Reasons to go racing
Among the boats lined up along the dock outside the Real Club Náutico de Palma, not one had been designed purely for racing. Yet as the 30-strong fleet turned the weather marks during the four days of racing to head downwind, the number and speed of spinnaker sets said it all when it came to judging just how competitively owners and crews were taking the Oyster Palma Regatta. But while Palma may stand out in the Oyster world, there are other group activities that bring these yachts and their crews closer into line with regular racing circuits. This year’s Oyster event in Antigua followed the culmination of the 2017-19 Oyster World Rally, a fully supported Oyster rally around the world.
Taken in isolation these events don’t look like they have much in common with the performance world, yet collectively they form an important part of Oyster’s offering. Among the key messages that emerge, Oyster Yachts’ reputation for outstanding global support is way up the list and is a big part of the reason that many invest in their Oyster. So too is the knowledge that prospective owners will be buying into the “Oyster family”, a community
70 SEAHORSE
No wonder the Oyster Palma Regatta is so often oversubscribed. A great learning experience, a brilliant party, a stepping stone to far horizons, an essential networking event and a whole lot more… Above:
of likeminded people. If you’re going to take on the world, or even just part of the odd ocean, it’s comforting to know that you do so in good company. And herein lies one of the key reasons for Oyster’s persistence with its regattas.
Racing blue water cruising yachts around the cans isn’t an obvious fit for boats that have been designed to stretch their legs across thousands of miles. Nor is it a natural move for many of their owners. Yet the Palma Regatta has not only been going for more than 20 years which proves its popularity, but with an entry limit of 30, the week-long event is frequently oversubscribed.
In contrast to other leading brands that hold either one-off regattas or a season of events, Oyster Yachts hosts just one annual regatta. Yet this is still sufficient to draw owners with no previous experience. ‘This is our third year, our third season with this boat. I don’t come from a racing background at all and so would class myself as a real novice,’ says Mike Kearney, owner and skipper of the Oyster 56 Sionna. ‘I've got my brothers and their wives here on board, so we're not a professional crew. We have one local
the perfect autumn racing conditions to be found off the coast of Mallorca are just one of the elements which make the Oyster Palma Regatta so special. The very competitive spirit of this regatta is also virtually unique within the blue water cruising fraternity, while itʼs also a feeder for the Oyster World Rally and a show case for the brandʼs latest designs such as the new Oyster 565
guy here helping us who knows the area, but otherwise it's a family boat and we race it as a family.’ Kearney is also happy to admit that he has only ever competed in three regattas in total, all of them the Oyster Palma event. Yet throughout the week the high standard of their sailing was clear to see. By the end of the event they had tied for first place in Class 4 against a crew that included Dragon sailors that were more familiar with the cut and thrust of the racecourse. Indeed, the tie-break went all the way back to just one race during the week to separate them from the winners. But why has an owner who spends his time cruising chosen the stress of racing once year?
‘I learn a huge amount when we're doing this. I learned so much about my boat and how to sail her and how to optimise the sailing and that's readily transferable to my cruising,’ Kearney says. ‘The other side is the way that Oyster organises the event. The regatta itself is 50 per cent racing and 50 per cent social, which is amazing. It's family friendly and makes this event a must-do for us.’ But it’s not just the owners that gain from seeing what happens
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