1929 Thornycroft Bermudan 95 Ketch29m

HALCYON, dubbed the 'Orient Express of the sea', 

is among the most recent Classic Boat ″Top 50 Yachts of all time″[1] & one of the 200 or so classic yachts on the National Historic Ships Register[2], thus one of the most significant vessels in Britain’s Maritime Heritage.

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 Neilsen & Co in 2006, applied with full consideration both of her origins and 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 optimized 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 8-9 guests for overnight- or 11 guests on a day sail basis-say for corporate charters.

We therefore consider HALCYON an exciting option 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.

More about Halcyon’s History

Halcyon – named after the ancient Greek name for the kingfisher-was originally built for industrialist Sir Samuel Turner; Lancashire mill owner, mayor of Rochdale and later chairman of Turner and Newall, who kept her till 1944.

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 (in1957) 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. Throughout her life Halcyon has been involved in a number of adventures. She came unscathed through the storm which hit the notorious 1979 Fastnet race . She also raced in the Hamilton, Bermuda to Halifax, Nova Scotia leg of the 1984 Tall Ships race in which the Marques was tragically lost during a squall. Between 1988 and 2004 she was used as a private yacht, cruising a number of areas including the Caribbean, Florida, the Canaries and the UK. Towards the end of 2004 she was taken to Gloucester Docks where she was given an impressive restoration & refit under the auspices of T. Nielsen & co, specialist tall ship repairer & builder.

HALCYON is now one of the 200 or so classic yachts on the National Historic Ships Register, thus one of the most significant vessels in Britain’s Maritime Heritage. She can also be found in the most recent Classic Boat Top 50 Yachts of all time – passing the intense scrutiny of one of the most revered judging panels among maritime journalists.

[1] According to Classic Boat Magazine. https://www.classicboat.co.uk/articles/boat-tests/top-250-classic-boats/

[2] https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2275/halcyon

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:

1. Masts and spars stripped, re varnished and all the metal fittings re   galvanized and repainted
2. Original hydraulic windlass re galvanized and restored
3. Standing rigging replaced with new galvanized wire
4. All running rigging and wooden blocks replaced
5. 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 
6. Among the many tasks was the total replacement of her copper bottom –requiring the removal of 60,000 original fixing nails, the filling of the 60,000 holes – and the driving of 50,000 nails to hold the new copper sheathing.

Accommodation is frankly magnificent with berths for 8 for cruises or space for 10 on day charters – plus 3-4 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, 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.

DECK PLAN 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.

It may not be racing but the 95ft, 1929-built Bermudan ketch Halcyon is turning more than a few heads wherever she is berthed. This historic, classic yacht, has completed an extensive re-fit program. The yacht owner followed the 11-month refit at T. Nielsen & Co in Gloucester and then sailed the boat to Norway. Commenting on this stunning boat the yacht owner said: She was built originally for a Lancashire industrialist, Sir Sam Turner by Thorneycroft. It was an in-house design built of oak on teak frames. The frames were in tip-top condition but we needed to do a total refit. The deck was replaced in 1964 by Camper and Nicholson but we’ve since had quite a lot of work to do on the deck to stop it leaking.” Another really interesting part of Halcyon’s history is that for 30 years she was used as a sail training ship at the Nautical School at Warsash on the River Hamble, training merchant navy seamen cadets in navigation. Apparently during that time they used to have 12 cadets in the foc’sle stacked in pipe cots, three high, five officers and two more officers in the rganizat. The owner continued: “It takes usually 24-hours in a port before some old boy comes up and says: ‘I remember Halcyon in 1964 coming down the Irish sea doing 13.8kts’. It’s wonderful. We’ve also managed to get some original photos of her during that time which we have down below in the saloon.” Halcyon can accommodate up to 8-9 guests for cruises, or up to 11 guests for corporate entertaining. Although this boat has been restored to the highest quality she is far from just a museum piece. Those who are fortunate enough to get a chance to go aboard soon realize that because most of the original mechanics of the boat have been retained a lot of manpower is needed to sail her properly.

Behind a Bermudan teak interior, straight out of the pages of F Scott Fitzgerald, lies a modern boat boasting such hidden mod-cons as a DVD library, an ice machine and computers.

The restoration has been a labor of love for Halcyon’s owner

‘Classic sailing is a passion for me,’ he said, ‘and it was for this reason that I acquired Halcyon and had her completely refurbished to such a high standard. I am looking forward to other people enjoying and appreciating the total exhilaration of being under sail in such a magnificent yacht, yet combining this with luxurious accommodation and indulgence – these are truly ‘Halcyon Days’.’

SALON & DINING AREA 17ft (5, 18 m) wide teak paneled saloon with a delightful ambience to enjoy civilized dining 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 fridge – Custom made 10 cu ft water cooled freezer – Vitrifigo Ice maker – Kohler double bowl sink – 1kW immersion heater – Miele W3834WPS washing machine

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.