Oyster 625

Written by Carlos Serra.GE 61.Translation: Endeavour Services.

On board

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The same but better

Four cabins, a spacious saloon and excellent bluewater performance make this luxurious cruiser a great option to sail round the world on.

 Oyster has not changed since its emblematic founder, Richard Matthews, sold the firm to an investment group. As one of the company stalwarts Colin Campbell explains, board meetings used to consist of Matthews telling everybody what they had to do. Now they all talk together, think things over and take decisions. But the client is still the most important figure: they decide which models will be built, which designs should be improved and which interiors and decks are the most appropriate based on their purchases and opinions.
The 625 clearly proves the modernisation of style that Oyster and its designer Rob Humphreys have embarked upon without anything else changing. Details such as the sleeker mast hole, the folding cleats, the integrated cockpit windows or the flush hatches underline this wish for modernity. And especially the gunwale, designed in the style of Italian maxi yachts, bestows elegance and robustness to a less cluttered deck.
The Italian influence is also apparent inside with exquisitely-finished ceilings, settees placed at right angles, smooth furniture and a good vanishing line. We'll go into all of this below, but first it's worth adding a couple of points about Oyster and the 625 model in particular. This is a large yacht, especially with the voluminous hulls the firm uses, and on board there are four double cabins plus a forepeak. An ocean-going boat, a boat to live aboard, a boat with a frankly high price tag, but what about a boat to enjoy with a professional skipper? We asked Campbell this question after seeing the forepeak, which can house two bunks for crew but is not comfortable for long-term living.
According to Campbell, most yacht owners of this category opt to do without professional assistance. Oyster provides a support service, cleaning and repairs included, at the main ports where its yachts are berthed - Newport in the US, Southampton in England, Palma de Mallorca in Spain and Porto Cervo in Sardinia. This service is very popular amongst owners, as it means the boat doesn't require crew on board, who – according to Campbell - “need a living space only really available on 25-metre-plus boats”.