Rockport Marine has added another showcase project to its portfolio with the launch of Ouzel, a custom 95-foot sailing yacht that blends classic aesthetics with modern engineering. Built at the company’s Rockport, Maine, yard, the yacht recently completed sea trials on Penobscot Bay before beginning the next phase of commissioning.

Designed by Langan Design Partners with interiors by Mark Whiteley Design and project management by Marine Construction Management (MCM), Ouzel was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional ocean-cruising yacht. While unmistakably elegant in profile, the vessel was designed first and foremost as a serious passagemaker, intended to carry her owners comfortably to remote cruising grounds and higher latitudes.

That mission shaped many of the yacht’s defining characteristics. Ouzel carries a 12-foot draft and more than 4,500 square feet of upwind sail, reflecting an owner who prioritized sailing performance over shallow-water access. Her working sail plan is straightforward, relying on a mainsail, Yankee, staysail and Code Zero. The approach that should simplify handling during extended cruising. 

For Rockport Marine, the project represents another milestone in the builder’s reputation for highly customized yachts that combine traditional craftsmanship with advanced composite construction and modern systems. Although the yard is well-known for restoring historic wooden yachts and building bespoke sail- and powerboats, projects on the scale of Ouzel demonstrate its ability to execute complex, internationally collaborative commissions while keeping the work in Maine.

The yacht brought together designers and specialists from both sides of the Atlantic. Newport, Rhode Island-based Langan Design Partners developed the naval architecture, British designer Mark Whiteley created the interior and exterior styling, and MCM coordinated the project. Rockport Marine oversaw construction and final assembly. Doyle Sails supplied the sail plan used during trials. According to Rockport, the trials marked the culmination of years of design, engineering and construction. Tom Renner

This article was originally published in the September 2026 issue.