Oyster Fleet Review 

CHOICE NOT COMPROMISE 

Oyster offers a range of ten modern 

designs from 45ft to 100ft, all based on 

the Deck Saloon concept we introduced 

to the world of cruising yachts over a 

quarter of a century ago. 

While other constructors have recently chosen to 

follow our lead, the fact remains that, as the 

originator of this concept, Oyster continues to set 

the standard. Experience is the key as we are now 

refining our third and even fourth generation Deck 

Saloon designs. The feedback and experience 

gathered over the years from Oyster yachts with 

live-aboard crews, cruising the world’s oceans, 

including many circumnavigations, gives us a 

measurable advantage. 

Our yachts are comfortable and well built with an 

abundance of practical seamanlike features. They 

sail pretty well too, proven by winning the 2001 ARC 

and 5 x 1st places in Antigua Week 2002. Like our 

design, build quality and attention to detail have 

evolved and improved, audited by rigorous quality 

control. We are proud of our global After Sales 

service, which we believe is second to none. 

In a world of compromise there are many reasons 

why an Oyster is the preferred choice for serious 

cruising yachtsmen. If you are considering a quality 

yacht we’d like to tell you about them. 

OYSTER MARINE LTD 

FOX’S MARINA IPSWICH SUFFOLK 

IP2 8SA ENGLAND 

TEL: +44 (0) 1473 688888 FAX: +44 (0) 1473 686861 

EMAIL: yachts@oystermarine.com 

OYSTER MARINE USA 

5 MARINA PLAZA GOAT ISLAND 

NEWPORT RI 02840 

TEL: +401 846 7400 FAX: +401 846 7483 

EMAIL: info@oysteryachts.com 


45/47 

49 

53 

56 

62 

66 

69 

72 

82 

100

‘ Colombia is, quite rightly, 

not on most people’s list of 

desirable cruising 

destinations, for obvious 

reasons. However, the old 

Spanish colonial city of 

Cartagena on Colombia’s 

northern Caribbean coast, 

is a demilitarised zone and 

a holiday destination for 

Colombians to take a 

relaxed break in the 

stunning surroundings of 

this historic port 

’ 


Christmas in 

For us on Alice Ambler, heading for the Panama Canal and the Pacific from Bonaire, 

Cartagena wasn’t exactly out of our way and had been highly recommended as worth 

a visit. 

The first requirement was a suitable weather window to head west. After the trade winds 

are fully established in November, the wind and seas build up tremendously around the 

north Colombian coast, in fact, Jimmy Cornell views it as one of the five worst ocean 

passages in the world with regular 30-plus knot winds and enormous seas. 

Luck was with us to get a window exactly when we wanted to go. We had a great, but 

fairly slow, three day trip with gentle wind and seas and plenty of fish to take our lures 

and some even made it on board! 

It is possible to day sail down the coast with a number of recommended, safe, 

sheltered anchorages, but with good weather on our side and having no buddy boat 

for safety, we just kept going. This was one of the nicest passages we’ve ever made. 

Cartagena has two entrances, Boca Grande, the small boat channel and Boca Chica, 

the larger. Strange logic it seems but historically, it was Boca Grande that was 

the main entrance! Now it is a daylight only entrance, so, entering at 

midnight, we followed the well buoyed large ship channel of Boca Chica 

right up into the main anchorage and dropped the hook in 10 metres 

of ‘gm’ as the chart described it. We assumed (rightly) that this meant 

glutinous mud and we didn’t move all night. 

Cartagena is a huge natural harbour which is why the Spanish used 

it as the main repository for all the gold they were busy relieving the 

indigenous Indians of. All the gold they collected from the whole of 

their South American domain was brought here, awaiting shipment 

to Europe. This was no secret, so Cartagena became a target for 

Just one of the fish Toby and Lauren managed to get on board

Cartagena 

repeated attacks both from pirates and other European nations, some more successful 

than others. After each attack, more defences were added and huge walls were 

constructed around the city with many forts in strategic locations around the entire 

area of the harbour. The final defence was a subterranean wall built across the 

entrance of Boca Grande with a clearance of 9’ or less, so all ships then had to pass 

through the heavily fortified entrance of Boca Chica. This wall is alive and well today, 

hence it being a 'day-time, shallow-draft only' entrance. 

