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Ocean Explorer OE60

The yard behind the Ocean Explorer OE60 luxury performance catamaran is right next to Nautor’s Swan in Jakobstad, Finland: they have a real pedigree in building high performance yachts with oodles of style. And the designer? None other than German Frers who are behind the Swan 54, 60 and 78 among others.

The OE60 is the first model in a range that will go up to 78ft. This is their entry level boat, so they are aiming at the top end of the market. If you are looking for something smaller you might want to check out our ITA 14.99 review or take a look at the HH55. The 60 continues with the traditions of all of those performance boats from the Lagoon 67 and others that aim to match speed and comfort over long distances.

This boat is full of carbon to make it stiff, light and strong, with a full carbon rig and an option of a full carbon hull as well. Dual helm stations aft complete a package that is a no-compromise sailor’s yacht designed for maximum feel on the water.

Forget Hygge, that Danish word that got so much press a couple of years back—there’s a New Finnish word in town for cosy and that’s kalsarikannit – because that’s exactly what the saloon of this luxury cat feels like. The nav station on the forward port side of the saloon, with push button controls to all of the main controls is a real Wow Factor.

Nav station? It’s more like a Bridge. The saloon has sweeping all round views, and access to the foredeck is through a watertight door. You’ll be managing the halyards from here.

Even though this yacht has aft helms (like some of those classic custom boats such as the Azizam catamaran from JFA), the visibility is excellent through the windows of that coach roof. The galley has an island that runs along the port side and opposite is the dining area. The whole space opens up into the aft cockpit area to make a large living space.

That’s the other benefit of those aft helms of course. If you love your Nautitechs and Catanas, you are going to love it: it’s a super luxury version of this type of layout.

The Ocean Explorer has good green credentials too with plenty of options including solar panels, regenerating prop, electric propulsion and black water treatment systems.

The finish on this catamaran is on a similar level to Swan – top of the class in other words.

Frers are famous for designing yachts with beautiful lines – and they have achieved this with this elegant catamaran. She looks sleek and powerful from most angles, although that cut away in the coach roof around the mast is an acquired taste. Let’s just call it quirky, shall we? She’ll stand out next to any boat.

I personally love the aft helms for that monohull feel. Let’s face it, if the weather turns nasty you are going to be tucked into that amazing nav station up front all warm and dry. The forward cockpit is a great area for manning halyards and standing watch in better weather too.

With that spreader-less rig (carbon option), she cuts a clean profile on the water. There are options for a spreader rig for a more powerful sail plan and a rotating mast too. She has a boom vang too which you don’t often see on cats this size.

And with her retractable keels and rudders she’ll get right into those skinny water anchorages.

The genoa and self tacking solent are on electric furlers and you are free to run your downwind sails off the bowsprit. There are neat little details everywhere- the tension of the stay on the stay sail can be adjusted with a hydraulic control, for example. The genoa comes into its own when you are off the wind or on longer crossings.

Because this is a Frers, this is a sailor’s boat. Those helms give you full visibility of the sails and optimum feeling at the wheel.

All the sheets run aft and the controls are accessed on the helm control panel – raising and lowering the daggerboards, adjusting the traveller, forestay and sheet adjustments are all controlled from here. She’s been set up so that 2 people can easily manage her long distance sailing.

Under Power

The dual 80 HP Yanmars will push you along at up to 10 knots in calm conditions. Back them off to 2100 rpm and you should comfortably hit 7 knots, or just alternate between port and starboard for even more efficiency.

The Ocean Explorer OE60 catamaran is right up there on the top table of luxury performance catamarans. The finish is Swan quality and she’s been designed with sailors in mind with some deceptively simple touches that make her easy to handle for a short-handed crew.

You will need deep pockets, however. Price is on application and will depend on the kind of options you go for, but to give you an idea, a 2017 OE60 (“Cygnus Cygnus”) was on the market at the time of publication for €3.25 m.

