Halcyon Yacht Charters

Season end and back in the shipyard

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Andrew here writing the last "Captains log" for this Season. Halcyon is back in Gloucester in the hands of Tommi Nielsen and his team of experts there. Simon and Amanda have left us and we wish them well for their future careers.

Halcyon's winter joblist is its usual length, running to 3 pages of tasks, some small, some not so small! Doors need easing, cupboard handles need repair and sails need to be sent away for cleaning. The RIB needs a thorough overhaul and we will be getting to the bottom of the problems with the paint adhesion and getting that sorted. She will also be spending time in the drydock and undercover so that she can have a thorough hull inspection and so that Nigel and his team of "Forth Road Bridge" painters can work undercover. All of these are the usual sort of winter layup jobs and I have every confidence that she will emerge next spring looking as beautiful as she deserves to!

We have not decided next year's itinerary yet. It may be that she will spend much more time in Cardiff and Pembrokeshire in 2011. We will let you know via the Captain's log when we have determined her future.

best regards

Andrew Armour

Shockers, Sangria & Sun,

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ok, so the title is a complete lie, but as I sit here in Dun Laoghaire in temperatures a polar bear would be more accustomed to, I can dream right?

Its been a blustery few weeks here, and after the delights of 52kts over the deck at anchor in Oban bay last month, snaps and I were fairly surprised to be shaken awake at night as the mast reverberated through the boat as we were tied up alongside! Never mind I thought, throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt, quick fender and line check and I’ll be back in a toasty bed. I think my nose froze as I got out of the hatch… definitely no weather for shorts, so as I layered up to brace some weather they forecasted as ‘slightly blustery’ I checked the instruments and sure enough, there was the big wind again, this time, I think it was his younger brother, just a mere 45kts, gusting more.

So, with crew arriving over the next 24 hours, we are leaving tomorrow midday and should be in milford for Sunday morning early. Maybe you can help me out here, Barry; one of our ‘rent-a-crews’ has a job in an ‘office’?? nope, never heard of one of those, don’t all people sail in stunning waters on gorgeous boats? Ah no, the taxman! I guess he has an office! [Exception to the rule!]

With Barry dropped off we may pick up an extra in Milford before heading onto Cardiff for the remainder of the week, and from there it’ll be another trip up the severn for Halcyon back into the familiar waters of the Sharpness canal, up to Tommi Nielsens.

One of the good things about having some breathing time on the boat has given me time to catch up on the maintenance schedule which has become something as big as War and Peace over the last month. Unfortunately Mr. Gale has had other ideas, limiting me from repairing seams and varnish, but on the brighter side the interior is now looking great, and with snaps doing painting and varnishing too, cosmetically she is looking great, even the leak [Niagara falls] in the main saloon has been fixed by cunning trickery, far too many expletives, sikaflex and patience!

Yesterday was Arthurs Day in Ireland; the guy who invented Guiness, and Dun Laoghaire was lively at night, but on the tv’s in the bars, it seemed as though Dublin was the place to be. As far as Ireland is concerned, it is most definitely hospitable, and every time we have been here this year the staff have been accommodating and extremely helpful; it makes a difference that they remember your name the first time you go back up in the office, and although I didn’t make it out racing on a plastic fantastic this time round, Halcyon has still had much admiration from the water, and from the pontoon too. We are constantly asked why she isn’t somewhere in the south of France, but quite frankly, if the amount of attention we receive around the UK is to go by, we’d have to employ someone just to do presentations of the boat and speeches, or else I’d never get any work done! It’s fantastic to have so many people coming to admire Halcyon and we always look forward to new faces, new sailing yarns, and the inevitable; so how old are you really Simon!!!?

As much as I don’t want the season to end, I know it is coming close, and once we hang a left at Wales from here, we’ll almost be back.

And would I change anything of this season?

Not a chance.

Simon.

*** p.s. for those wondering… ‘Snaps’ is Amanda… - Work it out!

Augusts Adventures

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

That low looks a bit aggressive i thought checking the forecast. Indeed it was, and the 84mph winds that battered the Irish Sea were during the week when we left Milford Haven in zero wind. Brilliant for my first time through Jack Sound, which I thought was quite impressive as we hit 13kts SOG. But. Ramsey Sound was next, and i’m sure i could hear the race from miles away. Renouned for ‘The Bitches’, we screamed through at 14+kts SOG and were spat out of the other side on an overnight passage to Dun Laoghaire with Dave and I spotting a Minkie whale just before a stunning sunset... there was only Dave and I who spotted the whale, but honestly there was one!
Arriving at 9am in Dun Laoghaire allowed Andrew and Guests time to explore the delights of Dublin: The Guinness Factory to be more precise, and after everyone was back aboard that night, and after a delicious meal by Amanda, we all turned in early in preparation for the 6am start the next day. Carlingford Loch or Strangford Loch... nobody really cared too much because the sail was stunning, with every piece of cloth set (minus the flying jib) Halcyon leapt over a short chop on a beam reach. We dipped into Carlingford Loch as nobody really fancied being out in a force 8, or if the forecast was to believed storm force 10... just a bit of a breeze no!?

We rode out the big winds in Carlingford Loch for 2 days and left at 6am to catch the tide out so we could make the most of the 12 hour tide up to Campbeltown, which we did while tracking the centre of the low pressure north eastwards. We dropped the hook in the bay at 9pm, just as guests were finishing dinner, and we were all invited ashore, but with pink jobs still to be done, we did the dutiful thing and just left the girls to it... i’d of only got in the way somehow. Campbeltown was our home for 2 nights and we left for Port Ellen on Islay at 2pm the following day, dropping the hook close in on a secluded shore, and with the sun setting the crew had an early night and we were up at 5am to shoot up the sound of Islay. We might of been up at 5am but we didn’t leave until half 6 – there was a severe lack of coffee making going on! Once through the sound, we hoisted main, mizzen, staysail, and unfurled the jib and were quite nicely tramping along at 7kts when the forecast actually did what it said and the wind came square on the stern... we slowed down and started to wallow, so after a quick spin around to drop sails, and a promise to take Andrew and Guests to a nice pub that evening, we motored on toward Seil island, anchoring next to Puilldobhrain.

Cue the rib, and cue more problems. My idea of 2 rather large holes in the bottom and deep water didn’t go down too well, so we put the clinker in the water while Force and Andrew took a dip – no we haven’t installed a bath (someone was thinking it), and no they didn’t go in together: that would of been a little strange (again, i know someone was thinking it!). so after i cursed the rib quietly, guests (now dry) were ferried ashore, and after Neville misjudged the depth of water with his wellies, we watched from afar (violins out please) as they walked ‘over the hill and far away’(half a mile)... to the pub!

The next day was an early morning start to get to Oban Marina, just 90minutes away, and with low cloud and some scotch mist we headed up the Sound of Kerrera into Oban bay, landed on the fuel pontoon to fill up with ‘Diesel Wind’ and then popped ourselves onto the hammerhead which was to be our home for the following weeks. With guests ashore we scrubbed the boat down and were treated to some fizz and canapés when they returned after a thoroughly enjoyable holiday.

The next morning everyone departed and as we stood down and started to make lists, we realised just how busy we were going to be before our first charter on Friday... that time went quickly, vanish varnished, paint painted and scrubbers scrubbed!

2 charters completed out of Oban and we are waiting for our weather window and crew to depart for Milford Haven. The two back to back charters went very smoothly, and although it is difficult running the deck on my own, i was grateful of the guests help! Charter one departed the bay Saturday morning up the Sound of Mull to Tobermory, onto Arinagour on Coll, through the Treshnish isles (cue sharks) to Bunessan (cue Eagles), round the Ross of Mull to Seil Island (cue Seals) and onto Oban on the Friday!
*Breathe*
The second charter departed clockwise around Mull calling at the same stops and guests exploring Iona from Bunessan for a day while there was no wind. Staffa didn’t fail to disappoint, and although the sharks didn’t make an appearance this time (something to do with the Queen being on holiday in the area also) everyone smiled all the way to Coll! Tobermory was quite a party... with us arriving with the West Highland Week crews, the Mishnish was bouncing, and the Marina Bar music continued until 2pm! Unfortunately we didn’t make Seil Island Anchorage the following day as someone didn’t get the message that only WE can go in the bay! After a bit of consideration and looking at the weather we headed back to Oban and anchored overnight with guests departing the following morning.

So I feel like we have achieved quite a lot over the past month... Whales, Dolphins, Seals, Golden Eagles... Tick. Oh and a couple of brilliant charters! What will next month bring?

Simon

An Irishman, Scotsman and Englishman went to Wales...

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Rent-a-crew arrived and we were gone. Goodbye Crosshaven, goodbye RCYC and goodbye Ireland. We were a crew of 7 on the short hop across to Milford Haven, and with the mizzen and staysail hoisted we were topping 10kts at times. I know what you’re thinking, but no, no one even thought of joining the highly select chunder club on this trip.

As we arrived in Milford the Atlantic swell grew and Halcyon rolled beam onto the waves, and after a quick chat with the ever friendly MH Coastguard we were cleared up the west channel to Dale Shelf Anchorage, where we slept, dined, listened to England lose 4-1 to Germany. Now I am English and wasn’t following the world cup hugely, but to the 3 Irish guys and Colin [the guy who likes milkshakes from Scotland] this didn’t come as a huge surprise. They were more than happy to tell Amanda and I the score right up until final time... I personally lost interest after about 5 minutes! Rib in water, lines and fenders ready and we shot up to Milford Marina with the tide and after a bit of banter with the other boats waiting for freeflow we were back. Pierhead being as friendly as ever as we came in.

Andrew met us for dinner that evening at Marthas and the guys were on the 7am train to Cardiff the following morning with Colin heading back to Moi on the evening flight to Glasgow... And then there were two. I quite like it being just Amanda and I on the boat, but crikey can she find places to hide – not that she runs away from me and hides you understand...

I have had to hire another hostess for the next couple of months as we’re going to be fairly busy on our next trek to Oban this weekend. My friend Sean is standing in as first mate for now and the ‘wouldn’t say boo to a goose’ Joelle joined us the same day... time to bring her out of her shell me thinks! Her new name ‘Bootie’ isn’t perhaps quite what you think... after an introductory drink at the Harbourmasters we were told how her father is French and lives in Marseille... lots of boutique shops in Marseille... Boutique is too long... Hence Bootie is more apt... Makes sense I guess.

