Few things can be as exhilarating as long sailing voyages, better known as circumnavigation. Oyster Yachts offers a fully supported sailing voyage for customers to enjoy their yachts on curated routes, in the company of a community of enthusiastic sailors.
Known as the Oyster World Rally, the voyage takes participants across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans with visits to 27 exotic locations, in French Polynesia, Indonesia, Australia, and more, over a 16-month period.
Richard Hadida, chairman of Oyster Yachts, is participating in the current voyage, along with his wife Ali and son Harry. We asked Richard about what motivated him to join the rally and the experiences he hopes to enjoy.
Why does the Oyster World Rally feel like the right way to experience circumnavigation?
The Oyster World Rally embodies what drew me to Oyster initially — a love for discovery and a deep connection with the ocean. From bringing Oyster owners together to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, to being able to place your trust in the full support Oyster team, the Oyster World Rally promotes the shared experience of exploration, in comfort and confidence, while celebrating the freedom that only the ocean can give.
Having traveled extensively by air, what do you anticipate this voyage will teach you that flying never could?
While I've traveled nearly enough air miles to reach the moon and back, modern travel moves at a such rapid pace that makes it difficult to be present. Sailing restores that, slowing life down enough to reconnect with the quiet moments. 16 months at sea will teach me about presence in a way air travel never could.
In many ways, the voyage is a test of skill, endurance, and spirit. Which aspect do you expect to be the most challenging?
Every voyage brings unique challenges, but our primary focus is definitely Harry’s well-being. Ali has done a brilliant job preparing the boat to make Lush secure for a toddler. She’s a former NHS doctor, which has really helped with medical preparations. She worked with Dr. Briggs, who builds medical kits for sailors, to create one tailored for a two-year-old, because the standard kits aren’t fit for his needs.
She’s been testing life jackets, finding harness systems that let him securely move around, and stocking up on endless toys to keep him entertained. Having a toddler on board introduces a new dynamic to the Rally that I’m confident we’ll work through together as a family, especially with all of the preparation that went into it.
What does “purposeful exploration” mean in practice, and how will you decide when to push on versus stay longer?
For Oyster, purposeful exploration means that there is careful planning behind each stage of the rally to ensure clear intent, preparation, and confidence for owners. Oyster yachts are built to enable long-distance, blue-water sailing where owners explore remote oceans and cultures while knowing their yacht, and the route they’re following, is designed for safety, reliability, and long-term living.
As the world’s only fully supported global circumnavigation, the Oyster World Rally is supported by the Oyster team every step of the way so that owners can take on each leg of the voyage with intention and a clear sense of purpose, leaving each place better than it was found. The team has carefully curated the adventure to ensure an effortless experience for Oyster owners, even down to timing the route to make the most of global weather patterns.
Sailing with your family will likely enhance the experience. What are you most excited to share as a family?
I’m most excited to share this special time together as a family before Harry has other obligations like school, which he will be just about ready for upon our return. It’s the ultimate bonding opportunity for a toddler to see the whole world alongside both his parents.
Ali is an avid biology lover and is most excited to experience the Galápagos, which she’s wanted to see for years, so I’m excited to share that experience with her. Some of the other places I’m especially looking forward to visiting alongside my family are the San Blas Islands, the Panama Canal, and French Polynesia.
You will be sailing in an Oyster 885. What do you like most about this particular yacht?
Lush is a 90-foot Oyster 885, built for long passages and designed to balance performance with comfort. Like all Oysters, she is safe, reliable, and easy to handle, which makes a journey like this possible. My favorite aspect of Lush and the 885 model is its signature seascape windows. You can look out four inches over the sea, which provides a level of connection to the journey unmatched by other vessels.
This will be Lush’s second circumnavigation, and she has also completed nineteen Atlantic crossings since she launched in 2012, and she has also crossed the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. One of my other favorite things about Lush is the legacy she carries around the world, being one of few boats her age that has done this many miles.
The rally is known for its community. What kinds of relationships are you hoping to build within the fleet?
Community is at the heart of Oyster. There is a distinct bond that forms when you face the same winds and witness the same sunsets as your peers. You might start the Rally as strangers, but the shared experiences turn those connections into lifelong friendships. I hope to build new relationships with fellow Oyster owners and gain friends to sail with for years to come.
When you talk about freedom to explore without compromise, what do you expect that to feel like during the journey?
Many of the places we visit on the Oyster World Rally are only accessible by boat, which is a level of freedom of exploration that most methods of travel just can’t offer. Flying gives you snapshots, but sailing lets you really live the journey. I expect to feel each mile with my family in a slower, more immersive way than any of our family trips have ever allowed. Experiencing the world this way with Ali and Harry makes it a lifelong dream come true.