Less than a Gunboat, but more than an Outremer 5X in other words. Start saving.

Technical Specification

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The most advanced exploration, research, and media vessel ever built.

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You can’t talk high-performance sailing without talking about construction. Each yacht utilizes superior design, advanced engineering, and only the finest composite materials critical for the optimum strength to weight ratio. In keeping with the highest traditions of Finnish yacht building, each Ocean Explorer is handcrafted by an expert team of generational craftspeople.

Essential to any luxury yacht is the comfort, flow, utilization of space, and natural light of the interior design. With 360-degree vistas, superb ergonomics, and relaxing spaces, each interior is beautifully appointed, and custom finished to each owners’ personal tastes.

The Builder - Ocean Quality Systems

OQS was founded by companies with extensive experience from the luxury boatbuilding industry in Jakobstad-Pietarsaari. Our region is very well known for having produced internationally leading sailing brand names going back over 40 years.

We are very much proud to carry the heritage of exquistely crafted yachts into the catamaran market. At OQS we combine experience with innovative design and functionality. We always place the client at the heart of everything we do.

The Design - By GERMÁN FRERS

The Ocean Explorer catamaran is designed by Germán Frers, who is internationally known for his efficient and beautiful designs.

The combination of the design by Frers and the experience behind the OQS-team will provide you with the best yachting experience ever to be shared with family and friends.

The people and organizations behind OQS have been carefully selected with proven track records regarding quality and attitude. Together we create value for our clients and their guests by enabling them to enjoy and explore the world in a comfortable, stylish and safe way.

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HIGH PERFORMANCE WITH ABUNDANT LIVING AND ENTERTAINING AREAS

The new OE78 will embody the Scandinavian archetype of the OE60 and OE72 while expanding on the core features to become the ultimate maxi catamaran. Whether you plan to cruise stylishly around the world or race comfortably at 25+ knots offshore, the OE78 will be the perfect platform to reach your goal. The combination of high performance and abundant living and entertaining areas makes the OE78 comparable to a 100’+ performance cruising monohull while maintaining a very shallow draft to reach more destinations. Designed with the same efficient hull shape as her sister ships, the additional length and width create room for a spacious master cabin as well as VIP cabins, all with exemplary attention to detail in a timeless design.

The OE78 offers a unique balance between comfort and performance and will not be overtaken by any other catamaran in her class. The fully customizable layout is designed to operate with three to four crew depending on the intended use. The six-cabin arrangement provides a generous amount of personal space and comfort. A four, five, and seven cabin arrangement remains a part of the custom layouts available.

General Plans

Technical specification and sail plan.

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Ocean Explorer C-60

Main characteristics.

• Type: Catamaran
• Builder: OQS-Ocean Quality Systems
• Loa: 18,50m / 60,7ft
• Beam: 9,08m / 29,8ft
• Draught: Min. 0,8m / 2,62ft. Max. 2m / 6,56ft
• Construction: Expoxy + e-glass, vacuum infused
• Main engines: 2 X 75 hp
• Range: 900nm
• Fuel capacity: 800 L
• Max. Speed: 12 Knots with engines
• Cruising speed: 8 Knots with engines
• Built/Refit: New build
• Design: Germán Frers
• Flag:  –
• Cabins: 3-5
• Guests: 6-10
• Classification: CE-Ocean A (DNV)
• Location: –

David Pagrotsky Senior Broker

+46 709 227878 [email protected]

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Ocean Explorer OE64

Sail performance.

