.There are few yachts from this period that maintain their 1920s ambience so effectively with the facilities of the present era. An extensive refit at T Neilsen & Co in 2006, applied with full consideration both of her origin as to her usefulness, has kept HALCYON and her teak on oak structure in near perfect condition but with the systems and conveniences of a modern yacht seamlessly incorporated without detriment to her character.
While optimised for northern waters, she is superbly fitted to go anywhere, self sufficient as she is for cruising in comfort for a sustained period. She can therefore operate as a luxury charter yacht, accommodating up to 8 guests for overnight – or 11 guests on a day sail basis – say for corporate charters.
We therefore consider HALCYON an exciting option as a dramatic and unique private yacht or as a commercially viable luxury charter vessel – easier to sail and less delicate than comparable classics of her size, there is a toughness about HALCYON that could earn her the label of classic explorer yacht!
Originally built for Sir Samuel Turner; Lancashire mill owner, mayor of Rochdale and later chairman of Turner and Newall, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1941 as a barrage balloon tender in Plymouth and then as minesweeper flotilla flagship in Greece in 1945. Post war she was owned and chartered by Madame Renault – of the motor car dynasty – later to be bought by the Warsash School of Navigation.
Intended as a temporary replacement for the 1899 ketch MOYANA lost in a gale off the Scillies in 1956, HALCYON’s service was in fact to last over 30 years until sold off in 1988. During this time thousands of Merchant Navy officers served their apprenticeships aboard, in navigation, seamanship and watch keeping duties.
Since 1988 she has been in private hands and in 2006 underwent a very extensive refit at T Nielsen and Co Ltd, Gloucester. The aim throughout was to use only the very best quality materials and the craftsmanship exhibited by the multinational team of shipwrights at Nielsen’s is truly wonderful.
The refurbishment compliments the 1920s opulence with facilities more suited to present day expectations, such as modern heating, plentiful showers and WCs, up-to-date navigation and entertainment devices, capacious fridges and freezers. These have been seamlessly incorporated into the design and fabric without detriment to the exceptional character of such a classic yacht – now once more gracing the seas as she did in such style in 1929.
– Teak on Oak frames
– Teak interior, teak deck with ply sub deck
– Copper clad hull
– Ash cheeked blocks and tackles
Steering is from the cockpit which has all navigation and pilotage data relayed to it. The deckhouse can seat guests in a light and airy location close to the action but out of the wind. It is also the central point for navigation, containing the chart table and the main navigation station. Stowed just forward of the deckhouse is the original clinker sailing dinghy and a modern RIB both launched by davits. A boarding ladder provides for simple and elegant embarkation
Accommodation is frankly magnificent with berths for 8 for cruises or space for 11 on day charters – plus 4 crew persons all in 6 cabins.
From the deckhouse companionway steps descend with access below via doorways aft to the principal guest cabins, but forward to the spacious saloon, which opens out with seating and cabinets to port, fireplace and access forward with the dining table and U shaped sofa to starboard.
Forward again past the wood burning stove a doorway leads to the galley to port and an athwartships 2 berth up and over cabin to starboard
Forward to starboard is another twin up and over berth cabin.
Beyond are two head and shower compartments either side of the main mast
The twin berth crew quarters are in the fore peak with washing machine, tumble dryer, water maker and their own crew access hatch.
Coming back aft through the galley and saloon at the foot of the companionway steps is a pair of wet lockers for oilskins, life jackets etc. The corridor aft leads to the guest cabins; twin berth to port and double to starboard, both with en suite head and shower.
Fully aft and also with separate access aft is the well appointed captain’s cabin with double berth and en suite head.