The reason for us being in Milford Haven is the 2010 Seafair Haven Festival. For the first weekend we headed off to Tenby anchoring in the bay. Unfortunately the next morning the Generator [whom I have shown so much love and attention to] decided not to work and overheat. Cue engineering head. Impeller – OK. Coolant – Not bad... this went on for a while and although Andrew and guests still came aboard I was only able to take them the short trip to anchor at Caldey Island. Without the generator we are unable to use the oven [black heating box in the Pink room] or use many of the other features including many of the 230v sockets. Generator still not working at 2pm and a f8 just being forecast from the SW so I decided to shoot off back to Milford to fix the generator and ride out the wind. Sunday’s daysail was cancelled unfortunately, but seeing the driving wind and rain while we were alongside made me realise although I felt bad for letting Andrew and guests down, I was probably doing them and their stomachs a favour in the long run, as I’m sure it would have been a very bumpy day!

Inshore passage on the way back, catching the last of the tide, and going inside turbot bank we had a small race against a challenge 72 and small moody yacht. Needless to say halcyon ate them up easily with Port control and the coastguard being very chatty on the way in... Halcyon never seems to be unable to attract attention. We followed La Racouvrance in on freeflow coming alongside with bootie throwing the bowline... she’s definitely got some sailors blood in there somewhere! Nigel and Mark from Nielsen’s came a day later to help fix the generator and help fix some leaks. Genset fixed and we’re ready for Friday’s charter with Andrew and guests and Saturdays Parade of sail from Neyland.

We will be leaving here for Oban this coming weekend doing a series of daysails with Andrew and friends up the Irish sea... let’s hope for some good wind from the south, dolphins, sunshine and some exquisite cuisine coming from the galley form Amanda...

So we’re all a very happy crew, and it has been brilliant to have so many people coming to admire Halcyon while we have been in Milford, and having met two more cadets from her days at Warsash, I am very sure she has some secrets yet to be revealed, inlets to explore and still more people to impress.

Happy Sailing...

Simon

Highlands, Hostesses and Hiccups

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

And so it began. Perhaps it was the way I phrased it or perhaps it was the smile that beamed across my face, I’m not sure, but when I asked locally in Largs for a temporary mate and hostess for a one week charter the twins were inevitably hired. The aptly named Tartan (blue twin Kimberly) and Tan (pink twin Ashleigh) joined us on Thursday morning full of enthusiasm for the week ahead.

Malcolm & charter guests joined us on Friday afternoon to the twins pouring champagne and offering canapés in 25 degrees of heat in Largs Yacht Haven. The deck table was out and after a couple of glasses of the fizzy stuff I did a brief deck walk and comprehensive safety brief leaving them feeling comfortable about the week ahead. A short plan and weather briefing followed and it was then decided that a starter of king scallops, main of simmered duck breast and braised cabbage followed by a dessert of berry nests with orange liquor cream were to be eaten while watching the world go by on the deck table; sumptuously prepared by my partner in crime Amanda. The guitar and songbooks soon followed suit onto the deck, and as the booze flowed we sensed our guests feeling at ease on board.

Saturday was an early start for Tartan and I, as we slipped lines early with guests still asleep and headed for Mountstuart on Bute so that they could awake to the smell of smoked salmon and scrambled egg wafting into their cabins en route. Anchoring off Mountstuart was… Im not sure how to put this… interesting??? In 10m of water, on a sandy bottom, any sailor would put out 30-35m of chain. The call to tartan said just this however I found myself hurtling toward the foredeck at lightening speed to apply the brake to the gypsy… I cant be sure, but it was either an incomprehensable anchor briefing [as if] or the beautiful scenery we found ourselves in that made tartan whiz out 80m of chain in 10m of water! Never mind, and as the guests were ferried ashore we hauled up 50m of chain and flaked it back below the floorboards!

That evening we headed north in torrential rain to the Gareloch, and to RNCYC where the guests were ferried ashore and greeted by a roaring fire in the clubhouse after a sumptuous dinner aboard.

The next morning dawned early, and for us was again an early start this time heading for Holy Loch. After anchoring we put the guests ashore at Sandbank and they spent lunch and the rest of the afternoon pondering over the botanic gardens just 4 miles away. With Malcolm and guests returning at 5pm we had an impressive sail south to Kilchatton bay where we anchored in inspiring scenery overnight. I say inspiring because I seem to remember being woken at 1am by some fairy elephants on deck and the guitar still on fine form! Ewan was still learning the guitar, but nonetheless very good, accompanied by Jeanette’s warm voice, Sunday rolled into Monday tunefully!

As the breeze had freshened overnight it was a chance for Tartan and I to don some oilies and lift the anchor, while Amanda and Tan served yet more artwork breakfast. I now understand the reason I just drive and have nothing to do with the cooking – something to do with my lack of presentation skills, and affinity for the microwave! Lochranza was our midday stop, and as we dropped anchor, then dragged, and moved, and dropped anchor then dragged, and moved………….. you get the picture! Anyway with guests ashore it gave the pink team time to tidy away below and prepare for the evening's dinner, all while Halcyon stood off Arran looking spectacular in dramatic surroundings. Leaving Lochranza we headed for Kilbride Bay and anchored just off the sandy beach and watched as a couple strolled along walking their dog.

The next morning was blustery to say the least, and with just the staysail we bombed up Loch Fyne at over 8kts being looked at in every direction by holidaymakers and sailors alike. Staysail down just before the entry to Loch Gilp, and after a bit of tricky nav in a shallow patch we were in, dropping the hook smack bang on our waypoint in the middle of the loch. To the north was a long sandy beach at Lochgilphead, and to the south was a stunning view down Loch Fyne. Today was a possibility for Malcolm to take the golf clubs ashore for a round, but everyone went walking to Lochgilphead instead. This gave us time to tidy the boat, fix the watermaker, and, perhaps most importantly watch series 2 of Father Ted… Although we work hard to keep the boat looking good, we do like a bit of Mrs. Doyle!

Leaving Loch Gilp the following morning while guests were having breakfast gave Tartan an opportunity to attempt a straight line… it didn’t happen; wiggly is an understatement! Our plan was to head for Millport on Great Cumbrae, so that the opportunity to cycle tandems around the circumference wasn’t missed. However, plans changed slightly as the staysail was dropped and the boat veered off to port 90˚ quickly. No Tartan wasn’t driving again, I was, and the pod of dolphins I’d spotted were coming closer. Minutes later and we had a pod of around 15 playing on the bow. Excitement over and we hoisted more cloth and headed around the south of Bute arriving Millport around 1400hrs, anchoring close in. Pink twin was the designated rib driver for the week and proceeded to scare the merry hell out of everyone ferrying them ashore! And back again to the boat with the clinker hanging over the side, deck table up and champagne on ice. We did have a small treat however, and Claire’s parents had flown in from Perth and Pink Twin had picked them up from Kilchatton bay earlier in the day. Tartan took them back at 1900 and they flew over the boat at around 2030 dipping their wing before heading off back to Perth in a light northeasterly breeze.

Friday dawned and a 0800 start meant Tartan and I upped anchor early and headed into Largs without drama and guests were off by 1000. Amanda and I finished up tidying the boat and had to be away for 1100 to get to a wedding [a story for another time I think!]

Many thanks to Malcolm and guests for a memorable week. A week that wouldn’t have been possible without Kimberly and Ashleigh, and also Gordon who helped endlessly in Largs with cleaning and varnishing. My thanks also go to Largs Yacht Haven for accommodating us and especially to Peter Wright who was my contact for anything and everything.

The last month would not have been possible without the support, generosity and friendship of Colin and Moira Craig… [Colin know worldwide for his Diet Guiness and milkshakes!]

Thankyou everyone.

Simon

Passages, Photography and Pembrokeshire

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Who would have known that a volcano could cause so much disruption! Never mind hundreds of cancelled flights, Andrew was stuck in Norway and unable to get back for our proving trip from Cardiff to Milford Haven! The story is far too long to be written here, but a mammoth journey consisting of a train, 1600km in a car and then a ferry, a taxi and another car - undoubtedly sounds like an Indiana Jones Mission!

Anyway, with much excitement and minus Andrew, we left Cardiff Marina at 0730 bound for Rhossili Bay, only to find the rib in a mischievous mood unwilling to cooperate with Amanda. One quick radio call later and she was towed safely alongside and hoisted aboard (the rib… not Amanda) and we were cleared for lock entry. Exiting the lock at High water allowed us to punch the last half hour of flood tide and as we hoisted the staysail and unfurled the jib you could feel her kick up her heels, steady out and power through the short chop in her way. With Tommi at the helm I coordinated a fast mainsail hoist in Sully Bay and as we bore away on a port broad reach she really began to surge forward, making a steady 12+ knots boat speed. After a short stint inshore catching the last of the counter-current, we headed out further into the channel to make the most of the ebb tide flying past Swansea Bay, executing a perfect gybe just off West Helwick Cardinal and heading into Rhossili Bay. Our passage plan ETA was 1600 and the engine was turned off as we anchored on the 5m contour at 1555.

The next day saw a 9am start, and as we sailed off the anchorage with no help from the engine we once again felt her pick up her skirts and head west, inside the St. Gowan shoals and Turbot Bank. Milford Port Control offered us a friendly welcome and after anchoring for a short while in Sandy Haven Bay attempting to fix the rib, we departed for Milford Shelf, standing by waiting for the lock to open for a free-flow entry so that I could put Halcyon to bed alongside H Pontoon where she has inevitably drawn the crowds. Yet again.

The trip would not have been such a success without the help of our fantastic crew Tommi and his Mother, Neville and Chloe, and of course Amanda who never ceased to amaze with culinary delights morning, noon and night.

Our first charter out of Milford Haven was a photo shoot for Classic Boat Magazine. Look out for us in a June or July issue. What a gorgeous day for it too. Leaving the marina we headed for an anchorage in Sandy Haven Bay in blue waters and with a gentle north westerly breeze. With Emily shooting almost constantly and the champagne flowing, there were soon some very funny poses and sailing anecdotes. Then came the time to test the foul weather gear… never has a fire hose been used to make so many people cry with laughter. The laughter continued throughout the day. Anchoring in Watwick Bay for the evening and watching the clinker being rowed gracefully ashore was a sight to behold. Returning to the marina at dusk with a lovely ash-laden sunset backdrop was beautiful, and as soon as I had put the boat to bed Amanda and I joined Dan and the rest of the team for dinner, which turned out to be a side splitting experience as the jokes continued and everyone bounced off each other.