Description

The Ocean Explorer OE64 is designed by sailors, for sailors, with particular attention to the ease of operation, true performance, and exceptional living and entertaining comfort. She incorporates the essential elements of a racing yacht along with the comfort and lifestyle necessities expected in a luxury global cruising yacht. Her aesthetic styling ensures she turns heads every time she enters a marina, and advanced engineering, superior materials, and quality of construction make her an impressive, next generation sailing yacht. OE64 is an evolutionary next step in technology and design from the OE60. She boasts new structural advancements such as the incorporation of pre-preg carbon bulkheads for greater strength in a lighter structure and engineered laminated flooring to resist wear and prevent warping and water absorption. An innovative new lamination schedule takes advantage of improved materials to provide lighter and stronger hulls. Her sailing design enhancements include less winches for savings in weight, power consumption and ease of sail handling. Sailing features include deeper dagger boards, longer bow sprit/longeron, no permanent staysail, and a 2nd tack fitting on longhorn.

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Performance Indicators

Performance

Bruce Number

(higher is faster)

Sail Area to Displacement

Displacement to Length

(lower is faster)

Specifications

Length (LOA)

Length (LWL)

Displacement ​ (light)

Payload capacity

Sail Area (main+jib)

Draft (min)

Draft (max)

Mast clearance

Bridgedeck clearance

Manufactured Since

Engine (hp) ​

Hull Material

Germán Frers

Daggerboards

Mechanical/Hydraulic

2 x 25KW Sail Drive

I'm interested in buying this catamaran  but have questions

There are many ways to buy a catamaran and the procedure varies between manufacturers. It's a process that takes time and you should not be afraid of starting talks with the manufacturer.

Here are some common questions you might have:

Can I afford it?  Talk to the manufacturer and they can advise you on financing options.

Can I sail it?  Arrange a test sail with the manufacturer, or ask them directly what kind of support and education they offer for boat buyers. 

If you need anything else, be it more details , an introduction to the manufacturer , a shipyard visit , a  test sail , or help with  customatization,  let us know on the Help  M e page after clicking below and we’ll help you take the next step.

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BUILDER OF OCEAN EXPLORER CATAMARANS

Built to explore with performance, comfort and style.

OQS builds semi-custom, true luxury performance catamarans for sailors who are seeking the perfect balance between real performance and exceptional liveaboard comfort.

OQS was founded by companies with extensive experience from the luxury boatbuilding industry in Jakobstad-Pietarsaari. Our region is very well known for having produced internationally leading sailing brand names going back over 40 years.

We are very much proud to carry the heritage of exquistely crafted yachts into the catamaran market. At OQS we combine experience with innovative design and functionality. We always place the client at the heart of everything we do.

A design by world renowned naval architect Germán Frers

The Ocean Explorer Catamaran is designed by Germán Frers who is internationally known for his efficient and beautiful deisgns.

The combination of Frers design and the experience behind the OQS-team will provide you with the best yachting experience ever to be shared with family and friends.

The people and organizations behind OQS and the production have been carefully selected with proven track records regarding quality and attitude. Together we create value for our customers and guests by enabling them to enjoy and explore the world in a comfortable, stylish and safe way.

The Ocean Explorer catamaran is designed by Germán Frers, who is internationally known for his efficient and beautiful designs.

The combination of the design by Frers and the experience behind the OQS-team will provide you with the best yachting experience ever to be shared with family and friends.

The people and organizations behind OQS have been carefully selected with proven track records regarding quality and attitude. Together we create value for our clients and their guests by enabling them to enjoy and explore the world in a comfortable, stylish and safe way.

READY TO TAKE THE HELM AND EXPLORE?

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• Selene 60 Ocean Explorer
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• Selene Ocean Explorer

BY GUIDO DE GROOT

Discover our selene 60 ocean explorer in 3d, a new level of luxury.

This brand new Selene 60 Ocean Explorer is the smallest vessel of the Selene Explorer line. A first look, the Selene 60 Ocean Explorer by Guido de Groot shows a number of the Selene family traits with her powerful raised pilothouse, Portuguese bridge, and bulbous bow. But a contemporary twist is also apparent in the addition of the large side windows in the hull. She is sure to appeal to existing owners and boat enthusiasts alike and takes the simple and proven concept of the fuel efficient and seaworthy long range yacht to a new level of luxury that is intended to compete directly with the finest European yards but with all of the advantages of GRP.

