EAST Anglia-based yacht builder Oyster yesterday marked the opening of the London Boat Show by announcing two new contracts.

The company, which is based in Ipswich, has closed a deal for one of its Oyster 625-11 craft and another for an Oyster 54-21 vessel.

Together, the two deals bring the value of Oyster’s order book over the past two years to nearly �105million, making it the best ever 24-month period in the company’s history - despite the eurozone crisis and the challenging economic enviroment.

Oyster chief executive David Tydeman said: “ We are delighted to start 2012 on such a positive note and look forward to consolidating on this success with our attendance at the London, D�sseldorf and Miami boat shows where we welcome show visitors to come and view the Oyster yachts.”

Oyster, which is presenting three of its yachts at the London show, the Oyster 757, the Oyster 46 and the Oyster 655, is among more than 30 exhibitors from East Anglia with stands at the event, at the Excel centre in east London.

Exhibitors faced a rush to get their boats ready for the 10 day international marine showcase, with story weather earlier in the week having prevented cranes lifting boats into position.

But there has been a ray of sunshine for the region’s boating industry with many businesses reporting good sales towards the end of 2011

Mr Tydeman, who is also a director of the show, said British boat building generally was doing well.

“The brands and good products do better in recession because people see value. We are a high quality product,” he said. “We are capable of being quite flexible. We have adapted to the market.”

He said Oyster had made a deliberate choice to push into Europe, and so was achieving a more international mix of customers, but 60% of orders last year were still British.

“We are making good efforts to support sales anywhere in the world,” he added.