Springtime 2020 seems a long way off. But, the wait will be well worth it to one particular yacht buyer. That’s when the second Oyster 118 gets delivered.
Oyster Yachts says “months of discussion” led to the final contract, just today. The flagship of the British builder’s sailing yachts, the Oyster 118 is its largest offering resulting from its longtime partnership with Humphreys Yacht Design. Hull number one of the series started construction in spring 2015. She’s set for launch this December.
This second hull starts construction in a few months. Hull construction takes place in one facility, near Portsmouth, with final fit out in another yard. That second yard, in Southampton, has been the focus of expansion plans for a while. Oyster Yachts wants the capacity to build four Oyster 118s. The goal is to have hulls number three and four of the Oyster 118 start while numbers one and two are finishing up. For perspective, the fourth yacht will be ready for a 2021 delivery. It would therefore be a significant accomplishment.
Regardless, hull number two of the Oyster 118 is already a significant accomplishment. She is the 40th sailing yacht exceeding 80 feet in Oyster Yachts’ 43-year history. Features include a plumb bow, enclosable hardtop, and abundant entertaining space. In fact, she has about 849 square feet of interior space for 12 guests. The shipyard says that represents 10 times the offering of the Oyster 475. Furthermore, the Oyster 118 has a 48-square-foot guest cockpit. Beam is 27’5”, too.
Oyster Yachts hasn’t said how the client is arranging the yacht. The series is semi-custom, so plenty of choices exist. For example, five staterooms characterize hull number one below decks. The Oyster 118 has an optional sixth stateroom forward, which can also be a TV room or kids’ cabin. Furthermore, the sail plan is open to buyer’s choice. What is certain, though, is that air draft is about 171 feet. And, the Oyster 118 is a bluewater cruiser. She’s built to DNV classification and LY3 requirements.
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