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The Ouzel's first sea trials now provide an opportunity to evaluate the design choices made throughout its development, from the ship's architecture to the rigging and deck layout.
A hull designed for fast long-distance cruising
The Ouzel is a 95-foot sailboat?nearly 29 meters?built by Rockport Marine in collaboration with Langan Design Partners for naval architecture, Mark Whiteley Design for interior design, and Marine Construction Management for project management.
Its design is clearly geared toward offshore cruising, with voyages to high latitudes and long-distance crossings. Tests conducted in a moderate breeze show the boat is capable of maintaining speeds above 12 knots under cruising sail, with reported peaks exceeding 13 knots when the wind picks up.
These features are designed with ease of use in mind rather than solely for speed.
A deliberately simple sail plan
One of the most notable choices concerns the rigging. The Ouzel is equipped with a mainsail, a Yankee, a forestay storm jib, and a Code Zero for downwind sailing. This configuration minimizes the number of sail changes while covering a wide range of sailing conditions.
For close-hauled sailing or repeated maneuvers near the coast, a low-overlapping jib can replace the Yankee and forestay sail.
This approach prioritizes ease of handling on a yacht of this size while maintaining high cruising performance.
Deep draft for enhanced performance
The owners chose a hull with a draft of 12 feet, or approximately 3.66 meters. This choice imposes certain access limitations in shallow anchorages but improves the boat?s upwind performance and stability under sail.
According to initial observations made during testing, the boat heaves to the wind at about 10 knots and turns at an angle of less than 90°. With a true wind speed of about 15 knots while sailing close-hauled, speeds of nearly 12 knots were recorded.
These figures confirm a focus on efficient long-distance navigation rather than a pursuit of versatility in shallow waters.
A balance between architecture, construction, and ergonomics
The various project stakeholders highlight the work done on system installation, listening passages, lines of sight from the helm stations, and the integration of technical equipment.
The trials were also intended to verify the proper functioning of all hydraulic, electrical, and electronic systems, as well as the rigging. The teams on board noted only a short list of adjustments, as is customary during the initial trial run of a new yacht.
Early feedback highlights what is considered balanced handling, as well as a responsive steering wheel that requires little effort.
Validation before owners take possession
Beyond sheer performance, this test campaign marks the culmination of several years of design, calculations, and construction. It validates the key technical decisions prior to the sailboat?s delivery.
The Ouzel thus joins the ranks of large, custom-built cruising yachts, with a design clearly geared toward long voyages and distant destinations, where the ability to maintain a steady speed under sail remains an asset for both comfort and safety.