I am delighted to inform all of you that Jack Wilson, who was one of the models on this day has accepted our offer of a first mate's position aboard and joins us at the end of this month for the remainder of the season. For us, Jack was an obvious choice as on the photography day he was put through his paces on the boat, he made himself really useful and he has extensive experience on old classic vessels having worked on a Thames Barge for the last few years. He knows how to look after our grand lady in the style to which she has become accustomed.

The last weekend in April saw us have a short Saturday sail in a fresh south easterly breeze. Halcyon loved dancing along the small waves and after a fabulous reach out and back off the entrance to Milford Haven we returned to anchor in West Angle Bay for a delicious lunch before returning to drop guests at Milford shelf for a transfer to shore. Amanda and I anchored overnight at Sandy Haven Bay awaking to thick fog and a proposed trip up to Lawrenny under some jeopardy. However the fog lfted a little and with the rib still out of action I turned to the trusty outboard and ran cross to the Mackeral Stage in Halcyon's lovely clinker dinghy to pick up Andrew and Family/Guests. We departed in a blustery SW arriving just before a great Sunday lunch at anchor in Lawrenny. Departing while dessert was still being savoured below gave me a chance to get under the overhead power cables with room to spare and punch tide toward the marina. Halcyon behaved herself beautifully parking and we were alongside in time for guests to depart on a sunny Sunday evening.

This week we are prepping for our passage to Dublin, planned for Monday 3rd May, but with stiff northerlies forecast our plans may change.

Hoping the weather keeps improving with fair winds.

Simon

April 2010

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As our time in Cardiff is coming to an end, I thought it fitting to start off this post with a huge thank you to all those at Cardiff Marine Group for their hospitality, help and continued support throughout our stay. My thanks also go to Force 4 chandlery, for sourcing what can only be described as the most eclectic shopping list ever!

Our first corporate lunch went smoothly, and the only factor letting us down was the weather. It was decided that the new awning was not to make an appearance, and instead we opted for the much more popular option. As the guests entered the main saloon, they were in for a real treat… A roaring fire and ice cold champagne being poured delicately to accompany the canapés yet to be indulged upon.

Andrew was aboard with Jan for Easter Sunday lunch, and what a lunch it was. Roast Lamb, Brisket of Beef, accompanied by vegetables and roasties to die for. As Andrew and I discussed the finer points of fire-starting and temperature regulation via types of fuel for the burner, Amanda was tirelessly working hard to create what surely went down as a very memorable day. All jokes of the microwave working overtime were silenced as both Amanda and I joined Andrew and his guests for lunch. The afternoon was finished off with coffee and the ships egg; after eight of course! Unfortunately the weather was again somewhat inclement so the planned late afternoon soiree into the bay was cancelled and instead everyone retired slightly earlier ending the day on a high.

As ever, Halcyon is still a head turner, from the guys working on the bridge next to us, eyeing up freshly made chocolate cream cake and coffee, to the other berth holders popping over to say hi, asking for advice and being stunned by the work of epic proportion that has gone into such a classic yacht to turn her into the vessel she is today.

As testing as this month has been for Amanda and I, we have both thoroughly enjoyed the long days we have put in, and the pink and blue jobs [ask us next time you see us!] have been especially rewarding with a sense of achievement throughout. Now the sun is out and more varnishing is underway, we are looking forward to our next mini passage, and more of Neville’s tales on the trip to Milford haven on the 16th.

Hopefully I’ll be posting more regular updates from now on!

Simon

New Season 2010

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

So we are approaching the end of the yard period and are about to leave Tommi Nielsen’s in Gloucester for the start of our sailing season. The crew and I are excited about the challenges that face us. Not least the journey down the river to Cardiff. I look about the boat and I can see many changes from when I first laid eyes on her. The cover was taken off a couple of weeks ago and with fresh varnish in many areas and a lot of shinning brass she is really looking good.

We had an open day last Sunday to show case the work done here at T Nielsen’s, with all of the boats from the winter work period dressed over all and in their best looking conditions the yard looked fantastic. Halcyon had what felt like hundreds of visitors and at one point we almost started a “one in – one out” policy such was the interest we received. Perhaps though Amanda’s wonderful canapés and Simon serving bucks fizz helped entice some guests from the other boats. I had the privilege of meeting several “old boys” from Halcyons past many of whom are Master Mariners and talking of the trips that they have enjoyed on her. With this in mind I look forward to meeting more of them as we progress around the country this season.

As ever with a yard period coming to an end there are lots of little jobs to tick off but with the help of the marvellous crew here at Nielsen’s we will set off on Friday down the canal to Sharpness where we will sit over night to catch the tide out of the river on Saturday morning. Tommi has kindly agreed to come with us to pilot us through the shallows at the head of the river and through the bridges. And with a bit of Luck Rob, the former captain, will also join us for the trip down the river until Monday. I will be getting some wonderful help from both of them on how to handle Halcyon.

And so we move on to the up-coming season. With trips to Ireland already planned and a visit to the Royal Cork Yacht Club happening in May the season is filling fast. We look forward to greeting you on board and to visiting some fantastic places with Halcyon. Keep your eyes to sea and wave if you see us.

Tom

Captains Log 23rd Feb 2010

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Well as I sit here to write my first captain’s log I want to start by thanking Andrew and everyone else for giving Amanda and myself this wonderful opportunity to work with such a beautiful and gracious lady. I spent last week in Gloucester visiting the boat to learn her ins and outs. My first impression is of how much love and care has gone into her upkeep. The guys in T. Neilsens have an amazing skill set and the love they show to her truly humbles me.

I have taken the chance of her being out of the water to start the process of learning where all the machinery that keeps her going is kept. The systems on board have all been replaced since her original build back in 1929, with modern systems taking over things like the supply of fresh water and cooking. However she is still sailed in the traditional manner with only two winches on deck to harden the halyards that last little bit. This will mean that by the end of this summer we will all be much fitter than we start the season.

At the end of last week we had interviews with some potential new Mates all of whom were fantastically well presented and with a host of skills that could complement Amanda and myself. At the end of the day one stood out and after a short chat amongst ourselves we have invited Simon Smith to join us on board, and he has accepted the position. Simon will be joining us at the start of March to finish off Halcyon’s preparation for the season.

With time speeding by we will all be in Gloucester full time very soon. I visited again this week and had a meeting with Sarah and Nigel regarding a few of the changes we are making as well as the progress to date. With the copper replacement on some of the waterline shining brightly and the paint starting to gleam she is looking fantastic.

Captain Tom Melrose

S/Y Halcyon sails into the season with a new crew and new itinerary

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New Crew

Having just experienced another of her winter layups, including topsides painting and varnishing, at T.Neilson’s yard in Gloucester Docks – S/y Halcyon is emerging in even better shape than previous years thanks to the loving investment of her owner Dr Andrew Armour.
Last year she was accepted as one of the 1000 or so historic ships on the National Historic Ships Register. This acknowledges her place amongst square riggers, mine-sweepers, fishing smacks, yachts and cruise liners as one of the most significant vessels in Britain’s Maritime Heritage. This happily coincides with her placement in the latest addition to the Classic Boat Top Yachts of all time passing the intense scrutiny of one of the most revered judging panels in these matters in the world of Maritime Journalism. S/y Halcyon was also the subject of an article in the February Issue of Classic Boat by IPC Cartoonist Guy Venables who waxed lyrical about the Halcyon Experience he had last year.
S/y Halcyon has an exciting itinerary planed for 2010 including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Caledonian Canal and the Isles of Scilly. She is also destined to spend some time in London and Edinburgh where the crew will be hosting some special buffet lunches, cocktails and evening dinners – perfect for corporate clients who want a completely unique entertainment event.
In 2010 S/y Halcyon is joined by a NEW CREW including Skipper, Hospitality Director and 1st Mate. They replace Rob Hickman and Annette Corder who worked so happily aboard for 4 years. Rob has now gone off to be 1st Mate aboard a large Motor Yacht in the Mediterranean to be joined at the start of the season by Annette. The new crew joined Halcyon in February and are very much looking forward to entertaining our guests aboard during the coming season.
Tom Melrose ( Captain ) joins S/y Halcyon from a spell as Cruise co-ordinator for the World Cruising Club in Cowes and met up with Halcyon during the Classic Malts Cruise in Oban last year. He comes from a family of sailors and has been sailing since he was four. He has been a Professional Yachtsman since 1993 and sailed a huge variety of craft from 36ft race boats and Maxis to a 140ft super yacht. He is very enthusiastic about looking after Halcyon in the style to which she has become accustomed. With his love of sailing and his calm professional manner, Tom looks forward to sharing his knowledge and joy of sailing with you onboard Halcyon as we continue our journeys through some of the most beautiful and exhilarating cruising grounds in the world.
Amanda Drewery ( Hospitality Director / Chef ) was born into the hospitality industry, having been born into a family of hoteliers on the Isle of Wight. She has worked in Hotels, The Ivy Restaurant and Premier League Football Clubs before deciding to continue her career at sea. Amanda has recently completed an 18 month trip on a busy live aboard yacht as a chef/hostess as it completed two transatlantic passages and busy Caribbean and Mediterranean season so she certainly knows how to victual a yacht for long trips! She is really looking forward to cruising the UK where fresh provisions are more readily available and is very excited about the challenges of delivering the fine cuisine that is a mark of a Halcyon cruise. She looks forward to welcoming you aboard HALYCON and making your stay so enjoyable that the memories will last a lifetime.
Simon Smith ( 1st Mate ) grew up in the Lake District where he acquired a taste for the outdoor life and from a very young age began working at the local chandlers and boat yard, learning sailing as a trade and being inspired by those who have now become his closest friends. Simon pursued his sailing and moved to the south coast of the UK where he gained his YachtMaster Ocean qualification. He raced on yachts in the Solent with high level professionals achieving excellent results, including many podium finishes both as a skipper and crew. 2009 brought opportunities to work abroad in Germany, France and the Baltic. It was here that a dormant passion for old wooden boats was reignited as he took the reins of a 20m 98yr old wooden ketch SY Orm. Simon was thrilled to receive the call to make him 1st Mate aboard Halcyon for the 2010 season and is looking forward to working to make this season both an enjoyable and prosperous one for both the crew and charter guests.