THREE DIFFERENT LAYOUTS

This new yacht has a brand new styling profile and a layout that contains three luxury staterooms and three, or two, bathrooms. Although the yacht can easily be operated by the owner, it has a comfortable crew quarter aft with full head for a captain or steward, which can also double as a fourth cabin. Twin or single Cummins or John Deere engines are available for the propulsion system. The interior design will be contemporary, similar to the Selene 92 and 72. There are three versions to choose from, “Full Wide Body”, “Port Side Wide Body” and “Standard Two Side Decks”.

Do not hesitate to contact us for more info : [email protected]

TECHNICAL SHEET

• LOA: 65’-1”(19,83 M)
• LOH: 60’-11” (18,56M)
• LWL: 56’- 3” (17,15 M)
• LOD: 57’- 6” (17,53 M)
• BEAM (over all with rub rail): 17’- 10”(5,44 M)
• DRAFT (to keel bottom): 6’-4” (1,93 M)
• DISPLACEMENT: 126,760 Lbs (57,5 Tons)
• BALLAST:2,645 Lbs (1200 Kgs)
• WATER CAPACITY: 500 USG (1892 Liters)
• FUEL CAPACITY: 1,800 USG (6813 Liters) for twin engine layout
• FUEL CAPACITY: 2,000 USG (7570 Liters) for single engine layout
• BLACK WATER CAPACITY: 150 USG (567 Liters)
• GRAY WATER CAPACITY: 120 USG (455 Liters)
• BRIDGE CLEARANCE RADAR ARCH UP: 19’-7” (5,96 M)
• BRIDGE CLEARANCE RADAR ARCH DOWN: 15’-4” (4,67 M)

DOWNLOAD AREA

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This Is the New Way to Cruise the Mediterranean

A new generation of expedition cruise ships are bringing a completely reimagined style of cruising to the mediterranean..

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Atlas Ocean Voyages’ 196-passenger World Traveller is equal parts polar expedition ship and luxury yacht—perfectly suited for exploring the villages and coastal coves of the Med.

Photo by Rupert Peace/Atlas Ocean Voyages

Lunching on fresh fish and sipping ice-cold rosé in a cove where private yachts anchor to play in the turquoise waters off of Sardinia, it was hard to believe I was traveling on a sister ship to the one that took me through the notoriously rough Drake Passage and a blizzard with hurricane-force winds last year in Antarctica.

Instead of learning about and braving the cold to search for penguins, whales, and seals, we were making pasta with an Italian chef, wandering neighborhood fish and produce markets, competing in onboard cook-offs, and sampling local wines and cuisine.

Welcome to the new generation of expedition cruising.

While the sector has traditionally been associated with sailings to much colder and more remote regions of the world, such as the Arctic and Antarctica, that is changing, thanks to a growing number of modern, upscale expedition ships that are a lot more like luxury yachts and sail in warmer waters for part of the year.

What expedition sailings offer “is a deeper dive wherever you go,” according to Mara Papatheodorou, our onboard culinary expert during a July “epicurean expedition” in the Mediterranean with Atlas Ocean Voyages , an American expedition cruise company that launched in 2021.

Atlas is among several expedition lines offering new and expanded sailings in destinations such as the Mediterranean, where, rather than taking a deep dive into exploring glaciers, icebergs, and polar wildlife, they are using the same equipment to bring passengers closer to the beauty and richness of places like Italy, Greece, Spain, and France—in high style.

With fewer passengers on board, vessels like the World Traveller typically feature larger staterooms and suites than standard cruise ships do.

Photo by Rui Ribeiro

Sailing the Mediterranean, expedition-style

Our 12-day Mediterranean sailing aboard Atlas’s 196-passenger World Traveller began in Rome and ended in Athens, a popular route for ships of all sizes. But save for a stop in Barcelona, we never saw another ship as we traveled along the coast of Italy, France, and Greece, and to small ports and islands such as Elba, Portovenere, Sicily, and Sardinia in Italy, as well as Nice along the French Riviera, the Spanish Balearic island of Menorca, and the picturesque city of Chania on the Greek isle Crete.

