News
Halcyon mast stepped, nearly there!
Wednesday 1st November 2006
The refit of the classic yacht Halcyon by T. Nielsen and Co Ltd is nearing completion and work progresses apace.
The work has been done to an exacting standard by the expertise of this world renowned yard and from the very beginning has been overseen by Halcyons skipper, Robert Hickman. Latterly, progress through the refit has been reported to the interested public via the Halcyon website at www.halcyonyachtcharter.com where Robert has kept a weekly log of the activity at the yard.
Dated 27th Oct Robert’s last entry reads:
“Excitement at the shipyard is building as the final preparations are underway ahead of the mast stepping on 1st November. The rigging is being prepared while the mast is still horizontal together with all the electrics at the cap of the mast including the windex, VHF, navigation lights etc. Meanwhile all the scaffolding has been removed from around Halcyon and she is laying in wait for the dry dock to be flooded so she can feel water around her keel and hull once again and return to her natural environment.. . .”
Preparations are underway too for a small ceremony to mark the re- stepping of the mast and the return of Halcyon as a luxury yacht of the future.
On November the 1st with invited press, members of Halcyon’s team and representatives of her booking agents, Classic Sailing; Halcyon’s mast will be re-stepped. This will mark the near completion of her 12 month refit and the occasion will be enhanced by the presence of the grandson of the original owner. Halcyon was built in 1929 by Thorneycroft for the industrialist Sir Samuel Turner and, his grandson, Christopher Bateman will be there to wish her well. Andrew Armour, Halcyon’s current owner, will place a 1929 gold sovereign under the mast as it is stepped. This continues a seafaring tradition stretching back for millennia where a ships’ crew have the means aboard to pay Charon to row them across the Styx and to the after life. This wards off misfortune and ensures good luck for the next phase in the life of this fabulous yacht.
More information and the latest photographs from the restoration can be found at www.halcyonyachtcharter.com and information regarding opportunities to sail on board can be found at the marketing and booking agent Classic Sailing’s web site www.classic-sailing.co.uk .