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Oyster 515 brings a new sense of life to bluewater sailing

The Oyster 515 reshapes bluewater cruising with a sea-level aft lounge, brighter interiors and effortless short-handed sailing

Offshore capability meets contemporary onboard living in the new Oyster 515, featuring a superyacht-inspired bathing platform

With the new Oyster 515, the British shipyard approaches bluewater cruising from a broader perspective. Performance, safety and autonomy remain essential, but equal attention is given to the way owners and guests experience the yacht after reaching an anchorage. The result is a new-generation cruiser whose stern becomes a genuine living area, designed for sharing time and enjoying a closer relationship with the sea.

An evolution shaped around the entire journey

Developed as the successor to the acclaimed Oyster 495, the new model retains the principles that have long defined the shipyard while introducing greater interior volume, a revised sail plan and a thoroughly redesigned deck. Created by Humphreys Yacht Design together with Oyster’s in-house Design Studio, the 515 is intended to combine dependable offshore capability with a more contemporary onboard experience.

The stern becomes a private place by the water

The yacht’s most distinctive transformation can be found aft. A recessed lounge, rear-facing seating and a larger fold-down bathing platform reshape the connection between the deck and the water. At anchor, the area can support swimming, watersports and tender boarding, or simply provide a comfortable setting in which to enjoy the surrounding landscape.

The concept borrows some of the atmosphere associated with much larger superyachts, yet adapts it to a yacht intended for private owners and family crews. Rather than being treated as a purely functional end to the deck, the stern becomes one of the principal social spaces on board.

More room with cruising practicality preserved

The expanded leisure area has not been created at the expense of storage. A larger lazarette provides space for fenders, cruising equipment and water toys, while an optional integrated tender garage keeps the aft deck clear. Owners may also choose a more conventional davit arrangement depending on their preferred style of cruising.

Further forward, the protected centre cockpit can seat as many as eight people. It creates a sheltered setting for open-air dining, conversation and shared time, both while sailing and during extended stays at anchor.

Confident sailing with a small crew

The Oyster 515 has been developed to remain manageable by a couple or family without requiring a large professional crew. Twin helm stations and twin rudders support visibility and precise control, while powered sail-handling systems reduce the physical demands of manoeuvring. New wing seats beside the helms also offer an elevated position from which to watch the yacht at work under sail.

The total sail area is 123 square metres with an in-mast furling mainsail, increasing to 132 square metres with the fully battened alternative. This choice allows owners to balance convenience and performance according to their sailing programme.

Greater freedom in shallow cruising grounds

Alongside the standard keel, which gives the yacht a draught of 2.37 metres, Oyster offers an optional shoal keel reducing draught to 1.91 metres. The shallower configuration can open access to secluded bays, river inlets and marinas that might otherwise remain beyond the reach of a yacht in this size category.

This flexibility allows the 515 to move naturally between Mediterranean island cruising and more ambitious offshore programmes, where access to quieter anchorages can become part of the pleasure of exploration.

A brighter interior for extended time aboard

Below deck, enlarged Seascape windows and hull ports bring more natural light into the interior and strengthen the visual connection with the surroundings. The accommodation is arranged across three cabins and includes a deck saloon, a U-shaped galley and a dedicated navigation station.

The full-beam owner’s stateroom is positioned aft, creating a private retreat with proportions more commonly associated with larger yachts. Owners can select either oak or walnut finishes, allowing the interior to take on a lighter contemporary character or a warmer, more traditional atmosphere.

Dimensions and autonomy designed for real adventures

The Oyster 515 measures 16.48 metres overall, with a hull length of 15.68 metres and a beam of 4.77 metres. Its lightship displacement is 23,560 kilograms. Auxiliary power comes from a Yanmar 4JH110 engine, supported by an 800-litre fuel capacity and 600 litres of fresh water.

These specifications reflect a yacht conceived not simply to suggest distant voyages, but to make them achievable. The 515 preserves Oyster’s established bluewater character while introducing a more current way of living on board, where the passage and the destination are given equal consideration.

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www.oysteryachts.com

18 July 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
https://www.med-yachting.com/magazine/home_en.do?dettagli=oyster-515&key=1784397947
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