Rockport, Maine — The 95-foot (29-meter) sailing superyacht Ouzel has successfully completed a series of sea trials on Penobscot Bay, confirming the vessel’s exceptional balance of luxury, craftsmanship, and high-performance sailing.

Developed through a collaboration between Langan Design Partners, Mark Whiteley Design, Rockport Marine, and Marine Construction Management (MCM), the contemporary classic yacht consistently exceeded 12 knots under a simple cruising sail configuration in moderate winds, meeting or surpassing the project’s performance expectations.

Designed for long-range cruising to remote destinations and higher latitudes, Ouzel features a streamlined sail plan by Doyle Sails, including a mainsail, Yankee jib, staysail, and a Code Zero headsail for off-wind sailing. The combination delivers both ease of handling and impressive sailing efficiency.

Tom Degrémont of Langan Design Partners, who participated in the trials, praised the yacht’s performance, describing the experience as everything the design team had envisioned. He highlighted the yacht’s power, speed, balance, and responsive helm, noting that the vessel quickly crossed Penobscot Bay under the Code Zero sail while achieving all of the project’s targeted performance goals.

Interior designer Mark Whiteley shared his admiration for Ouzel’s commanding presence and refined appearance, describing the yacht as both striking and elegant among the classic wooden vessels in the harbor. During the trials, Whiteley had the opportunity to helm the yacht in strong winds, where Ouzel briefly exceeded 13 knots while maintaining the graceful character expected of her modern-classic design.

For Rockport Marine President Sam Temple, the successful trials marked the culmination of years of meticulous planning and craftsmanship. Reflecting on the project while aboard the yacht, he credited the close collaboration among the design, engineering, and construction teams for producing a vessel that seamlessly integrates performance, functionality, and aesthetics.

Peter Wilson of Marine Construction Management (MCM) described the first sailing experience as a significant milestone following years of design development, technical reviews, and testing. He praised the coordinated efforts of the multidisciplinary commissioning team—including sailmakers, riggers, hydraulics specialists, electrical and mechanical technicians—and said Ouzel performed exceptionally well throughout the trials, requiring only minor routine adjustments. He also highlighted the yacht’s effortless steering and highly responsive handling.

According to Degrémont, the owners’ decision to equip Ouzel with a deeper 12-foot draft keel and more than 4,500 square feet of upwind sail area reflects their commitment to performance-oriented cruising. The configuration enables the yacht to sail upwind at approximately 10 knots, tack through less than 90 degrees, and reach speeds of 12 knots in 15 knots of wind. For more demanding upwind conditions or competitive sailing, the yacht can also be fitted with a blade jib in place of the Yankee and staysail.

Constructed by Rockport Marine, Ouzel represents the successful collaboration of Langan Design Partners, Mark Whiteley Design, and Marine Construction Management, combining timeless styling with modern sailing performance to create a superyacht equally suited for luxurious cruising and spirited passagemaking.