For more information or to join us on a cruise call us on +44 (0) 7711696195 or go to: www.halcyonyachtcharter.com or email bookings@halcyonyachtcharter.com

New Crew

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Andrew here, writing this Captain’s log to introduce the new Halcyon crew to you. Tom Melrose has been appointed Captain of Halcyon and Amanda Drewery has been appointed in charge of Hospitality and Marketing and perhaps most importantly our new Chef. They will be replacing Robert Hickman and Annette Corder. After 4 years with us as Captain Robert has accepted a post as First Officer aboard a large motoryacht in the Meditteranean and Annette is planning to join him in the summer. I am sure that you would all join me in wishing them well in their new endeavours. I believe that like everybody who comes aboard Halcyon they leave behind a little bit of themselves behind. In fact Robert and Annette probably leave behind them more than most. I know Halcyon has benefitted hugely from their care and attention over the last four years and they have my great gratitude for that.

Tom comes to us from a spell as Cruise co-ordinator for the World Cruising Club in Cowes and saw Halcyon during the Classic Malts Cruise in Oban last year. He has been sailing since he was four and comes from a family of sailors. He has been a professional yachtsman since 1993 and sailed a huge variety of craft from 36ft race boats and Maxis to a 140ft super yacht. He is very enthusiastic about looking after Halcyon in the style to which she has become accustomed. With his love of sailing and his calm professional manner, Tom looks forward to sharing his knowledge and joy of sailing with you onboard Halcyon as we continue our journeys through some of the most beautiful and exhilarating cruising grounds in the world.

Amanda was born into the hospitality industry, having been born into a family of hoteliers on the Isle of Wight. She has worked in hotels, restaurants and Football clubs before deciding to continue her career at sea. She has recently completed an 18 month tour of duty as a chef/hostess on a charter yacht as it completed two transatlantic passages so she certainly knows how to victual a yacht for a long trip! She is really looking forward to cruising the UK where fresh provisions are more readily available and is very excited about the challenges of delivering the fine cuisine that is a mark of a Halcyon cruise. We will be announcing a mate who will join Tom and Amanda for the season in due course.

Halcyon is enjoying the tender care of T Nielsen and Co in Gloucester again this year. She is having a new paint job on the hull and once again is in drydock with her white plastic tent and scaffolding protecting her from the weather. The copper clad hull is looking good except for a few small areas close to the warm water outlet from the fridge and freezer where it has eroded somewhat. This outlet puts out warm seawater from the heat exchangers 24 hours a day. When we are stationary the hot seawater seems to eat away at the copper locally. Tommi’s men will replace a strip around that outlet with thicker copper and we are investigating the possible remedies for the future. Knowledge of what happens to copper clad hulls and hot water outfalls is not something that is thick on the ground but I am confident that Tommi’s team will come up with a solution.

As I said the biggest job this winter is the new paint job on the hull.. Despite being painted according to the manufacturers instructions, last year’s paint suffered from local blistering into millimeter sized bubbles. This year we are changing paint manufactures and erecting a small inner tent inside the major outer tent where we will be able to control the temperature and humidity more precisely. The sign on the door to the tent reads “welcome to the Forth Bridge” a reference to how much time and energy needs to be spent on painting Halcyon. At the moment the hull is sanded back to bare wood and shows her construction and plugging over the fixings. When you see the materials and workmanship laid bare like this it is a real thrill. We are really looking forward to seeing how she comes out in a few weeks time. She is scheduled to be afloat and looking spick and span for her first engagement of the season, a private view at the yard with all the other boats that are wintering there in late March.
Andrew Armour February 11th 2010

Halcyon in Classic Boat Magazine February 2010

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cuisine Cruising

Owning a yacht like this would (does) cost a fortune;chartering her, with a menu to match, is surprisingly affordable, as Guy Venebles discovered.

While we were tacking along Lower Road pavement to walk off our sumptuous onboard meal, Mustapha, one of the "guests" (aka freeloading journalist types) who worked for an Arabin superyacht magazine and who admitted coming from a culture where, in order to display one's wealth one would merely don a gold top hat, said something fascinating. Partley as a general remark about the modest outward appearance of the English, and partly in recognition of Andrew's relaxed and friendly hosting, he said that, if he'd stepped aboard after dinner, he wouldn't have been able to tell who owned the boat.

There were four of us, all from differing areas of the boating press. Richard, a big lovely heavy smoking old hack; Mustapha, the 1970's Omar Sharif in the modern day, Sue the saucy librarian type, and me, a very lucky cartoonist taking the place of the editor who was too busy editing.

I'd walked into Cork Airport arrivals lounge to be met by a beaming David Green (PR person) and, along with the other three,been whisked via the Royal Cork Yacht Club onto the largest and most beautiful "gentleman's yacht" ketch presently chartering in the British Isles.

Halcyon (CB229) is a classic bemudan ketch, 80ft (24.4m) on deck - 95ft (29m) with her bowsprit - built in 1929, beautifully restored and fitted with a small selection of those contemporary bits that make life more comfortable. There's a charming little clinker sailing dinghy and a powerful rib. You can have a hot shower and the duvets come from Austria, but there are still only two winches and the rest of the grunt is done with block and tackle. In the saloon the original clock and barometer look across to a discreetly hidden flatscreen TV. But it was when we sat down to eat at the (gimballed) dining table that we realised just how spoiled we were. There was a true genius called Kerry in the galley.

Fine dining

Once we'd finished our (all locally sourced) garlic and herb pate with La Reine Blanche Sancerre, fillet of beef with duxelles and a Champs de Mer 2000 Bordeaux, chocolate mousse and cheese with port, we started to get to know each other between stiffled belches. The owner, Andrew Armour, had made an amount of money in the oil business I'd only previously seen as a pinball score. But by his general manner it would seem that no one had told him.

After a night of contented snoring we sailed out of Cork around Roaches Point and at last out to see the sea. It was rough enough to make some of us drain a little colour but a steady westerly let her fly to its face. She rose and stretched and foamed through the waves, treating them with the easy comtempt of a thoroughbred racehorse at a local gymkhana. Robert and Ollie, the barefoot captain and his mate, grinned at the wheel so we all tightened our stomachs and filled our lungs while the cream sails purred. This was more like it. Lines snapped and cracked and varnished spars creaked. After a single tack we slipped into Oyster Bay and the sheltered calmness of the wet granite cliffs. Lunch was, once again, a delight.

I have often thought that the real talent of the rich is simply to surround themselves with truly professional people. Halcyon is a very good example of this. Annette, the "hospitality director", had that rare ability to appear at your side holding the thing you wanted just before you realised you wanted it and then disappear like smoke. There was a vase of fresh flowers that I noticed disappeared when the sails were set and reappeared on the dining table as soon as they were stowed.

On the way back and going with the wind, I took the wheel, jammed my pipe in my mouth and pretended to be Errol Flynn for a bit. This seems to be the point of Halcyon. It's about fantasy. Few people are wealthy, crazy or eccentric enough (it takes a precise equation of all three) to buy, restore and charter out a 95ft, 80-year-old bermudan ketch.

Infectious passion

The passion Andrew holds for the boat is utterly infectious and his offer to you is to have the luxury of living aboard her for a few days and then, frankly, have the luxury of leaving.

After all, running and owning a boat like this, to this standard, is expensive, full-time and difficult. You don't want to own one of these. You just want to be on her - and you can, all in, for as little as £100 a day per head.

Happy New Year

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Firstly we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year break. The snow certainly caught everyone slightly by surprise despite it being forecast. I definitely didn’t expect to see 4 inches of snow in the garden of the house in Cowes and to see the temperature drop to -5 degrees. Annette’s car was also left abandoned in nearby Gurnard for a week due to difficult driving conditions. Still it was very exciting to take to the hills with sledges and skis and a sight not very often seen on the Isle of Wight.

Halcyon is safe and sound in Gloucester docks which were somewhat frozen at times. Tommi’s team will be planning her work schedule prior to the start of our 2010 exciting cruising schedule in March. This year will see another new paint job on the topsides as we attempt to get a perfect finish on her hull, this time from a new paint manufacturer.

The Halcyon Yacht Charter team and crew managed to attend the London Boat Show 2010 on Thursday 14 January. In conjunction with Classic Boat magazine we celebrated the news that Halcyon has been added to the most recent top 50 Classic Ships according to the August publication. Classic Boat magazine had prepared a list of the top 200 Classic Vessels back in 2005 and we were not among them then. Finally rectified! Thank you once again to Dan Houston and his team for allowing us to have some champagne and invite some friends to celebrate with us on their Stand.

The usual new year schedule for us will now continue with appointing this year’s crew and preparing for the coming season. We will keep you posted of developments.

In the meantime we would like to wish everyone a very prosperous 2010 with plenty of fair winds and safe sailing.

Halcyon joins National Historic Ships register

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

LIBS PRESS RELEASE .... ( for immediate release ).

DATED: 14th January 2010.

Halcyon Yacht Charter are delighted to be able to announce that the beautiful 1929 Bermudan Ketch, now restored to her former glory by her owner Dr Andrew Armour, has just been accepted as one of the 200 or so Classic Yachts on the National Historic Ships Register. This acknowledges her place amongst mine-sweepers and cruise liners as one of the most significant vessels in Britain’s Maritime Heritage.

This happily coincides with her placement in the Classic Boat Top 50 Yachts of all time passing the intense scrutiny of one of the most revered judging panels in these matters in the world of Maritime Journalism. You can read more about what makes S/y Halcyon so special in the February Issue of Classic Boat which contains a major article recounting Guy Venables ( the IPC cartoonists ) Halcyon Experience.

Halcyon is just completing her winter refit at T.Neilsons Yard in Gloucester Docks and has an exciting itinerary planed for 2010 including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Caledonian Canal and the Scilly Isles. She is also destined to spend some time in London and Edinburgh where the crew will be hosting some special evening dinners – perfect for corporate clients who want a unique night out.