While the trip was admittedly anything but the extreme adventure I would normally associate with the term expedition , it offered an intimate, casual, and luxurious way to explore away from the masses. Rather than the natural and wildlife immersion you get during polar cruises, these sailings focus on culinary and cultural immersion on and off the ship. Although, unlike with polar sailings—during which outings are included—excursions do cost extra.

In the port city of Sète in southeastern France, we sampled local oysters and tuna during a culinary walking tour before happening upon a water jousting tournament along the main canal. An unusual sport that dates back to the 1600s, water jousting involves players who stand on ladders that stretch from huge row boats and try to knock each other off into the water as the town cheers from the sidelines.

In Sicily, we visited one of the original Marsala wine houses (where the fortified Sicilian wine is made) outside of the city of Trapani in the west. We also took a chef-led tour through a neighborhood market in Messina on the northeastern tip of the island, where the ship’s chef bought some of the region’s famed sweet yellow tomatoes, prosciutto, and local cheeses that he used to make a special appetizer for our dinner that night.

On the Spanish island of Menorca, we went to the fishing village of Fornells, where some of the guests did a food- and gin-focused walking tour. I jumped at the chance to enjoy the cool Mediterranean water on a kayaking and snorkeling excursion among underwater rock formations and caves.

During Mediterranean cruises, Atlas Ocean Voyages puts a strong focus on cuisine, serving local dishes on board (left) and guiding passengers through fresh produce and fish markets (right).

Courtesy of Atlas Ocean Voyages/Photo by Jeri Clausing

Mostly, it was all about the food, with both onboard and offboard activities offering Papatheodorou’s promised deep dives into the history of the region’s famed cuisine and wines.

Papatheodorou, a culinary expert, editor, and television producer, was our epicurean leader. She taught us about the history of the region’s foods and wines while emceeing pasta-cooking classes with Marcello Zaccaria—who has worked as Academia Barilla’s executive chef since 2001—wine tasting with a Sicilian sommelier, and chocolate making with Julieta Davey, a Costa Rican sustainability-focused chocolatier who is also known as Mama Cacao.

While many onboard cruise activities can be snooze-worthy lectures designed to fill time at sea, that wasn’t the case with Atlas. True to the educational spirit of expedition cruising, the lectures, cooking lessons, tastings, and talks on the ship were interactive, entertaining, and informative. Who knew there was such an art to pairing the right size pasta with the right sauce? It’s something Papatheodorou referred to as “the cling factor.” Or that you can cook your pasta right in the sauce, rather than boiling it separately?

Besides learning to make dishes like traditional pesto pasta and aglio e olia , or pasta with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, guests participated in cook-offs to see who could take a table full of varied ingredients to make the best Greek salads and chocolate desserts using select provided ingredients.

And there’s nothing like a little healthy competition to bond with and get to know the true colors of your fellow travelers.

The growing trend of polar ships getting off the Arctic trail

Atlas, one of the newer entrants to the small-ship expedition market, having launched in 2021, first created its epicurean adventures in the Mediterranean last year for summer sailings when its ships are not sailing Antarctica or the Arctic Circle. With the launch of a third ship last November, the company has expanded its warmer-water offerings to include cultural expeditions in South America, Morocco, and the Azores.

It’s a growing trend among both the more mainstream ultra-luxury lines, such as Viking and Seabourn, that have entered the expedition space and more traditional polar adventure operators.

While the World Traveller was purpose-built for polar, there are ample benefits to sailing with this luxury, intimate expedition ship elsewhere in the world.

Courtesy of Atlas Ocean Voyages

Aurora Expeditions , for example, which has offered Arctic and Antarctic cruises for more than 30 years, in 2026 will for the first time expand beyond the polar regions to offer immersive itineraries in destinations such as Indonesia, Borneo, the Mediterranean, the British Isles, and the Atlantic Coast.

