Design and Construction
Humphreys' brief for the 655 called for luxurious amenities married to first-class performance, and the latter was pursued not only through hull geometry but through extensive use of carbon fiber and Kevlar throughout the yacht anchor. The hull lines themselves — fine forward, clean aft — work with the low-CG keel and high-aspect rudder to give the boat both directional control and a powerful sail plan. A virtually flat deck access from stern into the cockpit eases movement between working deck and shelter, a detail that matters when crew are transferring gear or coming aboard in a seaway. Writing in Cruising World, judge Roger Hellyar-Brook summed up the complicated systems with a single word: "Bombproof," a field assessment of the engineering rather than a marketing claim.
Rig and Handling
The 655 carries a powerful cutter-rigged sail plan, and the twin helm stations do more than split steering duties. Cruising World's testers found the twin helms function as control centers that permit raising, lowering, and trimming all sails via the push of a button anchor, a significant short-handed capability on a 67-foot yacht. In 10 knots of breeze and flat water, the boat delivered 5 to 8 knots of boat speed — credible performance for a heavily built cruiser. Wide side decks and 30-inch lifeline stanchions described as super-sturdy round out a deck layout built for safe movement offshore.
Accommodations
Below, the 655 makes full use of her 18-foot 5-inch beam. The saloon is an open-plan living environment with a U-shaped galley to port and ample counter surfaces and stowage, described by the builder as spacious and contemporary. Aft, a large master suite — more than just a cabin — opens to its own private deck access, while three guest cabins provide separation for owners and visitors. The forward cockpit is spacious, safe, and uncluttered thanks to the twin helm placement putting the helmsman precisely where needed. High-quality joinery and a well-designed galley reinforce the sense of a boat equally suited to dockside living and offshore conditions.
Safety and Equipment
The 655 was equipped, in Cruising World's testing, with everything down to lee cloths needed to sail around the world. Twin life rafts ride on deck, heavy padeyes for jacklines run fore and aft and in the cockpit, and a dedicated flare locker centralizes emergency gear. Manual bilge pumps are easy to reach, a detail often overlooked until it is critical. These are not owner upgrades but as-built provisions on the evaluated yacht.
The Verdict
The Oyster 655 is a limited-production Humphreys design that fuses a performance-oriented hull with a thoroughly equipped offshore interior. Carbon fiber and Kevlar construction, push-button sail handling from twin helms, and a complete world-cruising inventory mark her as a serious bluewater yacht with the volume and finish of a luxury cruiser.
Pros
- Fine-entry, clean-run hull with low-CG keel and high-aspect rudder for fast, pleasant sailing
- Extensive carbon fiber and Kevlar construction with "Bombproof" systems per judge's assessment
- Push-button control of all sails from twin helm stations aids short-handed operation
- Full-beam saloon, aft owner's suite with private deck access, three guest cabins
- As-built round-the-world safety inventory: twin rafts, jackline padeyes, flare locker, manual pumps
Cons
- Only 17 built, limiting fleet support and resale comparables
- Disputed displacement figures across sources (82,673 lb vs 85,980 lb) leave exact weight unconfirmed