For more information on Halcyon Yacht Charter – visit Stand N68D at the LIBS or email bookings@halcyonyachtcharter.com or call +44 (0) 7711696195

End Of Season Delivery

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our cruising time has come to an end for another season and it was time to take Halcyon back to Gloucester Docks to Tommi’s team for her winter break. Our final engagement in the Solent was a huge success with the weather in our favour for a change. It was a stunning warm day unfortunately slightly windless but even the wind gods blew a sea breeze up as if ordered at 3pm so we could show our guests how she glides through the water under full sail. There was plenty of laughter and chatter on deck among our guests as they enjoyed their Halcyon experience. We were back alongside at Cowes Yacht Haven by 5pm and a sumptuous dinner was prepared in the galley by Annette.

The following morning the crew set about preparing Halcyon for her passage back to Gloucester. The weather looked glorious albeit with light winds. Our crew arrived later afternoon and dinner was organised, followed by a good nights sleep ready for an early departure on Sunday. I tasked Ollie with passage planning and he decided we were leaving around 8am in the morning and that’s what we did. For this trip we were joined by: David Bagget (again), Alan Rockall, Gill Fry who helped from Norway back to Cowes in 2008, Katie Hall and Ollie’s friend Joe Gray. We were due to stop at Poole where Halcyon was to have her final fitting for the awning that is being made by Crusader Sails. We had a hot sunny trip up through the needles and arrived in Poole around lunchtime with admiring glances coming from all directions. A beautiful Sunday dinner of roast lamb was prepared by Annette and her helpers and subsequently consumed rather quickly. On Monday while I waited for the Crusader guys to arrive I had some time to have a look at Bloodhound (formerly the Queens yacht), which is sadly for sale and berthed in Poole. She is a lovely looking yacht with a wealth of stories, just like Halcyon. The chaps from Crusader sails arrived and went about their work fitting the awning, and Wow it is quite something! As soon as the fitting was over we got ready to leave, I know this trip only too well, and to hang around in one place too long can cost you dearly, so next stop Dartmouth.

A light breeze accompanied us as we headed West during the day which filled in during the night to about 15 Knots from the South allowing us to have a lovely sail on a beautiful crisp and clear starry night. We made decent time and arrived in Dartmouth at about half past midnight after a cracking sail. Annette and Ollie got us safely tied up between two buoys by rib and then everyone got some well-deserved shuteye. The following morning we were up and after a quick bit of provisioning we were underway for our next stop Falmouth, for refuelling.

We arrived in Falmouth once again in the early hours of the morning and as it was a calm night I decided we should anchor in St Mawes. The following morning the crew were up and we got ready to get alongside to fuel up. By noon we were once again on our way for a calm rounding of Lands End. I even decided to take the inside passage between Lands End and Longships, something I had never been able to do before. I don’t think we have ever had such a calm trip around Lands End and up the Bristol Channel – it really was a pleasure. By lunchtime on Thursday we arrived in Cardiff and decided to head in there to wait until the next favourable tide to get us up to Sharpness. It was great to be greated by Andrew who was staying in Cardiff for a few days and we were all taken out for eats in the evening. No alcohol was consumed however as we were due to catch the 11.30pm lock out to head up the Severn for the 7.30am lock in to Sharpness the following morning. It was then that the weather starting to look threatening but I was hoping it would wait until we were safely in the Gloucester Canal which it did. Once again the elements were totally in our favour and we had a clear and calm but very cold night to navigate the Severn challenges. Once again I had put Ollie in charge of the navigation up this very demanding stretch of water and he rose to the challenge with faultless execution; he has come a long way since his first trip out of the Bristol Channel when he was on the helm, eyes wide as saucers! We arrived on time for our lock-in and by 8am we were heading along the Gloucester Canal with the sun out. We finally arrived in the Docks welcomed by Tommi and his team and had Halcyon safely tied up alongside in time for a spot of lunch. We then all got to work to remove all the essentials from Halcyon and stow them safely in the shipyard. With 8 people it made life slightly easier and quicker as we formed a chain between Halcyon and the workshop. By 3pm crew were repatriated and it was just Ollie, Annette and I.

It’s always a little sad when you suddenly stop and realise another summer season is over but the time had come once again to allow Halcyon and the crew to have some rest. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Oliver and Annette for being amazing crew. Between them they have endured some tough conditions this year, but they always came through smiling and helped me ensure our guests and crew are always well looked after and safe.

Cadets Before The Mast Once More

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our next 4 guests were the lucky winners of our London Excel Boat Show competition which was drawn on the last day of the show in January by the organisers. For those of you who didn’t enter it was the chance for 2 couples to win a weekend on board Halcyon at a mutually convenient time this season. There was Barry from Devon who invited his chum Brian to join him plus Ian and his wife Lindsay from the Isle of Wight. They were also joined by Stephen who took advantage of the last minute offer to join the cruise from Dartmouth back to Cowes over the last Bank Holiday of the year. The party arrived in Dartmouth on the Sunday afternoon, unfortunately in good West Country rain. All parties were duly introduced to each other over a Devonshire Cream Tea with Halcyon made scones I might add! It came to light that Ian’s lovely wife Lindsay, had a fear of sailing and I was rather surprised that she joined us but at the same time I was so glad she had because the conditions for our trip back to Cowes were very favourable so I hoped she would enjoy this trip. Given the weather it was decided the deck briefing would be given the following morning which was forecast to be dryer and this fitted perfectly with our departure plan. Olly was in charge of this trip and he had decided we would leave Dartmouth around 1000. Annette prepared a tasty dinner for our guests with some wine and once everyone had consumed an elegant sufficiency it was a trip to the local watering holes for our guests.

The following morning everyone was up at 8am and a light breakfast was served. It was then on deck for a full briefing and we departed Dartmouth as planned at around 0950. Conditions were favourable and the seas had completely calmed down compared with how they were on our trip from Plymouth to Dartmouth a few days earlier. Everybody seemed very relaxed and we headed East with a southerly breeze of around 12 knots. We got some sails up with the help of our fully briefed and enthusiastic crew. By later that afternoon however the wind eased right off so the jib and stay’sl were dropped and we continued to motor sail. Despite the lack of wind, which was probably the first windless trip we’d done for a while, we made good progress and by 21:25 we entered the Needles channel. We had a bit of foul tide to punch from here on as we had managed to achieve all our other tidal gates so it was just after midnight that we finally tied up alongside Cowes Yacht Haven. Despite a fairly tired crew, a few cold beers were consumed before everyone got their heads down. The following morning Annette served a full English breakfast for our guests before they departed for home. Much to my surprise and relief Lindsay said her fear of sailing had been cured and was reluctant to depart as she had had such a wonderful time – what a fabulous result! I’d like to thank our guests for being so helpful and joining us for the short trip back to Cowes we hope to see you again soon.

And so it’s September and things are definitely starting to wind down slowly. The jobs are still plentiful on a yacht like Halcyon so we continue to titivate her and reflect on yet another wonderful season.

Our next engagement was 16th September where we were once again hosting another party of ex Warsash Cadets – we always enjoy these days immensely. Andrew was also joining us for this day and he arrived the night before for dinner. The following morning was perfect for an exciting day sailing. The sun was out and the wind was blowing about 16 knots. Ollie and I had reefed the sails as the forecast was for the wind to build during the day. At around 8.30 we headed out of the Medina and over to Warsash where we were to collect our distinguished guests. Our guests were all safely embarked by 10.30 and a full safety briefing was given. Giving a safety brief to these extremely experienced gents is a little like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs, but they listened intently to Ollie while consuming chocolate chip muffins with tea and coffee. We headed out of Southampton water and the breeze had picked up to over 20knots from the North East and the sun was still shining, it was perfect and there were a lot of very smiley faces. We headed East with the tide down the North channel with all hands mucking in when needed, and in between I think its safe to say that there was a lot of reminiscing and story telling going on between the old cadets. Our top speed was 11.4 knots as we headed towards the forts. We then tacked very smoothly and headed to Stokes Bay which provided a lovely sheltered anchorage for our guests buffet lunch to be served. Wine, beer and the full buffet was consumed with lots of laughter and old salty stories – I wonder if Halcyon remembers any of these distinguished gents?

Anyway all good things must come to end and by 1600 we departed our anchorage and were on our way back towards Warsash where we sadly said goodbye to our guests for the day. It was a pleasure having each and every one of them aboard, what a great day!

In terms of our engagements now, we have our final day sail on Friday 25 September after which we will be heading back to Gloucester where Halcyon will once again have a much deserved rest for the winter.

Cowes to Dartmouth Delivery and Dartmouth Charter

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 1 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This week, our Mate, Oliver Cotterell writes the Captains log...and for good reason!

The weather following Andrews’s departure was glorious in Cowes, which gave the crew a chance to get the varnish brushes out and touch up some of the places that were getting a bit worn. Soon it was time for another delivery though, albeit a much smaller one than previously completed. We had guests joining on Monday the 24th of August in Dartmouth, so early on Wednesday morning we set off in beautiful sunshine with a light southerly breeze. Shane had joined Halcyons’ crew to provide assistance on the delivery and his sense of humour certainly kept morale up

Unfortunately the wind veered round to the SW and so once again we were beating, however the sun was out the sea calm and we were making good progress. Using the tides to our advantage and making Portland Bill before the tide turned particularly foul meant that by eleven thirty we were safely anchored in Dartmouth.

The following few days were spent getting Halcyon ready for the charter guests, provisioning and taking on fuel etc. It was a great surprise on the Monday at about 4 o’clock when I found out who the next set of guests were. Unbeknownst to me, my mother had booked the boat and was waiting for a pick up along with my sister Hannah, Matt (her boyfriend) and Joe (a very good friend of mine from University).

They had driven down from York so the decision was made to stay in Dartmouth for the night and head for Fowey the following day. Initially the forecast had looked favourable for the trip to Fowey then doing smaller jumps down the coast towards Dartmouth for the Red Arrows display on the Friday. However upon getting an updated forecast on Tuesday morning it became apparent that the wind had increased and would be on the nose all the way to Fowey, making the trip just a little too long for relaxed cruising. The plan was changed to suit and we made for Salcombe. Matt, it must be said did exceptionally well on the helm having never sailed before and actually steered the boat for most of the trip…in a straight line! Everyone chipped in and got involved in sailing and Halcyon rewarded us with a lovely (albeit to windward) sail. A gale was forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday so we went as far up into Salcombe as we could and securely attached ourselves to a large mooring.

My family and I had never been to Salcombe before so were excited about exploring the little town. We were not disappointed; it had a plethora of good little shops and some very nice pubs. The views and architecture were also stunning. A quick look in the realtors’ office confirmed my thoughts that the property in the area was rather out of our price range!

