News
SY Halcyon reaches her 80th Birthday
Friday 10th July 2009
Halcyon's Launch in 1929
The classic ketch Halcyon reaches her 80th birthday on July 10th 2009. This great milestone causes us to recall the circumstances of her launch all those years ago. Halcyon was the second and last ship of that name commissioned and built for Lancashire industrialist Sir Samuel Turner, chairman of Turner and Newall at that time. He kept her in his ownership until 1944. She was launched by Miss E Richardson, an acquaintance of the shipbuilders, on July 10th 1929 at the Woolston shipyard of J I Thorneycroft and Co Ltd. She was described on her launch as a “wholesome and comfortable type of seagoing yacht” and she remains that today in her new life as a Charter Yacht operating out of the UK.
This photograph of her launch shows Sir Sam in his trilby and holding a cigarette next to Miss Richardson as she pulls the handle to send the ship down the ways into Southampton water. It seems that only young people in 1929 could appear hatless at a great occasion. Sir Sam had learned to sail on a small fishing boat called Halcyon owned by the Paynters of St Ives, had had his first yacht built by them in 1912 also named Halcyon and kept the name Halcyon when he gave this yacht ( renamed Mamie in honour of the new bride ) to his friend and sailing tutor Dan Paynter on his marriage. Sir Sam must have really liked the name. The other two photographs show Sir Sam enjoying his yacht whilst Dan Paynter sails her.
Halcyon was one of the early cruising yachts to sport a Bermudan rig. Hitherto, yachts of this size would have most likely been gaff rigged, the heavy spars presenting no difficulties to a fully crewed yacht. A Yachting Monthly article of 1929 spoke of her as “snugly rigged with Bermudan main and mizzen and a sail area of 2275 sq ft, and can be handled with a small crew”. In fact it is somewhat amazing that Halcyon’s mainsail can be hoisted by one man even now although two people make the task that little easier. Her rig today is essentially the same relying on block + tackle and two manual winches to hoist and trim the sails. Manpower and coordinated action are still the order of the day.
Below deck her original layout had accommodation in two large guest cabins and the saloon for eight guests with accommodation forward for 6 crew, the captain and the cook. The Yachtsman and Motor Boating of 1929 speaks of… “Two large sleeping cabins, each with lavatory attached, are fitted aft so that, when daysailing, these can be used as cloak rooms for gentlemen and ladies respectively. ….when cruising the saloon is fitted to make up four beds with its own dressing room and lavatory attached, so that a party can cruise in comfort unusual on a vessel of this size. A tiled fireplace with a “Dainty Dot” stove in stainless steel, and an oval mirror give a pleasing and cosy appearance”. Today Halcyon has a wood burning stove in her saloon and no guests need to sleep in the saloon since she now boast 4 double guest cabins, including the two original “large sleeping cabins” which now have showers in addition to their electric push button lavatories. Today’s saloon seats all guests at the extended dining table, gimbaled if needs be.
Halcyon started her new life as a Luxury Charter Yacht in April 2007 and cruises the waters of the UK and has twice visited the west coast of Norway. Whether it is an Adventure Sailing trip, Corporate Hospitality Day Charter or private or family holiday, Halcyon can still provide the perfect platform for your experience as she did 80 years ago.
Notes to Editors:
For more information on Halcyon Yacht Charters visit the recently revised website on www.halcyonyachtcharter.com or call us on +44 (0) 7747066012
For more information on the Halcyon back-story contact David Green, from 3greenlights.com who is handling the Halcyon PR and can be contacted on his mobile: +44 (0) 7786 228722 or by email on: dgreen@3greenlights.com
To see other photos of Halcyon as she was then and as she is now visit our Picassa Web Album at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/andrew.2007selva/80thBirthday#
Other photos attached include;
Comparative photos of the main saloon / Owners Cabin ( 1929 vs present day )
Other photos taken in Norway, Cowes, Cork and Scotland in 2008 and 2009.
Photos by National Maritime Museum, Gareth Davies, Lucy Duffell, Christopher Bateman, Annette Corder, Mark Lamble, David Green, Cathy Kyle, Andrew Armour, J I Thorneycroft.