The yacht is well equipped as follows
Galley Equipment
– Miele H4740 B Oven
– Miele Ceramic 4 pan hob with stainless steel fiddles
– Miele M8261 microwave
– Vitrifrigo C 51 LU day fridge
– Custom made 10 cu ft water cooled fgridge
– Custom made 10 cu ft water cooled freezer
– Vitrifigo Ice maker
– Kohler double bowl sink
– 1kW immersion heater
– Miele W3834WPS washing machine
– Miele T4162 tumble dryer
Head compartments
– 4 x Tecma Silence Plus low marine WCs
– 1 x Baby Blake seawater discharge heads
– 4 x Grohe Automatic 2000 thermostatically controlled showers
– 3 x Electric heated towel rails
Heating / air conditioning
– Central heating system with 3 x Passad warm air heater elements and 9 blower outlets running off engine or generator hot water feeds
– Paris Petit Godin wood burning stove in custom built Lakeland slate hearth mantle piece and deck chimney
– Scaleo E media centre
– Bose Accoustimass 5 speaker surround sound in saloon
– 1 x Dell 24 inch flat screen saloon
– 1 x Dell 20 inch flat screen in owner’s cabin
– 1 x Dell 20 inch flat screen in doghouse
– DVD library
– Radio and CD player in each crew cabin
Halcyon is a traditional vessel still sailed in the traditional way. With only 2 winches block and tackle is the order of the day. She also has two large Highfield Levers for the running backstays on the main mast. Total sail Area is 2,275 sq ft
– Laminated Douglas fir Mainmast and boom, mizzen mast and boom, bowsprit
– 14 mm galvanised wire (main) standing rigging renewed 2006 with leather protection socks
– 10 mm galvanised wire (mizzen) standing rigging also 2006 with leather protection socks
– 22mm Halyards, 18mm sheets, 24 mm mainsheet and various other 3 plait
– Ash cheeked blocks by T Nielsen and Co
– Mainsail pre 2005, cleaned and repaired annually by James Lawrence Sailmakers
– Mizzen pre 2005, cleaned and repaired annually by James Lawrence
– Staysail pre 2005, cleaned and repaired annually by James Lawrence
– Roller furling jib pre 2005, cleaned and repaired annually by James Lawrence
– Jib Topsail by James Lawrence in 2009
– Storm Trysail by James Lawrence in 2007
– Storm jib by James Lawrence in 2007
– Muir HR 4200 horizontal hydraulic windlass, dual drums and gypsies
– 65 KG Plough anchor in self stowing bow roller
– 100 m 14 mm chain in self stowing anchor locker
– Danforth bower anchor 100 m 14 mm chain
– 4 x mooring lines with single 24 inch eye splice,
– 2 x unspliced mooring lines
– 8 x Avon 1320 x 420 inflatable fenders
– Dinghy davits rated 250 kg with treble blocks and rope falls
– RIB Davits rated 250 kg fitted hand operated wire winches
– Folding Teak grating deck table for fitting to boat chocks
– Teak grating deck benches
– Deck wash seawater system with hoseclip connections
– Teak boarding ladder
– Perkins 130 Diesel engine 1,300 nm range
– Mastervolt Whisper 16 KW generator
– Main Bilge pump, engine driven
– Secondary manual bilge pump by Jabsco
– Johnson L2200 automatic bilge pump with in-line oily water separator
– 24 V (2 x 12 V) 420 AH domestic batteries
– 24 V (2 x 12 V) 130 AH engine batteries
– Mastervolt battery charge conditioner
– Seafresh water maker; 72 litres per hour into 545 litre tank
– 72 litre calorifier
– 300 Litre and 2 x 550 litre total 1,400 litre water tanks
– 1,296 litres fuel
– Raymarine E120 Series multifunction display
– Echopilot Platinum forward looking sonar
– RaytechRNS 6.0 navigation software
– Raymarine ST6001 autopilot
– AIS Engine
– Raymarine ST60 sailing instruments
– Raymarine 2D 18 in 2 KW radome
– Sailor RT5022 DSC VHF
– Raymarine Ray 240 E DSC VHF
– Sailor Fleet 33 satellite comms
– Navtex
– Phone and fax
– Internet
– Schatz clock in deckouse
– Schatz barometer in deckhouse
– Schatz thermometer / hygrometer in deckhouse
– 1937 Waterburg clock and barometer in polished chrome in saloon.
– Sailor 406 MHz GPS EPIRB
– Sailor SART II
– 1 x 12 man Ocean Safety ISO 9650-1 life raft
– 1 x 4 man Solas B Ocean Safety life raft
– 30 mm hose with deck outlet attachment fire hose system
– C Pod system – 2 x burglar alarms, bilge alarm, battery alarm, connected to mobile phone
– Engine room fire extinguisher and break glass activation alarm
– Williams 3825 RIB with a 98 HP engine capable of 40 knots.
– Clinker gaff rigged sailing dinghy has a 4 HP Honda four stroke outboard
– Wakeboard
– Water Skis
– Ringo
– Snorkel Equipment
A new Perkins 130 HP diesel was fitted together with a new generator and all new electrical, navigation, communication, entertainment and plumbing systems were installed. After a thorough inspection the hull has been re-sheathed in copper and her topsides repainted (pictures showing) and new stanchion posts and shroud plates fitted.
A new interior layout has been installed in teak for the forward guest accommodation to complement the original saloon and main cabins. The crew’s quarters have been fitted out in white painted tongue and groove.
Other key works included
– Masts and spars stripped, re varnished and all the metal fittings re galvanised and repainted
– Original hydraulic windlass re galvanised and restored
– Standing rigging replaced with new galvanised wire
– All running rigging and wooden blocks replaced
– Sails refurbished as needed and a suit of cruising sails provided
– Original 12 foot sailing dinghy restored, carried on deck, launched by the original davits
Williams 3825 RIB with a 98 HP engine capable of 40 knots.