As was forecast the wind and sea started to build in the early hours of Wednesday and by ten forty five we had over thirty knots of wind in the harbour! We were all glad that the decision had been made to stay in port. The DVD’s were broken out and after the excitement of “Master & Commander” followed by some weather watching from the deck house we decided that we would like to have a pub lunch ashore. Foul weather gear was donned and we soon found ourselves in a very nice pub on a hill overlooking the harbour. Mum and Hannah took advantage of the free time to fit in some much needed shopping. As the afternoon progressed the weather started to ease and the forecast was looking good for the following day.

By Thursday the weather had vastly improved and we set out once again this time bound for Plymouth. The sails were put up at the mooring and we gently slipped out of Salcombe having a pleasant and uneventful sail to Plymouth. Once again everyone contributed to deck duties and in no time the boat was put to bed when we arrived in port. As the day was still young Hannah, Matt, Joe and I headed to the cinema for some light entertainment. The timing worked out perfectly and we arrived back just in time for yet another sumptuous three course meal prepared by Annette. A look at the weather that evening was a bit concerning. South Westerly Gale 8! Usually weather of this ilk is avoided with guests on board, however we had to make it back for the Red Arrows display and the guest’s departure in Dartmouth. The boat was prepared for some rough weather with two reefs in the main and the jack stays attached.

Unexpectedly we woke up to glorious sunshine in addition to the promised high winds. This had the potential to be an exceptional passage; the weather would be on our stern quarter so Halcyon should fly. The sails were efficiently hoisted by the crack crew within the protection of Plymouth’s harbour wall and soon we were underway.
Much to our delight the day was truly magical and surpassed our expectations. Joe chose this moment with nearly forty knots over the deck to try his hand at the helm. He did gallantly despite the difficult conditions; however it was not long before he was relieved from his duties by the skipper who obviously wanted to see what Halcyon was capable of in these fantastic conditions. It was then not long before I managed to weasel my way onto the wheel in an attempt to top his personal best boat speed. Gusts reaching fifty knots produced epic boat speeds of up to thirteen point six knots by the skipper which unfortunately I wasn’t able to beat. After averaging eleven knots throughout the passage we arrived safely in Dartmouth by the early afternoon with ecstatic expressions on our faces. Our now well weathered crew made light work of getting the boat to bed so that we could enjoy the entertainment of the Dartmouth Regatta. Various military aeronautical displays including the Red Arrows, a Chinook and a Merlin dazzled us and the large crowd that had gathered for the spectacle.

Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end and on Saturday I had to bid a fond farewell to my family. I would like to thank Rob, Annette and Katie for making my family’s stay aboard Halcyon so special.
We will be heading back to Cowes this week so look out for further adventures in the next Captains’ Log.

Passage to Cowes and Cowes Week

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After a lovely evening courtesy of Lagavulin distillery and The Classic Malts Cruise it was straight back to business as the guests departed in the morning and our guests for the passage back to Cowes from Islay flew in that afternoon. We were lucky on this passage to have some experienced crew, Dave Baggett, a salty dog who has helped us many times previously, Crispin who has a wealth of experience behind him and has two yachts, Paul, who has done a transatlantic and Nelson, if his name didn’t qualify him enough, has owned his own boat and sailed for many years. No sooner had they arrived and the necessary safety briefs and orientation were complete, a lovely hot meal was prepared and then we were off, first stop Bangor, Northern Ireland.

We needed to leave to run ahead of a storm that was coming in from the Atlantic, which would rule out the next couple of days sailing. Better to be in harbour wishing you were at sea, than at sea wishing you were in harbour! After an absolutely lovely overnight sail where we reached 11 knots at Rathlin Island we arrived well ahead of schedule in the early hours of the morning, only to find our berth had been stolen by some scallywag! Never mind, we were all a little tired so we dropped the hook and had an extra couple of hours shut eye. Once alongside in Bangor it was a wash down, and tidy up before going to explore what the town had to offer.

As soon as the storm had passed we had a weather window to get down to Lands End so we headed out and set sail. Initial progress South was good but of course, as with most of the passages we do, the wind soon came onto the nose and it became a hard beat to get any Southing; not a favourite point of sail for Halcyon. Progress was slow but moral amongst the crew was high as we were all happy to be out at sea doing what we love. Eventually we made the Lleyn Peninsular just South of Anglesey and tacked into Cardigan Bay, the weather was building and the seas getting a little lumpier but nothing that Halcyon or her crew couldn’t handle. The plan was to sail down to the South of Cardigan Bay and get in the lee of the land to make the ride a little more comfy as the sea state decreased. The forecast was for SW’erly 5 to 7, so it came as no surprise as the wind built to that level and the rain started to fall. By this time we were passing Fishguard as one of the fast cats hurtled by us inbound to port. As night drew in the wind and sea state built to uncomfortable levels and ‘George’ our autohelm decided that he had had enough, so it was down to hand steering. By this time the weather was exceeding the forecast so we decided to head into Milford Haven for a well deserved break and some rest and recuperation until the weather passed. We eventually pulled into Milford Haven marina in the early hours of the morning, put the boat to bed and then put ourselves to bed!

Our journey South continued some days later with another uncomfortable beat down to Lands End and it was with great relief and a sense of achievement that we bore away and started heading East. Halcyon picked up her skirt and started chewing up the miles very quickly on a beam to broad reach; we had all worked hard for this and it was a real joy to see our speed increase. In fact from rounding Lands End to reaching Cowes was only a little more than 24 hours, I think that’s good in anyone’s book, and especially for an 80 year old!

We finally arrived in Cowes late on the Tuesday evening missing the start of Cowes Week, but never mind it was good to have made it back and be welcomed alongside Venture Quays on the east side of Cowes, our allocated berth for the next week or so. On the Wednesday, after a good nights sleep, it was back to drying the boat out and getting her looking like a charter yacht again, something we seem to be able to get done fairly efficiently from all the practice we have had.

Andrew joined us on Thursday evening as he was entertaining a group of friends on Friday. The guests arrived around 9am for traditional Halcyon bacon butties and we then headed out for a day sail. It was a fabulous and perfect day for Halcyon and we sailed East towards Portsmouth in a fresh southerly breeze under full sail. It was decided we would anchor in Osborne Bay for a spot of lunch and surprisingly a swim. Not all guests participated but Andrew was determined to get wet as usual and was surprised by the strength of the tide despite warnings! Once everyone had consumed an elegant sufficiency of food and wine we headed out for an afternoon sail and then back into Cowes. It was a fairly tricky manoeuvre to get back on our berth at Venture Quays when the tide was at its strongest ebb so instead I decided to anchor just off the green near the Royal Yacht Squadron to watch the Viking display which was then followed by the Red Arrows – my favourite air display. They never cease to amaze me and leave me speechless every time we see them.

After the fireworks the anchorage was getting pretty lively with the usual types who seem to appear every year, so we decided to return to our berth at Venture Quays, have the beautiful dinner that Annette had prepared and watch the fireworks from the comfort of being alongside. And boy, what a view we got from there, it was magical, every year they outdo themselves. Well sadly that finale signalled the end of Cowes week for another year and we got to witness the mass exodus of boats from Cowes as it returned to its normal state. The only ones left over were those waiting to compete in the Fastnet race, which started on the Sunday.

Jamie Green

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It is with great sadness that I have to report to you the sudden and untimely death of Jamie Green, one of the stalwarts of Tommi Nielsen’s shipyard in Gloucester and a principle rigger in Halcyon’s refits at Gloucester. Jamie passed quite quickly after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer leaving a wife and three young children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them at this most distressing time.

Andrew Armour, owner of Halcyon writes...

‘My memories of Jamie are particularly happy as he was a constant source of confidence and inspiration as he re-rigged Halcyon’s standing and running rigging back in 2006. I will always remember the impish grin on his face as he directed the crane driver lifting Halcyon’s mainmast back in last winter after a few coats of new varnish. The cross wind was quite strong and he had a couple of tons of wood and steel and rope wafting in the breeze waiting to find the hole in the deck and safely snug down into the keel. Jamie was in his element, unlike me who was as nervous as they come. We will miss him very much.’

My personal memories of Jamie were of a very approachable man with a kind, polite demeanour who new his trade inside and out and was widely respected within the industry. He always had time to answer my (sometimes stupid) questions and was happy to impart some of his knowledge. His skills were without question and this shone through in the quality of work. He will be missed greatly.

His funeral will be in Gloucester on 2nd September 14.30 at Highbury Congregational Church Cheltenham GL52 6EP

Halcyon Days - The Lady Magazine

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Beverly Byrne cruises around the Isle of Mull on a luxurious classic yacht

Though I love sailing I am no Ellen MacArthur. My idea of a perfect day's cruise is nursing a cool drink on deck while watching hearty matelots splice the mainbrace and shin up the rigging. So a weekend's sail in Scotland on board Halcyon, a 95 ft Bermudan ketch manned by a crew that includes a gourmet chef, appeals. As I board the elegant vessel on Oban harbour, a welcoming committee of dolphins somersaults playfully around her copper clad hull.

Change of Fortune

It's easy to see why Halcyon has been described as the "Orient Express of the Seas". Built for a Lancashire industrialist and designed with comfort in mind, when launched in 1929 she was considered a thoroughbred. She has since sailed to the four corners of the world in various incarnations. During the Second World War she was thought to have been the flagship of a flotilla of minesweepers in Greece before becoming , it is said, the private yacht of Madame Renault (of the car dynasty). Between 1957 and 1988, she became a training ship for Merchant Navy cadets. When discovered four years ago by her current owner Andrew Armour, she was in dire need of love and attention, and these have been lavished on her. Now restored, she represents a perfect combination of the golden age of sail and 21st century living. Outlining our itinerary, Rob suggests we cruise up the Sound of Mull to Tobermory. As Halcyon's deck layout and fittings are almost as the original design with virtually no winches, all five sails must be hoisted and trimmed manually. Before weighing anchor, Olly takes us through through the safety feratures and invites guests to lend a hand on deck or simply enjoy the ravishing views. With only a whisper of wind to fill her sails, we motor gently through watercolour landscapes and an ethereal Scotch mist descends as we pass the forbidding outline of Duart Castle.

