Representing American craftsmanship and an international collaboration, the sailing yacht Ouzel has been in development in Maine for the past few years. This modern-classical superyacht wrapped up multiple days of sailing trials with performance that confirmed expectations. That is, while her sailplan is simple, there’s nothing modest about the power or speeds she reaches.
The 95-foot (29-meter) sailing superyacht is an entirely custom project, a rarity in her size range. Her construction represents a rare approach, too. Rockport Marine’s experience with cold-molded wood construction attracted the owners, as did the fact that it’s an American yard. For this project, Rockport Marine combined cold-molded wood (specifically, Douglas fir and western red cedar), carbon fiber, fiberglass, and foam coring. Sam Temple, the president, says wood-composite techniques result in the low maintenance of a typical fiberglass yacht yet the technical and aesthetic value of a wood one.
All of this supports the owners’ goals of maintaining a good pace during cruises among far-flung islands and high latitudes. So does the straightforward selection of a mainsail, Yankee, and staysail, plus a Code Zero headsail when sailing off wind.
During four days of trials on Penobscott Bay, multiple build and design team members were aboard the sailing yacht Ouzel, taking the wheel as well. Tom Degrémont, a designer with Langan Design Partners, says the last day was particularly good. The combination of a building afternoon sea breeze and overall “picture-perfect conditions,” he notes, resulted in a surprisingly quick crossing of the bay. “The boat responded and behaved in the ways we expected,” Degrémont explains. “The impression of power, the speeds we reached, the feeling of control at the helm, the balance of the boat—everything felt exactly like I’d hoped it would feel.”
Peter Wilson, the owners’ representative from MCM, agrees. “To hoist the main and headsails and heel the yacht over for the first time was a profoundly rewarding milestone,” he says. He further credits Temple with tapping the right subcontractors for everything from the sails to rigging, hydraulics, and electrical systems. “It came as no surprise to me that Ouzel performed excellently,” he continues. “Steering the yacht was effortless and super responsive.”
The assembled team got onboard with the owners’ vision, a deeper-draft keel and a powerful sailplan. Draft is 12 feet (3.66 meters), while the sail plan exceeds 4,500 square feet (418 square meters). These, Degrémont explains, promised strong performance from the start. Furthermore, “you can get somewhere, or get out of harm’s way, fast.” Once again, the last day of sailing trials proved his point. According to Degrémont, Ouzel was “going upwind at 10 knots, tacking through less than 90 degrees with a Yankee and a staysail, and doing 12 knots in 15 knots of breeze while reaching.”
Mark Whiteley of Mark Whiteley Design, the interior designer, even had a chance to take the helm. “We hit a particularly nice stretch of strong wind, and she briefly did over 13 knots,” he says. It’s big performance that goes with her big profile. “Walking down the gangway to the dock, there were all these pretty, beautiful, wooden Concordia yawls and other boats,” he remembers. “But Ouzel is a magnificent and towering yacht in her own right.”
Langan Design Partners langandesign.com
Mark Whiteley Design markwhiteleydesign.com
MCM mcmnewport.com
Rockport Marine rockportmarine.com
More About the Yacht Ouzel
LOA: 95’0” (28.96 meters)
Beam: 20’6” (6.25 meters)
Draft: 12’0” (3.66 meters)
Guests: 8 in 4 staterooms
Sailplan: 4,500 square feet (418 square meters)
Rig: performance-oriented sloop, Park Avenue boom
Builder: Rockport Marine
Stylist: Mark Whiteley Design
Naval Architect: Langan Design Partners
Interior Designer: Mark Whiteley Design
