{"id":61615,"date":"2025-11-26T10:29:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=61615"},"modified":"2025-11-26T10:33:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:33:21","slug":"rockport-marine-launches-ouzel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/sailboats\/rockport-marine-launches-ouzel\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockport Marine Launches 95-Foot Sailing Yacht <i>Ouzel<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ouzel_Russell-Kaye_Still-2025-11-12-002-ZM2-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image disable-lazyload\" alt=\"Rockport Marine launching a 95-foot sloop, Ouzel.\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ouzel_Russell-Kaye_Still-2025-11-12-002-ZM2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ouzel_Russell-Kaye_Still-2025-11-12-002-ZM2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ouzel_Russell-Kaye_Still-2025-11-12-002-ZM2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ouzel_Russell-Kaye_Still-2025-11-12-002-ZM2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ouzel_Russell-Kaye_Still-2025-11-12-002-ZM2.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Rockport Marine launches the 95-foot sloop <i>Ouzel<\/i>, a modern classic built in Maine for world cruising and performance sailing.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Russell Kaye\/Courtesy Rockport Marine<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Rockport Marine has completed the technical launch of <em>Ouzel<\/em>, a 95-foot custom sailing yacht conceived as a long-range cruising sloop with refined performance and modern systems. After three years of construction at the Maine boatyard, <em>Ouzel<\/em> is now afloat and beginning mechanical and systems trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe id=\"gkstfcayky\" src=\"https:\/\/cruisingworld.dragonforms.com\/gkstfcayky\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>Designed by Langan Design Partners of Newport Rhode Island with interior design and exterior styling support from Mark Whiteley Design of Lymington England, <em>Ouzel<\/em> reflects a collaborative approach that draws on expertise from both sides of the Atlantic. Owner representation and project management were handled by MCM Newport, whose team coordinated closely with designers and builders throughout the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Built using Rockport Marine\u2019s wood-composite construction method, the hull blends cold-molded wood with carbon fiber E-glass and foam coring. The approach is intended to deliver modern composite durability while retaining the tactile and acoustic qualities long associated with traditional wooden yachts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a common perception that you can\u2019t build a yacht like this in the United States any longer,\u201d said Peter Wilson, president of MCM. \u201cWhen the world finally gets to see what this team has created, they\u2019ll quickly realize that you can build a world-class superyacht right here at Rockport Marine in Maine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-91-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Ouzel yacht\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-91-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-91-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-91-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-91-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-91.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Fine joinery and clean deckhouse lines reflect <i>Ouzel<\/i>\u2019s modern classic craftsmanship.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Billy Black\/Courtesy Rockport Marine<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>According to the build team, close coordination was key. Designers builders and owner representatives met weekly by video conference and convened regularly in Rockport to review progress and full-scale mock-ups. That rhythm carried the project from raw materials to launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s satisfying to bring a project of this quality from raw materials to this moment,\u201d said Sam Temple president of Rockport Marine. \u201cWe have had a strong team and wise clients. Looking longer term, I am pleased but not surprised to see increased acceptance of wood-composite building, which delivers the advantages of wood with maintenance demands comparable to other composite vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-11-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Boat launch at Rockport Marine\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-11-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-11-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-11-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-11-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RM_Ouzel_11_09_25_BillyBlack-11.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\"><i>Ouzel<\/i>\u2019s timeless hull form poised for launch at Rockport Marine, marking her first moments afloat.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Billy Black\/Courtesy Rockport Marine<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Tom Degremont of Langan Design Partners said the project highlights how traditional skills and modern techniques can coexist. \u201cWe are seeing consistently brilliant work by the team at Rockport to blend ageless boatbuilding skills with modern materials,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has been exciting to see the full package come together as <em>Ouzel<\/em> touches the water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the interior perspective, Mark Whiteley noted that the construction method contributes directly to life aboard. \u201cThe quality of craftsmanship ranks alongside the world\u2019s best,\u201d he said. \u201cThe wood-composite structure enhances the aesthetic acoustic and even aromatic qualities of the interior. At this stage we remain focused on final systems testing but we are delighted to see her afloat.\u201dWith launch complete, <em>Ouzel<\/em> transitions from construction project to sailing yacht. Sea trials will validate systems and performance ahead of delivery, closing a chapter on a build that underscores the continued capabilities of American yards in the world of large custom sailing yachts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The modern classic sloop enters sea trials, marking a milestone for U.S.-built world cruising yachts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":61617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Cruising World News Desk","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"ad_targeting":"","alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":"","sponsored_image":false,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[167],"tags":[445,710,800,197,1390,195],"class_list":["post-61615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sailboats","tag-bluewater-sailing","tag-boatbuilding","tag-boatyard","tag-people","tag-sailboat-design","tag-sailboats"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}