Fine Dining

Tobermory, the main village on the Isle of Mull, is a painter's paradise, the brightly coloured houses clustering around a busy harbour. After a tour of the Ledaig Whisky Distillery, we set sail for Loch Aline where we anchor for the night and enjoy a fine dinner. Kerri, the talented chef, manages to produce consistently exquisite cuisine, from Cullen Skink (traditional haddock soup) to red onion Tarte Tatin in the most compact of galleys. Next Day we wake to blue skies and a fair wind. With all five sails hoisted we tack down the Sound of Mull attracting admiring glances from passing yachtsmen and hillside ramblers. Even a seal, surfacing from the placid water, follows our stately passage with interest. It is perfect sailing weather and I join in, heaving on lines and marvelling as the sails balloon satisfyingly above us. Mooring up for lunch un a secluded cove, the crew break out Halcyon's water toys. Although the weather is glorious, this is still Scotland and the water is bone-chillingly cold. Although some brave guests swim, snorkel and cling to an inflated rind drawn behind a speeding dinghy, I play Swallows and Amazons in Halcyon's original clinker gaff-rigged row boat and row to a deserted shore to see a bustling mother duck with her ducklings and seals lounging on the rocks. Later we head for the evening's anchorage. Rob invites me to take the helm. Standing at Halcyon's wheel, I reflect on her name. "Halcyon" is an ancient Greek word for the iridescent kingfisher and "halcyoon days" means periods of peace and calm.

As I guide this perfectly named legendary yacht towards a fuschia-pink sunset, I realise I've fallen completely under her spell. I may be a fair-weather sailor but days don't come much more halcyon than this.

Charter SY Halcyon during The Little Britain Cup 2009

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

THE ULTIMATE CORPORATE SAILING EXPERIENCE ABOARD THE MOST LUXURIOUS CLASSIC CHARTER YACHT AVAILABLE IN UK WATERS

I am delighted to announce that we have made our private luxury yacht Halcyon and her professional crew available for a number of unique corporate sailing days during the Little Britain Cup in September this year. Halcyon represents the ultimate in terms of a luxury sailing experience. She is 95ft overall, in pristine condition having recently undergone a major refit and is crewed by a first rate team of talented individuals who would make a sail on her a day to remember.

She hails from a bygone era when guests were treated like Kings, where every need and want is catered for and in a style to which we would all like to become permanently accustomed. This represents a unique opportunity to experience the exhilaration and power of a thoroughbred yacht in her prime despite this year being her 80th birthday, whilst being wined and dined in sumptuous splendor.

The Little Britain Cup Charter allows plenty of time for travel to Southampton and the high speed ferry to West Cowes where you will be met by our hospitality team and transferred to the yacht at her berth at Venture Quay. The yacht will take to the seas to view the Little Britain Cup Racing allowing you to become as involved as you want in the sailing of the vessel – even helming her for a while in the spaces left between the fleets of racing yachts.

The Little Britain Cup is still one of the best most exciting corporate yachting events in the calendar and the atmosphere and buzz in Cowes at this time has to be seen to be believed. The racing is intense with some of the greatest names in the construction business attending on an annual basis. The skipper and crew will interpret the racing for you while you experience the fine fayre prepared by the professional chef on board and partake of the drinks provided.

A sample itinerary is included below but this can be adjusted to suit your travel arrangements. I hope that you will take this opportunity to book one of the most unique and rewarding corporate days imaginable … there are few opportunities that mix the pleasures of sailing with the spectacle of one of the world’s most fiercely contested yachting regattas.

Yours sincerely,

pp. Dr Andrew Armour.
Owner – S/y Halcyon.

Available dates:

Thursday 10th September

Friday 11th September

Saturday 12th September

SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR CORPORATE CHARTER DURING THE LITTLE BRITAIN CUP FROM COWES ON THE IOW – SEPTMBER 2009

08.30 Travel to Southampton by train / plane / car.
09.45 Red Jet High Speed service to the IOW
10.15 Met by Halcyon Hospitality Team on arrival and transfer by water taxi to the Yacht.
11.00 Welcome drinks aboard introduction to the crew and briefing for the days activities.
11.30 Afloat to watch the racing.
13.30 Lunch is served with wine aboard.
14.00 More sailing and watching the end of the days racing.
16.00 Return to Venture Quay.
16.30 Sundowner drinks on board.
17.00 Depart the yacht
17.15 Red Jet High Speed back to Southampton for journey home.

For more information on the Halcyon Experience contact:

David Green ( Halcyon PR + Marketing ) on: +44 ( 0 ) 7786 228722 or +44 ( 0 ) 1983 299886

Or email him on: dgreen@3greenlights.com

For a better insight into the yacht and her adventures go to: www.halcyonyachtcharter.com

PRICING:

Price per head for Corporate Day ( as above including food and wine but excluding travel to Southampton or ferry fare ):

£250 / head subject to a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 for the day charter option.

£3,000 if you simply want to reserve the whole yacht for your guests ( maximum 12 ).

SPECIAL OFFER:

For bookings received before the end of August Halcyon Yacht Charter are prepared to offer a 10% discount on these rates.

Notes:

1. Please notify us of any special dietary needs you might have.
2. We will supply protective clothing for sailing aboard but you should bring non-slip deck-shoes and / or wellies to keep you feet warm and dry.
3. Bring some warm clothing with you in case the weather is inclement.
4. Once you have confirmed your place we will contact you to arrange your joining details

Minke's and Calaidh's

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We have had a truly amazing time in Scotland and been lucky enough to have lingered a bit longer this year and therefore explore a little further. We have also been blessed with some fabulous warm weather so I suppose it was time for us, and our next charter guests to experience some typically Scottish weather, and this is exactly what happened.

Andrew and his guests arrived, as planned in Mallaig on 18th July. They were all high on the ‘Harry Potter train experience’ from Fort William to Mallaig where they had already indulged in plenty of champagne. Once on board and settled into their cabins lunch was organised. We departed Mallaig shortly after lunch and headed round to Loch Inverie for the night. The weather was rather cloudy but the sun was desperate to show its face in between the clouds. Before dinner was served Andrew and friends headed ashore to explore the delights of Inverie and of course head to The Old Forge Pub watering hole. Once back aboard dinner was served and then it was back to the pub!

The following morning we arose to a rather imposing overcast sky. After breakfast we headed North to Loch Scavaig for lunch. I might not have mentioned yet how desperate the crew and I have been to see some whales, and after our Canna experience we were ready for another. Just off Mallaig we were escorted by a Northern Minke who seemed rather unphased by our presence. It was a stunning sight and the guests were extremely excited.

We managed to hoist all sails this morning and made good progress arriving in Scavaig around 1.30pm anchoring in the Inner Pool. After lunch we departed Loch Scavaig and headed for the beautiful island of Canna where we were to stay for the night. Once safely anchored the guests indulged in yet more Halcyon galley delights and as it was a rather chilly night the chimney was erected and a roaring fire ordered.

The next morning the guests were ribbed ashore for a walk around stunning Canna. Once back on board we were to head for Tobermory. The forecast wind had kicked in and we had a strong south westerly to contend with. As we left the shelter of Canna and headed down the Sound of Canna the wind was blowing around 30knots which had naturally kicked up a fair swell. Once we were through the sound, which took a little longer than I expected, we hoisted the Mizzen and Stays’l, and bore away, and Halcyon did what she does best and rode the waves with effortless ease with spray over crashing over the foredeck, and sometimes reaching the cockpit, I loved it! I think the guests had experienced enough of how well Halcyon could handle the rough stuff and everyone was very relieved to have finally reached Tobermory around 5pm. Following dinner, a trip ashore was in order to sample the delights of the pubs and to talk about the adventures of the day. I think they will probably dine out on that journey for the rest of the year!

The guests were all very keen for the opportunity to visit Iona which would have been a good day sail away. However the ladies of the camp were also keen not to have to endure any rolly seas given they had spent the previous evening and night getting their sea legs back under control. So they decided to take public transport to Iona and I was to get them to Loch Spelve via the sheltered Sound of Mull where they could catch a bus to the ferry terminal. After a look around the town we departed Tobermory around mid-day. We had a good 6 hour sail so lunch was served under way. We arrived in a very still and quiet Loch Spelve just after 6pm. The fire was lit and dinner was served. The following morning the guests were up early and a packed lunch was prepared for them. Once they had headed off the crew decided to investigate the mussel farm and bought 4kg of freshly farmed mussels for only £4! So it was mussels for lunch – naturally only half of them. The remainder were saved for our guests and were prepared for them while under way to Craighouse later that day. The guests returned to Halcyon after a wonderful visit to Iona accompanied by some beautiful weather and we headed straight out for Craighouse on the Isle of Jura, via the notorious Corryvrekkan. The trip was almost at an end and we were to head to Port Ellen the following day for the final party of the Classic Malt cruise at the Lagavulin distillery on Islay. Unfortunately the sun overruled the wind and after our best efforts at sailing we had to admit defeat and turn on the engine. We finally arrived in Port Ellen around 3pm and guests were whisked ashore for their tour of the distillery. The crew organised the boat and then headed to join the guests for the party at the distillery later that evening. And what a party it was, a traditional Scottish calaidh with lots of dancing – well not from me, but plenty from Andrew and Annette. I decided I should keep my strength for the passage we were to make shortly back to Cowes!

