Looking at Ouzel, the reference to New England’s sailing tradition is immediate. The long bow overhang, classic stern, sheer line and low-profile deckhouse belong to a language deliberately rooted in sailing history. Beneath this appearance, however, the project follows distinctly contemporary principles.
Built in Maine by Rockport Marine, the 95-foot sailing yacht features a wood-composite structure in which traditional woodworking techniques are combined with carbon fibre and E-glass. The choice is consistent with the yacht’s intended purpose: long-distance cruising and fast ocean passages, from equatorial waters to high latitudes.
The project began in 2021 with a meeting between the owner and Peter Wilson of MCM – Marine Construction Management. The team gradually took shape: first came Langan Design Partners, the Newport-based studio responsible for naval architecture and exterior design, followed by Rockport Marine for the build and finally Mark Whiteley Design, based in Lymington, UK, for the interiors.
Wood-Composite as part of the project
Construction is one of the aspects that best defines Ouzel. Rockport Marine adopted a wood-composite technique based on laminating layers of planking in different orientations. Carbon fibre is incorporated where it offers a structural advantage, while E-glass is used as an outer sheathing.
The timbers used are Douglas fir and western red cedar, materials that maintain a connection with Maine’s boatbuilding tradition. At the same time, the possibility of integrating carbon fibre and foam cores in strategic areas allows this technique to be adapted to the requirements of a modern ocean-going sailing yacht.
It is precisely this coexistence that makes the project interesting: wood is not used to recreate a yacht from the past, but becomes the starting point for a contemporary construction process. “In Ouzel – explains Sam Temple, President of Rockport Marine – I see the product of so many well-considered choices,” also highlighting the benefits of wood-composite construction in terms of maintenance, corrosion resistance and strength-to-weight properties.
Classic Lines, contemporary appendages
From the outset, the brief given to Langan Design Partners called for Ouzel to express Maine’s boatbuilding heritage through the proportions of a pilothouse cutter. This approach led to the long bow overhang, classic counter stern, particularly sleek sheer line, teak-clad bulwarks and traditionally styled deckhouse. Together, these elements create a coherent profile without turning Ouzel into a replica of a historic yacht.
Below the waterline, the language changes. The yacht features a fin keel with a hydrodynamic bulb, developed to achieve the right balance between stability and upwind performance. Draught reaches 12 feet, a deliberate choice by the owner to favour performance. A deep spade rudder and modern propeller complete the configuration.
The distinction between what happens above and below the waterline neatly sums up the yacht’s character: its appearance refers to tradition, while its appendages and dynamic behaviour respond to the expectations of a yacht designed to cover long distances quickly.
A sail plan developed for cruising
The same principle guides the rig design. Ouzel features a carbon-fibre mast and Park Avenue boom, combined with a sail plan developed to balance performance with ease of handling. Doyle Sails supplied a cruising sail wardrobe comprising a mainsail, Yankee, staysail and blade jib, a configuration selected in part to allow straightforward handling with a short-handed crew. Off the wind, the Code Zero comes into play.
Doyle’s documentation provides further detail: the fully battened mainsail, Yankee, staysail and blade jib use Stratis Super Yacht Cruise technology, with FlexiFurl battens for the blade jib. The Code Zero features a structured luff, while the sail wardrobe also includes a Dacron trisail. “Ouzel – observes Paul Tingle of Doyle Sails – is a perfect example of how modern sail design can enhance both performance and the owner’s cruising experience,” describing the sail plan as simple, efficient and versatile, developed to give the yacht the confidence to undertake very different types of cruising while remaining easy to sail.
The first sea trials provided tangible confirmation of this approach. In the waters of Penobscot Bay, with 10-15 knots of breeze, Ouzel reached around 10 knots upwind under staysail and Yankee, before approaching 12 knots on a reach. The performance also impressed the owner. Peter Wilson reported that, during his first sail aboard, he particularly appreciated the light helm, visibility and the yacht’s behaviour both upwind and when reaching.
Inside Ouzel, the classic becomes lighter
The dialogue between tradition and contemporary design continues below deck. For the interiors, Mark Whiteley Design adopted an approach described by the designer himself as modern classical, built around carefully considered proportions and a use of materials that recalls yacht tradition without weighing down the spaces.
The low-profile deckhouse accommodates a particularly bright raised saloon, with deep seating and, to starboard, a large navigation station alongside a desk. A companionway leads down to the lower saloon, where the arrangement becomes more classical, organising spaces for conversation and dining. Natural light enters through hatches and hull lights. The accommodation also includes three guest cabins and one crew cabin.
In terms of materials, light-coloured hand-painted panelling provides a backdrop for the mahogany cabinetry, accompanied by metal details used as accents throughout the interior. The contrast between the white surfaces and mahogany preserves the traditional character of the spaces while making them feel visually lighter.
Ouzel and Maine’s boatbuilding culture
Ouzel’s significance ultimately emerges through its relationship with the place where it was built. Rockport Marine belongs to a boatbuilding culture in which specialist woodworking skills remain deeply rooted, yet the project demonstrates how these can be transferred into a contemporary construction process.
Douglas fir, western red cedar, teak and mahogany therefore coexist with carbon fibre, E-glass, a modern sail plan and appendages designed around performance. Tradition remains visible, but it is used as a design material. Ouzel finds its identity in the continuity between two apparently distant approaches. Across her 95 feet, the cutter profile and culture of wood remain recognisable, while the structure, appendages and sail plan respond to the requirements of a yacht designed to sail extensively and for long periods. Rather than looking backwards, the project uses the New England tradition as the foundation for a contemporary approach to sailing.
