Oyster 72 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Built from 2005 onward, with only fourteen hulls completed, the 72 belongs to Oyster’s Generation 5 range. Humphreys Yacht Design describes her as a highly capable ocean-cruising yacht with great stability and performance, as well as room for ten to sleep aboard. Her racing record supports the performance claim: one Oyster 72 beat an elite fleet of larger racing yachts to win the RYS Rolex Race around the Isle of Wight, then won her class at Antigua Sailing Week.

Design and Construction

Modern composite engineering lies at the heart of the Oyster 72. The builder’s specifications describe a light, stiff hull and deck that retain the strength, durability, and ease of handling expected of the marque. Humphreys’ design summary adds that Kevlar and carbon fibre were incorporated to produce a hull and deck that are light, rigid, and strong.

With a displacement of 48,000 kg and a beam of nearly six metres, the yacht combines superyacht quality and detailing with a package rated for go-anywhere passage-making. Later versions received additional hull ports, and Oyster revised the design profile after the initial sea trials, so the hulls aren’t identical above the waterline.

Rig, Handling, and Performance

The Oyster 72 carries a carbon-fiber, three-spreader mast stepped on a hydraulic jack. The system varies the mast’s position fore and aft, allowing the crew to adjust fore-and-aft balance without leaving the cockpit.

The fully battened mainsail stows in a Park Avenue-style boom, with lazy jacks controlling the sail as it’s hoisted, reefed, or struck. The mainsheet system is self-contained in the boom, just behind the twin wheels. The jib and staysail use hydraulic furlers, while the large spinnaker stows in a Kevlar snuffer sock. One owner called the sock a secret weapon for regattas and reported no snags or twists in use. An owner also reports that the yacht tracks very straight in waves and doesn’t corkscrew when the sails are trimmed correctly.

A Lewmar carbon-fiber wheel on either side allows the helmsman to see around the deckhouse and watch the headsail telltales. Under sail, a tester recorded 8.2 knots upwind, with the apparent wind at 22 degrees in 11 knots of breeze. An owner reports that the yacht tracks very straight in waves and doesn’t corkscrew when the sails are trimmed correctly. The first reef goes in upwind at about 18 knots.

Deck and Cockpit

The deck design uses sleek, rolled-edge sides, a transom stairwell, and a streamlined transition between the helm, ergonomic cockpit, and foredeck. The builder calls it one of its sleekest deck-and-cockpit designs, with rolled-edge side decks and numerous superyacht-style features.

The large cockpit includes a refrigerator and a table that seats ten for dinner; the aft settees can accommodate another four people. A Bimini rolls into the boom sides and is pulled taut to the rails with a 6:1 handy billy.

Interior and Accommodations

Below, the 72 follows Oyster’s hallmark deck-saloon arrangement. The secure seating and dining area lies just forward of the twin helm station and is reached from the stern gangway with little change in level.

The saloon is spacious and complements the large cockpit. Despite the yacht’s slim-line exterior, headroom is good: a tester who stood six foot two found roughly three inches of clearance overhead.

The standard layout has five staterooms and separates the crew and galley from the owner’s and guest accommodations. The builder describes this as a proven arrangement with few compromises. The owner’s stateroom includes a large double bunk, a separate settee, locker space, a television, and mood lighting. Ten guests can be hosted aboard in comfort, while a dedicated crew cabin provides two berths and one toilet.

Ownership and Customisation

Each Oyster 72 could be customised to its owner’s requirements, with the builder assigning a personal project manager to guide the owner through the long options list. As a result, fit-outs aren’t directly comparable from one hull to another.

The marque’s Generation 5 partnership with Humphreys produced a yacht that also lent itself to owner-selected technical upgrades. One owner fitted lithium batteries that saved about 1,500 pounds and required roughly two hours of charging each day.

Verdict

The Oyster 72 is a rare, low-production Humphreys design that genuinely bridges performance and passage-making. She suits a buyer who wants race-credible speed without giving up the separated crew quarters, deck saloon, and ten-berth hospitality of a proper cruising yacht.

Pros