All these defences did little good when the British Admiral, Edward Vernon, and his fleet 

attacked in the mid 18th century and destroyed as much of the city as he could after 

having plundered it entirely. The only thing preventing the city’s total annihilation was 

tropical disease which was decimating the British forces, so the Admiral returned to 

England leaving behind a city so ravaged, it never recovered its former wealth and status. 

Despite all these destructive events, the old town inside the defensive walls survived 

and has been totally restored and is now one of the few, wholly preserved, Spanish 

colonial cities in South America. Not only that, it is quite safe to walk around the old 

city, called ‘Centro’, even at night. 

The added bonus for cruisers is the excellent, friendly and cheap Club Nautico located 

in the main anchorage, in an up-market suburb, and totally geared to sailors. It is 

owned by an Australian who sailed here, met his Colombian wife and has stayed ever 

since. The dockmaster is a very helpful English guy, who also stayed after marrying a 

Colombian, is a fluent Spanish speaker and a fund of knowledge. The Club has put 

together a great free booklet and guide to just about every service you could imagine 

There are many interesting squares with some very unusual modern sculpture 

BY NIKI BARKER 

‘ Cartagena is a 

huge natural 

harbour which is 

why the Spanish 

used it as the 

main repository 

for all the gold 

they were busy 

relieving the 

indigenous 

Indians of 

’ 


49

‘ We were so glad we 

stayed, the fireworks, all 

seven displays of them, 

around the city were 

mind blowing … 

probably the best 

New Year 

we've seen 

’ 


needing in Cartagena, nautical or otherwise. They charge a very reasonable fee for 

boats at anchor to use the facilities. The food is good and the beer is very cold. 

After a good night’s sleep, we set off to check in (taken care of by an agent, it’s the 

law) and to walk to the old town about 15 minutes away, a safe but pretty hot walk. 

We soon resorted to using one of the numerous taxis cruising around. 

Entering the old town is like stepping back a couple of hundred years. The buildings 

are superb with a myriad of narrow, winding streets interlinking large plazas with small 

shady squares fronted by huge cathedrals. Looking inside open doorways, there are 

huge, cool, shady courtyards within the houses. The feeling of age and timelessness is 

enhanced by the street peddlers shouting their wares, carried on their heads, pulled on 

carts by donkeys or wheeled around by people, selling everything imaginable. 

Many of the old buildings now house shops selling local crafts, the larger ones 

converted to wonderful hotels and some are museums which are very interesting. The 

children were disappointed to find 'The Museum of the Inquisition' closed for 

renovation but enjoyed the small, interesting gold museum and the informative 

Naval Museum. 

Eating out is very good with a large choice of restaurants to suit all tastes and there 

are plenty of vendors selling cold drinks and freshly cooked little snacks to keep you 

going while you wander. 

A thick skin is necessary to avoid all the touts, especially those encouraging you to 

visit emerald shops, although these are a great buy in this, the largest emerald 

producing country in the world. I was not too successful at avoiding the emerald 

purchase but at least it was done well. The proprietor of the shop spent an hour 

explaining the qualities and grading of the gems, and showed us around his 

tiny factory where his jewellery was made, before I finally succumbed! My 

excuse was that Christmas was only a few days away and my birthday 

even closer. 

At this point, he insisted we return to his shop on the day which 

we did, to find champagne and cake awaiting. The kids were 

bowled over - they never get that much cake ever! So was I, 

although we found this act was quite typical of the kindness of 

the Colombians we met.

Cartagena was lit up spectacularly for Christmas which 

enhanced the night time feel of the city even more and we 

decided to stay for the celebrations. The children were really 

enjoying the city and there were many other boat children 

frequenting the Club Nautico, another plus. They also found 

that Mummy’s boring Spanish lessons were finally paying off 

and they were able to get by in the language a little. 

