Oyster P60 brings long range power cruising to a famous sailing name

Oyster Yachts has unveiled its first power catamaran, a 19.42 metre passagemaker aimed at owners who enjoy ocean cruising but would rather leave the sails behind.

Oyster Yachts has built its reputation on sailing yachts capable of crossing oceans, often with owners spending months aboard. At the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on 29 October, the British builder introduced something rather different. The Oyster P60 is a 60 foot power catamaran, and the company's first venture into this market.

Developed with French naval architects Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design, the P60 is aimed at experienced cruisers, including sailors who want to keep making long passages without the work involved in managing sails.

It's a natural audience for Oyster, which already has an international community of owners accustomed to travelling considerable distances. Whether those sailors are ready to exchange their rigs for twin engines remains to be seen, but the P60 gives them an interesting option.

Oyster P60 targets 3,500 nautical miles

Oyster is quoting a target range of up to 3,500 nautical miles at eight knots, supported by 6,000 litres of fuel. That's an ambitious figure for a powerboat of this size, and one that could put serious ocean passages within reach without refuelling.

The company points to the Galápagos to Marquesas crossing, a passage of approximately 3,000 nautical miles on the Oyster World Rally. It's a considerable distance to cover under power, particularly when fuel reserves and conditions at sea need to be factored into passage planning.

The published specifications list a typical installation of twin 300hp engines, with a lightship displacement of 35 tonnes. Oyster has designed the hulls for efficient displacement cruising rather than high speed running. However, the quoted range is still a design target. Actual fuel consumption and offshore performance will need to be established through sea trials.

The 9.35 metre beam gives the designers considerable room for accommodation and outdoor living, although it also requires some thought when choosing a marina berth. Wide multihull berths aren't available everywhere, something worth considering for a boat intended to visit faraway cruising grounds.

Plenty of room to spread out aboard

Oyster has made good use of the catamaran's considerable beam. The accommodation can be arranged with an owner's suite and either two or three guest cabins, while buyers can choose between galley up and galley down layouts. There's also provision for crew, although some prospective owners may be considering the P60 as a boat they can operate themselves.

The owner's suite measures 18 square metres and has direct access to the aft deck. Separate engine rooms, accessed from the deck, should make routine machinery checks more convenient without disturbing the accommodation.

Oyster quotes 121 square metres of social living space, spread across the saloon, forward cockpit, aft cockpit and flybridge. The flybridge alone accounts for 33 square metres, with a central helm, bar, lounge seating and an elevated daybed beneath a hardtop.

Down aft, the 40 square metre cockpit can be arranged for shaded dining, relaxing or fishing. A hydraulic tender platform also doubles as a swimming platform, giving owners easy access to the water at anchor.

There's plenty here to appeal to people who enjoy spending extended periods aboard. Optional solar panels and lithium battery storage are also proposed, helping reduce reliance on a generator when the boat is sitting quietly in a favourite anchorage.

An Oyster P60 at the World Rally

Perhaps the most interesting part of the announcement is Oyster's intention to welcome P60 owners into its established World Rally programme.

The company already supports owners making extended ocean passages, offering training, commissioning, delivery assistance and technical support. Those services will also be available to P60 owners, along with access to Oyster's international owner events and cruising community.

For someone moving from sail to power, that continuity could count for quite a bit. They could buy a different type of yacht without necessarily leaving behind the cruising network they've enjoyed for years.

The P60 also follows a busy September for Oyster. The builder announced its C60 sailing catamaran at Cannes, followed by the 36 metre sailing flagship at Monaco. Three major design announcements within two months show the company broadening its offering beyond traditional monohull sailing yachts.

Go Boating has previously covered Oyster's investment and operational restructuring, providing some background to the builder's development.

There's still more to learn about the P60, particularly its price, construction arrangements and delivery timetable. Oyster has announced the design, rather than demonstrated its cruising performance with a completed boat.

For established Oyster owners considering a move into power, the P60 could be an appealing prospect. And for those already cruising under power, the combination of generous accommodation, long range ambitions and an established international support network makes it worth watching.

More information: Oyster P60 official product page.