For the first time, the Dubois-designed Oyster 100 superyacht Sarafin lined up against the Humphreys-designed Oyster 885 sailing yacht Karibu at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2013 in Sardinia, Italy. With Klaas Meertens, Oyster shareholder on board Sarafin yacht as a guest on day one, and David Tydeman, Oyster CEO supporting Britta Bunkenburg as well as Thorsten Flack from the Oyster Hamburg office for a day on the new Karibu yacht, the interest was high.
Second Oyster 885 superyacht Karibu - Photo by Ingrid Abery Photography www.ingridabery.com
Seasoned from her participation in the St Barths Bucket and the YCCS Loro Piana Virgin Gorda regattas in March 2013 and with more than 14,000 sailing miles now under her belt, the owner and guests of the Oyster 100-01 yacht Sarafin, made time in their summer cruising calendar to take part in both the Dubois Cup and the Loro Piana regatta’s during 1 – 8 June. Placed fourth and sixth in the Dubois Cup, resulting in a fourth overall, the Sarafin team lined up against the Oyster 885-02 yacht Karibu as the hot favourite for the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta.
Somewhat in contrast, the new Oyster 885-02 superyacht Karibu, having just completed her maiden voyage down to the Mediteranean following handover in April in the UK, was still settling in new sails and heading out onto the race course for their first hoist of the spinnaker.
Race one in ten knots of wind was a comfortable win for Sarafin yacht, taking third in class, with luxury yacht Karibu ten minutes behind in fourth, suffering from taking a long time to get the spinnaker hoisted!
First Oyster 100 SARAFIN Yacht - Image courtesy of Oyster Marine
Race two – a bit more wind and another win to superyacht Sarafin, taking second in class, with Karibu yacht fifth – but much closer, less than three minutes on corrected between them after three and half hours of racing. Race three and the battle moved up a gear, more wind again and a different course with Karibu showing a very powerful performance upwind and securing second with Sarafin fourth.
Sadly, no wind for race four and no chance for luxury yacht Karibu to try for a repeat performance. So well done to Sarafin yacht, securing third in class overall and also to Karibu, just behind her fourth in class overall and only two points behind.
Great results for the two Oyster Superyachts – it will be great to see superyacht Karibu at the Oyster Regatta in Palma in October, she’s shown she’s significantly more powerful than an Oyster 82 and clearly will give the Oyster 82-14 yacht Starry Night a challenge this year. Oyster 100–02 superyacht Penelope will be seen in Palma next week at the Superyacht Cup and Oyster hopes that she will also attend the Oyster Palma Regatta.
