Sailors find the world is their Oyster

By ROBIN BAILEY

Twice in the Caribbean, once in the Mediterranean, now it's Auckland's turn. From January 30 our waters will host the first Oyster New Zealand Rally, in which 14 of the British-designed yachts from Europe, America and Australia will compete on the Hauraki Gulf.

Oysters are top-of-the range fast cruisers. Most of the boats taking part in the rally will have sailed thousands of miles to reach New Zealand and still have another half of the world to explore. Two of the rally Oysters were built here, by McDell Marine in Glendene.

The Auckland company is the only boatyard outside Britain to build the world-renowned production cruising yachts.

The first McDell Oyster was delivered in March 2001. Since then the company has completed a further 10 and the projected rate of build is to deliver eight boats a year.

Managing director Kim McDell emphasises this is a big boost for his company and for the New Zealand marine industry.

"The contract with Oyster involves a spin-off to other specialist companies supplying the equipment and services required to meet the standards demanded by one of the most prestigious yachting brands in the world," he says.

"The initial contract for the Oyster 53 has been extended, the new Oyster 49 is now in production, and we are talking about other projects with the UK company.

"Because the Oysters we have built so far have been whisked away immediately on completion we have been unable to properly demonstrate the boats to the local market. The rally is an opportunity to show Aucklanders what the brand is all about."

The event is timed to coincide with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Kawau weekend.

The first race will be from Orakei Wharf to the island on Friday, January 31.

Next day there is a fleet race around the island, followed by a barbecue ashore.

On Sunday the yachts will race or cruise back to Auckland for a prizegiving dinner at the squadron.

For two of the entries, Oystercatcher XXIV and Thunder, it will be their second rally, one in each hemisphere.

"We were lucky enough to be in the Caribbean rally in Antigua last April," says Conor Fogerty, Irish skipper of the 21m Thunder, one of the biggest yachts in the fleet, which has just been refitted at Gulf Harbour. "The rally will be our first chance to go out and do some serious sailing in New Zealand."

Typical of those taking part are English sailors David and Valerie Dobson, who arrived in New Zealand in September aboard the Oyster 55 Kanaloa.

Since leaving Britain in 1997 they have sailed 48,000 miles in five years, cruising via Chile, Easter Island, Tristan da Cunha, the Australs and the Gambier Islands.

Says David: "We love New Zealand and plan to come back next season to explore the Marlborough Sounds."

Jon Joslin and Jennifer LeGrys, former owners of the Oyster 435 Dancing Wave, will be sailing the newest McDell-built 49 in the rally.

Originally farmers in Britain, the couple set off in 1986 and, after 45,000 miles, arrived in New Zealand, liked the place, sold their yacht and decided to stay. They bought 8ha in Marlborough and planted their first vines.

Ten years on they own 16ha, lease another 20 and produce 50,000 cases a year of the award-winning wines carrying the Mud House and LeGrys labels.

"The only downside was selling our Oyster, but she was too good a boat to leave on a marina," says Joslin, who still pines for the cruising life.

"The rally will give us the chance to meet another lot of Oyster owners."

On the way here for the America's Cup, Oystercatcher XXIV, owned by Oyster Marine chairman Richard Matthews and skippered by Stephen Davies, took a side trip to the Arctic for a TV documentary for ESPN.

Davies describes the Oyster as the ultimate cruising yacht.

"They are comfortable, strong and dependable and most are set up for short-handed sailing, which means a couple can sail around the world with ease."

Aucklanders will see the fleet when the yachts sail in formation near the Harbour Bridge at noon on Friday, January 31.