Built between 2012 and 2019, the 885 measures 27.08 meters overall, including the bowsprit. It has a 24.18-meter waterline, a 6.33-meter beam, and a displacement of 74,000 kilograms.
Design and Construction
The 885 has a balanced, powerful ocean-going hull. Its fine entry helps it cleave through a seaway, while the broad stern provides a high level of form stability. Oyster similarly describes the Humphreys hull as having a fairly fine entry to part the waves and a somewhat broad stern for better stability.
A high-performance-bulb keel is standard, giving the yacht a draft of 3.5 meters. The optional centerboard configuration draws just over 7 feet. The Rob Humphreys design also carries twin rudders for slick manoeuvring in harbour.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Oyster 885 is a sloop with a stubby bowsprit that projects the asymmetric sail tack into better air. Its broad aft sections, bowsprit, and wide stern promise exhilarating offwind performance, with the potential to rattle away the miles on a trade-wind passage.
Bow and stern thrusters are standard, easing the job of docking a yacht of this size. In-mast furling is available for owner-operators or crewed layouts.
Accommodation and Deck Layout
The 885 provides ample guest space, with the luxury and practical liveaboard features expected in this class. A sumptuous owner’s stateroom anchors the plan, and owners could choose between a deck saloon and a raised saloon.
Three comfortable en-suite guest cabins were offered, one of which could instead be configured as a study or lower saloon area. The resulting layout has the feeling of space expected aboard a much larger yacht. In the reviewed arrangement, the yacht has a master stateroom, four guest cabins, and two crew cabins, along with a separate crew galley and mess. Clear separation between the galley and crew quarters helps preserve privacy for everyone aboard.
The owner’s stateroom has direct access to the transom, creating what Oyster calls a terrace-on-the-sea effect. On deck, the huge, ergonomic split cockpit is well suited to al-fresco dining and relaxing on passage. A large hydraulic bathing platform extends the spacious open deck areas.
Ownership and Charter Context
Oyster conceived the Series 1 for buyers who might want to charter their yachts, giving them the option to recoup part of their investment while retaining a proven ocean-sailing yacht.
Hull number one belongs to the family trust of Eddie Jordan, the former Irish racecar driver and F1 commentator. Oyster revealed the plans two years before the yacht’s premiere at the Southampton Boat Show in September 2012; the yacht itself had been launched a few weeks earlier.
The Verdict
The Oyster 885 Series 1 is a maximally dimensioned sub-90-foot cruiser that turns the MCA coding limits into a genuine benefit for the owner. It combines charter-grade practicality with a roomy interior that can be configured for private use.
The Humphreys hull and twin-rudder platform provide composure downwind and easy handling in port, while the flexible accommodation suits both family cruising and coded use.
Pros
- Designed to the MCA 24m Load Line limit to maximize volume in a sub-90ft yacht
- Twin rudders and standard bow and stern thrusters aid close-quarters control
- Flexible guest-cabin-to-study layout, with clear separation for the crew
- Broad stern and fine entry provide form stability and sea-kindly motion
- Direct transom access from the owner’s stateroom creates a terrace-on-the-sea effect
Cons
- The standard 11'6" draft limits shallow-water cruising unless the centerboard option is chosen
- The large displacement demands disciplined sail handling and crew coordination