Christmas came and went, the windlass was still not fixed 

(imagine that ‘gm’ without it!), we needed yellow fever jabs 

for Panama, I needed a trip to the dentist, we needed to 

stock up for a month in the San Blas Islands, 'The Lord of the 

Rings' was on in English etc. etc. and so another week 

passed and it seemed a shame to miss the celebrations for 

the New Year. 

We were so glad we stayed, the fireworks, all seven displays 

of them, around the city were mind blowing. This plus the 

noise of all the horns, hooters and bells was deafening, 

probably the best New Year we’ve seen. It marked a new 

mood for us on January 1st, our minds fully focused on 

Panama and finally off we went, thoughts of the Pacific 

starting to take hold. 

Our stay in Cartagena had extended from a planned few days 

to over two weeks, such is the allure of this city. Our advice 

to people en route to Panama is, don’t miss Cartagena, it is 

safe and spectacular. One word of warning though, you will 

certainly want to stay longer than you first planned, so leave 

yourself plenty of time and avoid the emerald shops! 

Niki Barker, Oyster Lightwave 48 ‘Alice Ambler’ 

and 

stop 

drop 

and drop 

When it all comes together. 

Cruising is supposed to be a breeze.When you leave the dock, your 

bow thruster should ease you out with nothing more than a whisper. 

En route to your favorite spot, your steering, and sail control systems 

should take you there with complete control. And when it’s time to 

anchor, why not enjoy pushbutton windlass performance and a fast, 

solid hold on any seabed? When it comes to cruising, we at Lewmar 

believe there’s nothing wrong with perfection. 

www.lewmar.com 

Onne van der Wal, vanderwal.com

FOX’S CONTACT DIRECT 

Workshop Tel: 01473 689111 

email:ralph.catchpole@oystermarine.com 

Rigging Tel: 01473 691235 

email:steve.palmer@oystermarine.com 

Electronics Tel: 01473 691412 

email:john.hatfield@oystermarine.com 

Engineering Tel: 01473 689111 

email:billy.harvey@oystermarine.com 

Stainless Steel Tel: 01473 689111 

email:robin.moss@oystermarine.com 

Chandlery Tel: 01473 688431 

email:cherril.westmoreland@oystermarine.com 

Marina Tel: 01473 603585 

email:john.jonas@oystermarine.com 

Sprayshop Tel: 01473 689111 

email:ralph.catchpole@oystermarine.com 

MARINA & BOATYARD 

Specialists in Oyster Refits, Repairs & Rigging 

• Workshops All general repairs • New Decks • Refits • Engineering 

• Rigging Masts and spar • All running & standing rigging • Rig surveys 

• Electronics Sales • Installations & Repairs • Communication & Computer Systems 

• Stainless Fabrications • Custom Fittings • Repairs • Polishing 

• Sprayshop Heat & dust controlled environment to the highest standards 

• Osmosis All the latest technoly and hull drying equipment 

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for Blue Water Cruising 

Fox’s Marina Ipswich Ltd Ipswich Suffolk IP2 8SA 

Tel +44 (0) 1473 689111 Fax +44 (0) 1473 601737 email foxs@oystermarine.com

Seven sunny days preceeded by a three-metre snowfall 

provided perfect conditions for the 7th Annual Oyster Ski 

Week. The "Oyster’s 11" Ski Club members cruised the 

spacious runs of the famous Kloster- Davos ski area. The 

breathtaking views from the Parsenn and Jakobshorn provided 

the spectacular backdrop for seven uninterrupted days of the 

finest skiing in Europe. 

David and Mabel Blacklaws, Oyster Group retirees, did their 

usual, outstanding event planning and hospitality care, 

welcoming newcomers Virginia and Peter Dimsey, Oyster 53 

Saildance, and John Dietz, Oyster 53 Paul Gerard. Olympic 

downhill technique was demonstrated by Tommy Corcoran, 

Oyster 55 Snow Dance whilst his wife Daphne was elected the 

'Bistro Dancing Queen'. Morning motivation was heralded by 

May and 'Teflon Man' Bernie Larsen, Oyster 485 Rhumb 

Runner, with "Where do we meet at 9:15 and what’s the plan?" 