And Aqua Expeditions , which began as a luxury river-cruise operator in the Amazon and expanded to river ships in Southeast Asia and explorer yachts in Galapagos and East Indonesia, just announced plans for a sixth ship, an explorer yacht that will sail the Seychelles, Zanzibar, and Tanzania beginning late in 2025.

Like Atlas, Aurora Expedition ships were built for the harsh polar regions. But unlike the basic exploration and ice-breaking vessels of the past that aren’t exactly known for plush accommodations or hotel-style extras, these newer-generation, under-200-passenger expedition ships offer modern luxurious amenities such as spas, pools, and gourmet cuisine in a casual, intimate, and upscale atmosphere. In other words, being more polished, they translate well to the yacht-like style and vibes of destinations such as the Mediterranean.

Another bonus is that on Atlas and Aurora alike, most standard cabins are larger than those on traditional cruise ships, with balconies, sitting areas, and oversize showers. Public spaces include glass-domed observation lounges with sweeping views, outdoor grills on the pool for dining alfresco, and sophisticated lecture halls for insightful presentations.

The best part, of course, is the ability to anchor off and dock in ports that big ships can’t get to.

Call it expedition, immersive adventure, hybrid, or expedition light. Whatever term you prefer, I call it small-ship cruising at its best.

Luxurious £113m 'mega-yacht' on its way to Plymouth

It has its own theatre, spa and swimming pool

• 15:56, 19 SEP 2024
• Updated 16:02, 19 SEP 2024

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A luxury £113m “mega-yacht” which has its own theatre, spa and a fleet of speedboats is due to visit Plymouth tomorrow. The plush Le Dumont-d’Urville is currently in the North East Atlantic, between Ireland and England, and on its way to Britain’s Ocean City.

The cruise ship is due to arrive at 8am on Friday , for a short stay, and will berth at Millbay . The vessel is operated by Ponant Cruises and classed as an expedition mega-yacht.

It is ice strengthened and often cruises around Scandinavia and Iceland as well as other “offbeat itineraries” including to Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America and Australia. Built in 2019 at a cost of about £113m, the Wallis and Futuna-flagged ship carries up to 264 passengers, in 92 cabins, and 112 crew.

The seven-deck vessel is named after famous French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville, who charted the Pacific. It has a sundeck with swimming pool, a retractable marina platform for deploying water sports equipment, and its own fleet of Zodiacs, large speed boats used for passenger tendering and landings in remote locations.

Jon Walton, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership’s chief executive and waterfront manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome guests and crew of the Le Dumont-d’Urville to Britain's Ocean City on Friday.”

Cruise ship visits have given Plymouth a £1.5m boost so far this year. Vessels stopping at Britain’s Ocean City have brought 10,000 visitors, many of them spending cash in Plymouth and the surrounding areas.

Plymouth City Centre Company’s newly-released draft business plan for the next five years shows Plymouth had 10 cruise ship visits in 2023 and an increase this year. Le Dumont-d’Urville is the 10th arrival in 2024 with another, Artania, still to come next month. The ambition is to grow this to 30 visits a year.

Last weekend the £116m Amadea arrived in Plymouth , berthing at Millbay, with passengers visiting the waterfront during the highly successful Seafest celebrations . The Japanese-built vessel carried up to 624 passengers and 280 crew members. It has 11 decks, with 254 cabins and two royal suites.

Mr Walton said: “This has been a fantastic year for cruise ship visits to Plymouth and is testament to the collaborative work of the Plymouth Cruise Partnership. As always, the welcome we give is second to none, and I give my heartfelt thanks to the Cruise Ambassadors who volunteer their time. The feedback from guests and crew is amazing; I would also like to thank Doug and Annemarie Kerr who lead the volunteer team and who are so important to the partnership.”

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