Oyster Sailing Yachts for Sale
Browse our 0 Oyster sailing yachts listings and learn more about Oyster, the company that built them
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Oyster Buyer's Guides
(1 guide)Updated 1 January 2025 · By Hulls.io Editorial
About Oyster
Oyster Yachts occupies a distinctive position in the sailing yacht market — a British builder with over fifty years of unbroken focus on bluewater cruising yachts designed and built for ocean passages. Where many European sailing yacht brands spread their ranges across weekend cruisers, coastal boats, and racer-cruisers, Oyster has remained resolutely focused on the blue-water segment: robust, comfortable, well-engineered sailing yachts that owners trust with their lives on transatlantic crossings, high-latitude passages, and full circumnavigations.
The company was founded in 1973 by Richard Matthews in Ipswich, Suffolk. Matthews had a clear vision: to build sailing yachts that combined genuine offshore capability with the comfort and finish expected of a luxury yacht. The early Oyster designs — drawn by Holman & Pye, and later Rob Humphreys — established the centre-cockpit, aft-cabin layout that became an Oyster hallmark. The centre-cockpit arrangement provides a large, secure cockpit well inboard from the stern, a dedicated aft owner's cabin with direct access to natural light and ventilation, and a structural arrangement that places the heaviest loads (mast compression, keel attachment, rigging loads) within the strongest section of the hull.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, Oyster grew steadily as a builder of semi-custom bluewater yachts in the 46-to-72-foot range. The brand developed a loyal following among experienced cruising sailors — many of them retired professionals planning extended voyages — who valued Oyster's practical approach to offshore sailing. Oyster yachts were not the fastest, not the most innovative, and not the cheapest, but they had a reputation for being thoroughly engineered for the demands of ocean sailing: heavy-duty deck hardware, oversized rigging, deep bilges, excellent tankage, and hull construction that prioritised longevity over light weight.
In 2018, the company entered administration following financial difficulties. The brand was acquired by Richard Hadida, who relocated production from multiple sites to a new purpose-built 200,000-square-foot facility in Southampton, England. The Southampton yard brought all construction in-house — hull lamination, deck moulding, joinery, systems installation, and commissioning — giving Oyster greater quality control than the previous multi-site arrangement.
The current Oyster range spans from the Oyster 495 to the Oyster 1225 — a 122-foot superyacht that is one of the largest series-built sailing yachts in the world. All models share the classic Oyster DNA: centre-cockpit layout, flush-deck styling with substantial coachroof, in-mast or in-boom furling for ease of handling, and a deep, well-protected cockpit. The hull construction uses vacuum-infused GRP (glass-reinforced polyester) with structural grid systems rather than traditional stringers, providing a stiff, fair hull that distributes loads efficiently.
The Oyster World Rally — launched in 2013 — is the brand's signature event, a circumnavigation rally that takes Oyster owners around the world over 18-30 months. The rally has become a powerful marketing tool and a genuine proof-of-concept for the yachts: dozens of Oyster yachts have now completed full circumnavigations in rally conditions, demonstrating the reliability and capability that the brand promises.
On the used market, Oyster yachts retain their value well relative to other sailing yacht brands. The strong brand identity, loyal owner community, and proven offshore capability support secondhand values. Pre-2018 models (built at the Ipswich and other facilities) trade at varying prices depending on maintenance history and equipment specification, while post-2019 Southampton-built yachts command premium prices.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Oyster
Where are Oyster yachts built?
Oyster yachts are built at a purpose-built 200,000-square-foot production facility in Southampton, England. The facility was established in 2019 after the company was acquired by Richard Hadida and relocated from its previous multi-site operations. All construction — hull lamination, deck moulding, joinery, systems, and commissioning — is performed in-house at the Southampton yard.
What is the Oyster World Rally?
The Oyster World Rally is a circumnavigation event organised by Oyster Yachts, first held in 2013. It takes Oyster owners around the world over approximately 18-30 months, with planned stops, social events, and technical support along the route. The rally is open exclusively to Oyster yacht owners and serves as both a community event and a demonstration of the yachts' bluewater capability.
Are Oyster yachts good for ocean crossings?
Oyster yachts are specifically designed for ocean passages and are among the most respected bluewater cruising yachts available. Their centre-cockpit layout, heavy-duty construction, generous tankage, and robust rigging are all optimised for extended offshore sailing. Hundreds of Oyster yachts have completed transatlantic crossings, circumnavigations, and high-latitude passages.
How much does an Oyster yacht cost?
New Oyster yachts range from approximately £1.5 million for an Oyster 495 to well over £15 million for the largest models in the range. Oysters are semi-custom yachts with extensive owner specification options, so final prices vary significantly based on configuration. Pre-owned Oyster yachts offer better value, with well-maintained older models (Oyster 56, 625, 72) available from £400,000 to £2 million depending on age, condition, and specification.
Do Oyster yachts hold their value?
Oyster yachts hold their value well relative to other sailing yacht brands. The strong brand identity, loyal owner community, proven offshore capability, and limited production numbers all support secondhand values. Post-2019 Southampton-built yachts command the strongest prices, while pre-administration models trade at varying prices depending on maintenance history and refit status.