Unlike a race or competitive regatta, the Oyster World Rally (OWR) is a fully supported circumnavigation organised by Oyster Yachts and open only to owners of Oyster yachts measuring at least 45 feet. It’s less about finish lines and more about personal milestones—exploration, connection, and living an extraordinary life at sea. And it’s gaining momentum: the next rally in 2026–27 is already oversubscribed with 30 yachts, while interest in the 2028 edition continues to grow, with thousands of prospective participants lining up.
A course around the globe
The 2024–25 rally began at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua in January 2024 and took participants west through the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, into the Pacific and beyond. Highlights included snorkelling in Bonaire, swimming with hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos, and navigating remote coral atolls in French Polynesia. The route passed Australia, climbed through the Indian Ocean, skirted the southern tip of Africa, and circled back to the Caribbean.
Each leg delivered fresh challenges and new cultural experiences. Whether it was celebrating with locals in Indonesian villages or watching manta rays glide by in Daniel’s Bay in the Marquesas, every stop offered something unique. The rally blends structured logistics with personal freedom—crews sail at their own pace, supported by Oyster’s global network and communications system. This format allows for real independence without losing the safety net of professional coordination.
Designed for adventure
The OWR’s success lies in its detailed planning and layered support. Entry fees range based on yacht size—approximately €110,000 for 50–60 footers, €147,000 for 70–80 footers, and customised pricing for vessels over 90 feet. Packages scale with needs. The base “Adventurer” tier covers essentials like weather routing, communications, and port logistics. The “Explorer” and “Voyager” packages offer added benefits including tailored events at each destination, yacht preparation, crewing, and even post-rally sales support.
The rally isn’t something you sign up for at the last minute. Most participants begin preparations up to two years in advance. All crews require at least one member with an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate. Oyster offers an 18-month training programme to ensure that even novice sailors are prepared for the demands of ocean passages. Safety, seamanship, and readiness are top priorities.
Some owners purchase an Oyster yacht specifically to join the rally. That was the case for several 2024–25 participants, including Gabby and her partner aboard their custom-built Oyster 745, Mexican Wave. “We met racing an X-332 and always said we’d sail around the world one day,” she said. “With the kids grown and the pandemic behind us, it felt like now or never.”
For the Laufenberg family aboard Altaia, an Oyster 655, it was a natural next step in an already extensive sailing career. Martina and Carsten had already logged 15,000 miles aboard their yacht before the rally began, and their son Cedric—fresh from university—joined them for the full circumnavigation. Speaking from the Marquesas, Cedric described how the rally allowed both structured progression and personal freedom: “The Marquesas have been a highlight so far. The landscapes are dramatic, but it’s the small things—like manta rays swimming by—that stay with you.”
Families, digital nomads, and a new way of life
Participants in the Oyster World Rally come from all walks of life. Some are retirees fulfilling a lifelong goal. Others are families using the experience as an educational journey. The Salame family aboard Ahlam took their two sons on the rally as a way to bond, educate, and experience the world as a family unit. “It’s a chance to see the world in a way no packaged tour or short holiday could ever provide,” said Toni-Nicolás Salame.
Many crews use Starlink satellite internet to stay connected and work remotely. This is the case for Pau Serracanta and Helena Sempere aboard the Oyster 595 Mastegot. The Barcelona-based couple have turned the rally into a lifestyle of sailing, surfing, and digital work—a prime example of how modern technology is enabling entirely new modes of living.
These stories reflect a broader shift: the rally isn’t just a sailing event, but a pathway to a different life. It represents a new kind of freedom—one defined not by what participants leave behind, but by what they embrace along the way: resilience, community, exploration, and self-reliance.
Challenges and triumphs
While the rally delivers stunning vistas and unforgettable encounters, it’s far from a cruise. Long ocean passages test stamina. Navigating coral reefs demands precision. Weather systems shift rapidly. Crews face mechanical issues, provisioning headaches, and sleep-deprived night watches. But these trials are central to the experience. They foster teamwork, develop seamanship, and unlock personal growth.
“You think you’re doing it to sail around the world. But really, you’re doing it to grow,” one participant reflected. It’s a sentiment echoed across the fleet. The experience reveals character, builds resilience, and changes perspectives. These are not simply holidays—they’re milestones in people’s lives.
The joy of homecoming
As the 2024–25 rally drew to a close, the mood grew celebratory. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope, the fleet made stops in St Helena, Brazil, and Grenada. There were beach barbecues, music, dancing, and the anticipation of reunion. When the yachts returned to Antigua in April 2025, they were met with cannon blasts, champagne, hugs, and cheers.
The celebration continued with the Oyster Antigua Regatta—an annual event of relaxed racing and social festivities. For many, it was a final hurrah before returning to their respective shores. But for others, it was only the beginning of a new phase of their lives at sea.
A growing legacy
From its origins in 2013 to now, the Oyster World Rally has evolved into a cornerstone of modern bluewater cruising. With its balance of structure and autonomy, professionalism and passion, the rally offers something rare: a truly curated, global sailing experience. As new technologies like satellite internet make full-time cruising more viable, interest in the rally continues to surge.
For Oyster, it’s not just about selling yachts—it’s about building a community and a legacy. And for participants, it’s not just about sailing around the world—it’s about discovering a new way to live.
In bluewater sailing, every return is just another beginning. For those who’ve completed the Oyster World Rally, the journey doesn’t end in Antigua—it lives on in every choice, every horizon, and every dream that follows.