Quick to respond was Meister -Planner and humorist Jack 

Sullivan, Oyster 46 Flying Eagle, with trail maps and more 

options than an Enron executive. Jack's wife, Marion, brought 

balance with luncheon and dinner suggestions. Virginia Dimsey 

captured the "Oyster’s 11" team on camera in sensational 

Alpine backdrops, whilst husband Peter seared the muscle 

aches away in the evening sauna. 

Thanks to Tommy Corcoran’s unrelenting guidance, John Dietz 

was voted most improved skier. Robust morning runs were 

followed by Alpine luncheon delicacies such as Spargle 

Potpourri, Kaiser potato- cheese noodles and strudel topped 

with a crème vanilla that warmed the soul. These midday 

carbohydrates were necessary for the final afternoon sprints 

down the 4 km runs to Klosters , 6km to Sernus and the 

ultimate 13km run to Kublis. Evening dinners were as varied as 

the ski runs themselves with Italian, Swiss and German cuisine 

accompanied by geschmacht wines of the region. 

"It is sinful to have this much fun", resounded from "Oyster’s 

11" as they planned the Bacchanal ski event for 2004! 

‘ David and Mabel 

Blacklaws, Oyster 

Group retirees, 

did their usual, 

outstanding event 

planning and 

hospitality care ’ 

THE 7TH ANNUAL 

OYSTER SKI WEEK 

A SUN-DRENCHED SUCCESS! 

BY JOHN DIETZ, OYSTER 53 PAUL GERARD 

53 www.oystermarine.com Photos: Virginia Dimsey 


JUST LAUNCHED 

A SELECTION OF 

RECENT OYSTER 

LAUNCHINGS 

OYSTER 56 - BLUE DESTINY 

BLUE DESTINY is Richard and Sally 

Morgan’s first Oyster. However, the 

Morgan’s are not new to sailing as 

Richard’s business partner is Mike Slade, 

owner of the super yacht Canon Leopard. 

The Morgan's son was a crewmember on 

board Canon Leopard when she lost her 

rudder off the Azores and the crew had to 

be helicoptered off. No prizes for guessing 

the Morgan’s nationality as the spinnaker is 

emblazoned with the Welsh national 

emblem. BLUE DESTINY will spend her 

first summer cruising the West Country 

and Ireland before heading south to take 

part in the ARC and the Caribbean. 

OYSTER 53 - TALLULAH 

TALLULAH, owned by Tim and Beckie 

Brettell is a teak joinered Oyster 53 with a 

custom carbon rig by Formula Spars. Tim 

has always been a keen racer and specified 

a rig very much aimed at performance, with 

a fully battened mainsail and rod rigging. 

A positive effort was made to keep the boat 

simple and not add too much weight. 

TALLULAH will initially be based out of 

Lymington with plans to move to the West 

Country later in the season and then on to 

the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. We 

look forward to seeing her at some of the 

Oyster Regattas, where she will no doubt 

feature well in the results. 


Tim and Beckie Brettell Blue Destiny 

OYSTER 56 - LUCILLA 

LUCILLA is Giuseppe Poggiali’s second 

Oyster, having already enjoyed several 

years of great sailing with his wife and son 

Nicolò on board Delphina, their Oyster 485. 

They will now be cruising in more space 

and comfort on board their brand new 

Oyster 56. Running a cargo shipping 

company, the Giuseppe’s know all about 

the importance of reliability – just one 

reason for their choice of another Oyster. 

The family also grow olives and run a 

vineyard where the name LUCILLA finds its 

origin, being their most popular wine and a 

bestseller. Somehow we get the impression 

that guests onboard will always be 

welcomed with the very best Italy can offer! 

OYSTER 53 - GLASS SLIPPER 

Having chartered for many seasons, Tom 

and Gretchen Carbaugh's first choice for 

their own yacht was the Oyster 53. 

GLASS SLIPPER was handed over last 

October, just in time to take part in the ARC 

Antigua, and sailed from Lanzarote to 

Antigua, alongside her sistership, another 

newly launched Oyster 53, Roger and Jo 

Dawes Dragonfly of Upnor. GLASS 

SLIPPER is currently cruising the Caribbean. 

