The world’s your Oyster

With the spread of Covid-19 creating a worldwide pandemic, countries closing their borders, international flights grounded and travel guidelines changing on a near-daily basis, who would have imagined that Oyster World Rally 2022-23 would not only secure a full complement of entries but would also be able to set off as planned?

So when the starting cannon was fired from Charlotte’s Point in Antigua at 1300hrs on 9 January 2022, the excitement, relief and trepidation from those onshore and on the 25 luxury British built yachts taking part, was momentous. Against all the odds, the Oyster World Rally 2022-23, a 16-month, 27,000 nautical mile circumnavigation of the world with 25 meeting points en route was underway.

Pandemic challenges

“Organising a fully-supported world rally with numerous stopovers, managing everything from