Oyster Yachts introduces its first catamaran, unveiling the Oyster C60 at Cannes Yachting Festival
by Oyster Yachts 10 Sep 10:19 UTC
Oyster Yachts, the British builder of the world's finest bluewater sailing yachts, has unveiled the Oyster C60, its first sailing catamaran, at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
Created in collaboration with award-winning multihull designers Berret-Racoupeau, the reveal marks a new chapter for the company, bringing Oyster's experience of bluewater sailing, monohull yacht building and ownership to a new yacht type.
The Oyster C60 is the result of more than a year of research, listening to current Oyster owners, previous owners who had chosen a different yacht type, prospective owners, and wider market trends. While the Oyster monohull remains at the heart of the brand, Oyster found growing interest in the space, stability and comfort of a multihull, and in the different possibilities it offers for spending time at sea.
This led Oyster to consider what it could create if it started with a clean sheet of paper: a catamaran shaped by everything it has learnt over more than five decades as the leader in bluewater sailing yacht design, construction, and ownership experience. Bluewater capability remains at the heart of the Oyster C60, but the yacht has been designed to be equally at home closer to shore, giving owners the flexibility to enjoy everything from extended ocean passages to relaxed coastal cruising. It is, in many ways, a new expression of the Oyster experience: the same commitment to serious sailing, with the versatility to suit different ways of spending time on the water.
Stefan Zimmermann Zschocke, CEO of Oyster Yachts, said: "We have always evolved by listening to our owners. We have seen some move towards multihulls as their lives and ambitions have changed, and we have also heard from prospective owners who are drawn to Oyster but see a catamaran as the right yacht for them. The Oyster C60 is an opportunity to respond to that demand without compromising what has defined Oyster since its founding. We have taken that knowledge and have applied it to a yacht designed from the outset around the advantages of a multihull. It gives our existing owners another choice, while opening the Oyster family to sailors who may not previously have considered an Oyster."
The Oyster C60 has been developed in conjunction with Berret-Racoupeau, one of the world's most respected naval architecture and yacht design practices. The collaboration combines Oyster's experience of bluewater sailing and long-term yacht ownership with Berret-Racoupeau's specialist expertise in multihulls.
The brief was to make full use of the space offered by two hulls while retaining the qualities expected of an Oyster. The Oyster C60 has been designed around the realities of extended cruising, with comfort and luxury considered alongside practical requirements including sail handling, visibility, access, storage, maintenance and tender use. At 60ft, the Oyster C60 provides 110m² of connected interior and exterior space. The design brings together generous areas for socialising, with more private spaces, allowing owners and guests to spend extended periods aboard in comfort.
At the stern, twin fold-down bathing platforms and a central tender lift create a broad waterside terrace, while wide-opening doors connect the aft deck with the saloon. A bar serves both spaces, creating a flexible living area that opens towards the sea. Further forward, a recessed exterior lounge extends the living space into the foredeck, while the flybridge provides another setting for sailing, dining and relaxing.
Inside, the owner's suite is separated from guest and crew areas, with Oyster's signature triple Seascape windows bringing natural light and expansive sea views. Three en-suite guest cabins provide accommodation for family and friends, alongside dedicated crew accommodation.
Designed to support everything from coastal cruising to extended ocean passages, the Oyster C60 combines its generous living spaces with the practical considerations expected of a serious bluewater yacht. Up to one meter of bridgedeck clearance contributes to its offshore capability, while substantial onboard capacity supports extended periods away from shore.
The Oyster C60 also forms part of the wider Oyster ownership experience. Preparation, training, technical support and community have long been central to the way Oyster supports its owners, and that approach is integral to the Oyster C60 from the outset. Owners will have access to Oyster's Global Service Network, After Sales team and Bluewater Academy, alongside the Oyster World Rally, Oyster Explorers Club, regattas and events around the world. Oyster is also developing dedicated multihull preparation and training to complement this established support and address the particular requirements of catamaran ownership, ensuring owners are confidently prepared for bluewater sailing from day one.
Oyster C60 Preliminary Specification:*
- Length overall: 19.42m / 63'9"
- Length of hull: 18.87m / 61'11"
- Length of waterline: 18.79m / 61'8"
- Beam: 9.35m / 30'8"
- Draft: 1.70m / 5'7"
- Air draft: 29.00m / 95'2"
- Light displacement: 30,000kg / 66,139lbs
- Typical engines: 2 x 110hp
- Mainsail area: 122m² / 1,313ft²
- Genoa area: 112m² / 1,206ft²
- Sail area - upwind: 234m² / 2,519ft²
- Fuel capacity: 1,200 litres (+600 litres optional) / 264 UK gallons (+132 UK gallons optional)
- Water capacity: 1,000 litres / 220 UK gallons
*Preliminary specifications, subject to change as the design and engineering programme progresses.