The Poggiali family

Marlies and Klaus Schuback 

OYSTER 485 - WHITE WINGS 

Owners Klaus and Marlies Schuback have 

spent the last three years planning the trip 

of their lifetime – a world cruise aboard 

their Oyster 485. Their dream became a 

reality when they took delivery of WHITE 

WINGS, the last of the Oyster 485s to be 

commissioned, earlier this year. Their plan 

is to spend the next four years 

circumnavigating, beginning with the North 

Sea and Sweden and then heading south 

to explore the Mediterranean for the first 

year. This will be followed by the big leap 

across the Atlantic to visit the Caribbean 

Islands and the east coast of America 

before cruising onwards through the 

Panama Canal. We hope they will keep in 

touch with the Oyster family and share 

some of their experiences with us in future 

issues of Oyster News. 

Oyster 53 Jellicle 

OYSTER 53 - JELLICLE 

JELLICLE is Thomas Braun-Schäffler's 

first Oyster and is named after a character 

in the long-running West End hit musical 

CATS. Following handover in Ipswich, 

Thomas had a very special crew member 

fly in from Berlin, his 83 year old mother 

Mrs Ilse Wittenbecher, to help him sail 

JELLICLE across the North Sea to 

Brunsbüttel and then on through the Kiel 

Canal to the Baltic destination of Rügen. 

Thomas plans to spend his first season 

cruising around the Baltic. We are looking 

forward to displaying his Oyster 53, which 

has a lovely cherry interior, during the 

Hamburg show and thank Thomas in 

advance for allowing us to do so. 

OYSTER 53 - ARBELLA 

Owed by Michael and Vicki Wallace 

ARBELLA is their first Oyster and a dream 

come true for the couple. The carefully 

chosen name derives from the second 

pilgrim’s vessel to arrive in America from 

England, and is also linked with the 

Spanish origins of Vicki’s family. Following 

handover and a very special party in 

Ipswich, ARBELLA is being shipped to 

America where the Wallace's family are 

preparing for the big launch ceremony in 

Annapolis. The Wallace’s will spend their 

first season afloat exploring the beautiful 

Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of 

America before heading south to the BVI’s 

and Caribbean Islands. We hope to see 

ARBELLA at Oyster's Caribbean regatta. 

OYSTER 66 - MAGIC DRAGON 

MAGIC DRAGON is Stephen and 

Catherine Thomas’ second Oyster, having 

previously owned and circumnavigated 

with their young son, James, in their 

Oyster 55. Plans are for a second 

circumnavigation and James, who is now 

10, will again accompany his parents on 

their world cruise. A custom designed and 

built desk has been included in the 

forward aft cabin to ensure he doesn’t fall 

behind with his studies! First stop on their 

big adventure will be a trip to Spitzbergen, 

following in the footsteps of the Oyster 62, 

Oystercatcher XXIV, with plans to cruise 

South America next summer. We hope to 

hear news from the Thomas's as they 

venture around the world. 

Vicki and Michael Wallace with their project manager Jean-Pierre Cardin 

OYSTER 49 - TENENS SPIRIT 

Peter and Mary Morris purchased their 

Oyster 49 at the 2002 Southampton boat 

show and, although looking for a new 

yacht, they were simply walking past the 

Oyster 49 and fell in love. Having 

previously owned an Oyster Lightwave 48, 

we are delighted to welcome Peter and 

Mary back as Oyster owners. 

Great care and attention to detail has gone 

into the final specification of TENENS 

SPIRIT, to cater for all the comforts of 

home in both warm and cool climates. She 

also sports a new headsail configuration in 

the form of a permanently rigged lightweather 

genoa, on a furler, ahead of the 

main genoa. 

TENENS SPIRIT will be based in the Solent 

before hopping across to the Channel 

Islands. From there she will take a leisurely 

cruise down the French and Spanish 

Atlantic coasts before heading for an 

exploration of the Mediterranean in 2004. 

Stephen Thomas 

Mary and Peter Morris 


55

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TEL: +44 (0)1473 688888 FAX: +44 (0)1473 686861 

EMAIL: YACHTS@OYSTERMARINE.COM 

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Oyster News 49 - Oyster Yachts

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