Birthdays, Basking Sharks, Whales & Pollacks

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Usually at this time of the season we are over in Norway enjoying the stunning Fjords. However this season we have been lucky enough to enjoy the West Coast of Scotland for a little longer and hence do some exploring. This is truly a magical and most amazing part of the planet we live on and if you haven’t yet visited you really must. Friday 10th July was Halcyon’s official birthday and what a lovely place for her to celebrate it. The crew dressed Halcyon overall in the morning with bunting and put a sign along the boom to let our fellow yachtsmen know it was her special day. But it was work as normal, and as befitting a lady of her age, Olly got in the water and scrubbed her bottom! In the afternoon, Kerri cooked a traditional Genoise cake with cream and strawberries and candles (not quite 80!) which we all blew out and had a slice with a glass of champagne and sat in the sunshine. We had a lot of admirers come alongside and congratulate her on reaching such a ripe age and for looking so good on it. Saturday 11th July was the start of the annual Classic Malt Cruise and I was required to register Halcyon’s entry and attend the Skipper’s meeting. In the evening a big party for all the cruise entrants was held with a large buffet spread and drinks. It was great to catch up with so many people who all have the same thing in common and I don’t just mean single malt. These passionate sailors all love the highlands and the beauty it offers and cruising the Classic Malt together. We also met up with Richard Clapham who now skippers Eda Frandsen, a lovely converted fishing vessel which charters the West Coast, and who was one of the original team of shipwrights that restored Halcyon at Tommi’s in 2006. After we had indulged in the marvellous spread of food we were entertained a marching bagpipe band which held a procession down to the North Pier where we all gathered. The group were of young and old and it was a very patriotic sound. We loved it. Finally the evening came to a close as the wind piped up and the clouds set in for a very dramatic sunset. The following morning unfortunately bought low cloud and drizzle, typical Scottish weather. This wasn’t the most perfect conditions for the Classic Malt’s parade of sail but it went ahead as planned, nobody lets the weather disrupt any plans (within reason of course). The yachts all headed out and on their journey following close behind ‘Spray Of Wight’ the lead boat who were carrying rather a lot of single malt! We did not participate in the first leg and scheduled to cruise the second leg with Andrew and his guests starting 18 July. We therefore organised ourselves to depart Oban with Kerri and Annette provisioning as far as they could for the next few weeks and Ollie and I preparing Halcyon. We left on the Monday lunchtime and headed north for Loch na Droma Buide (which we call Loch Drambuie!) which is a new spot for us and just opposite Tobermory. The sun was in and out and particularly hot when out. It turned into a lovely calm evening. We arrived at the entrance to Loch Drambuie around 7pm and to our sheer excitement we were spectators to an otter carrying her baby across to the rocks right next to us. Loch Drambuie offered a quiet and glassy anchorage for the night so we decided to go for a spot of fishing. Annette and I headed out in the rib to see what we could find and sure enough I hooked a nice pretty Pollock, the first one I have caught, so that was lunch for the following day sorted. The following morning after a good nights sleep we departed Drambuie and headed for Sanna Bay, which is just past Ardnamurchan point, the most western point of mainland Britain. I got the fishing rod out again as we naturally needed something else to satisfy 4 hungry crew for lunch and sure enough I was lucky enough to land yet another Pollack. It was rather dark and wet so ollie’s oil skins were on and off all morning. We arrived in Sanna Bay around 1pm but the anchorage was a little exposed for the south westerly which had increased to 10 knots and hence a little rolly. So we had lunch of pan fried Pollack and admired the white sandy beach before heading off for Canna. The sun came out in the afternoon and we arrived just after 6pm. Canna is a stunning place and the conditions were perfect glassy water and a fabulous warm sunny evening. We had supper and then Kerri and Annette headed off to stretch their legs ashore while I took Ollie for a little bit of wakeboard. It was just too glassy to miss and provided perfect wakeboard conditions. While I was waiting for the girls to arrive back on the beach where I had dropped them off, I sat on deck with my binoculars. I could have sworn I could see a Minke whale in the distance but sometimes your eyes can play tricks when the water is so calm and the light shadows dance on the water. I was then distracted back to the beach and Annette was waving for a pick up. Once they were back in the rib my curiosity got the better of me and I suggested we head out a little just to see if I had seen anything. As we headed out sure enough we spotted a Minke quite close in to the shore and one further out. It was an amazing sight at last, we have been waiting for our first sighting since arriving in Scotland mid May. We sat motionless in the rib as we watched the whale arch almost vertically as it prepared for a deep dive and then it was gone. Still on a high we sat hoping for another look and just ahead of us we spotted a basking shark which decided to swim straight towards us. They seem very docile creatures and very unnerved by humans or boats. We got within 10ft of it in the rib which was quite spectacular. What wasn’t quite so clever was that I had no camera with me. Annette had her small camera but it wasn’t quite good enough. We decided we should go and collect Ollie as he had been going on all day about how he was desperate to sight a basking shark. I left Annette & Kerri on board and Ollie and I with our camera’s heading back out. But of course the basking shark had gone which was a little disappointing. We did sight another Minke a fair way out and in the still of the evening could make out his blows. After all that excitement we headed back to Halcyon and still on a high headed to bed. The following morning was stunning and warm. We got as many jobs done as we could in the morning and I decided we should take a stroll around Canna to explore the island during the afternoon. Canna is joined by a bridge to another small island called Sanday. What I had intended to be a short stroll turned into quite an epic walk but it really is a stunning place. The remotest beaches with the whitest sand and clearest water I’ve seen for a long time. We headed back to Halcyon and decided to head for another anchor for the night. It was a tough decision as we loved it here but we had limited time and so much to see. We departed Canna at 5.15pm and headed for Loch Scavaig. It was about a 3 hour journey and en route we heard from Eda Frandsen who was also heading to the same place with a few other Classic Malt Cruise yachts. Loch Scavaig is described in the Clyde Cruising Club’s sailing instructions as one of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring anchorages in Europe. It is set deep in the cirque of the Black Cuillins of Skye. On arrival just before 8.30pm we all agreed it certainly lived up to its reputation. It is wild and totally remote from civilisation apart from the visiting yachtsmen, tourist launches and rock climbers…. oh and the seal colony which was a fair size. It was stunning. We had a very quiet nights sleep apart from the faint sound of classic malt crews singing sea shanties whilst I would guess sampling some single malt. We woke early the following morning and headed out of Scavaig for Mallaig where we needed some food supplies. We arrived in Mallaig at lunch time. Ollie took the girls ashore whilst I stayed on board Halcyon and stood off the harbour. Once all errands were run the crew were back on board and we departed Mallaig for Inverie Bay (Loch Nevis). Inverie Bay plays host to Britain’s most remote pub in mainland Britain called The Old Forge. Apart from the few locals there is really only one way to reach this which is by boat so of course it made sense for the crew to head to shore and try it out. Halcyon was safely anchored in the bay where we could keep a watchful eye on her and we had a few drinks while watching the warm evening sun go down. As I write this we are preparing Halcyon for our next party which is Andrew & his guests who arrive in Mallaig tomorrow for their Classic Malt Cruise so I will close this log and will write another one after our next charter.

SY Halcyon reaches her 80th Birthday

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Happy Birthday Halcyon, Classic Boat website July 2009

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Happy 80th birthday Halcyon! Halcyon, the 80ft 'gentleman's yacht', celebrates her 80th birthday this week. Built by JI Thornycroft of Southampton for industrialist Sir Samuel Turner, she was launched on July 10, 1929. The milestone coincides with her recent listing on the National Register of Historic Ships. Recently restored by her owner Andrew Armour, when she was shortlisted for Classic Boat's Restoration of the Year Award, Halcyon now operates as a luxury charter yacht, based in Pembrokeshire. She has visited Norway, Scotland and Ireland and will be at this year's Cowes Week. Halcyon has also been nominated for Classic Boat's 'Top 50 more' classics

Cowes week daysails

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

THE ULTIMATE CORPORATE SAILING EXPERIENCE ABOARD THE MOST LUXURIOUS CLASSIC CHARTER YACHT AVAILABLE IN UK WATERS I am delighted to announce that we have made our private luxury yacht Halcyon and her professional crew available for a number of unique corporate sailing days during Cowes Week in August this year. Halcyon represents the ultimate in terms of a luxury sailing experience. She is 95ft overall, in pristine condition having recently undergone a major refit and is crewed by a first rate team of talented individuals who would make a sail on her a day to remember. She hails from a bygone era when guests were treated like Kings, where every need and want is catered for and in a style to which we would all like to become permanently accustomed. This represents a unique opportunity to experience the exhilaration and power of a thoroughbred yacht in her prime despite this year being her 80th birthday, whilst being wined and dined in sumptuous splendor. The Cowes Week Corporate Charter allows plenty of time for travel to Southampton and the high speed ferry to West Cowes where you will be met by our hospitality team and transferred to the yacht at her berth at Venture Quay. The yacht will take to the seas to view the Cowes Week Racing allowing you to become as involved as you want in the sailing of the vessel – even helming her for a while in the spaces left between the fleets of racing yachts. Cowes Week is still one of the most invigorating yachting events on earth and the atmosphere and buzz in Cowes at this time has to be seen to be believed. The racing is intense with some of the greatest names in sailing attending on an annual basis. The skipper and crew will interpret the racing for you while you experience the fine fayre prepared by the professional chef on board and partake of the drinks provided. A sample itinerary is included below but this can be adjusted to suit your travel arrangements. I hope that you will take this opportunity to book one of the most unique and rewarding corporate days imaginable … there are few opportunities that mix the pleasures of sailing with the spectacle of one of the worlds most prestigious yachting regattas. Yours sincerely, Dr Andrew Armour. Owner – S/y Halcyon. Available dates: Monday 3rd August Tuesday 4th August Wednesday 5th August Thursday 6th August Saturday 8th August SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR CORPORATE CHARTER IN COWES WEEK 2009 08.30 Travel to Southampton by train / plane / car. 09.45 Red Jet High Speed service to the IOW 10.15 Met by Halcyon Hospitality Team on arrival and transfer by water taxi to the Yacht. 11.00 Welcome drinks aboard introduction to the crew and briefing for the days activities. 11.30 Afloat to watch the racing. 13.30 Lunch is served with wine aboard. 14.00 More sailing and watching the end of the days racing. 16.00 Return to Venture Quay. 16.30 Sundowner drinks on board. 17.00 Depart the yacht 17.15 Red Jet High Speed back to Southampton for journey home. For more information on the Halcyon Experience contact: David Green ( Halcyon PR + Marketing ) on: +44 ( 0 ) 7786 228722 or +44 ( 0 ) 1983 299886 Or email him on: dgreen@3greenlights.com For a better insight into the yacht and her adventures go to: www.halcyonyachtcharter.com We do hope you will be able to look at the enclosed Promo DVD; it will give you a real insight into the delights that are in store for you when you book this amazing corporate experience. PRICING: Price per head for Corporate Day ( as above including food and wine but excluding travel to Southampton or ferry fare ): £350 / head ( subject to a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 11 for the day charter option ). £3500 If you simply want to reserve the whole yacht for your guests ( maximum 11 ) Notes: 1. Please notify us of any special dietary needs you might have. 2. We will supply protective clothing for sailing aboard but you should bring non-slip deck-shoes and / or wellies to keep you feet warm and dry. 3. Bring some warm clothing with you in case the weather is inclement. 4. Once you have confirmed your place we will contact you to arrange your joining details

A voyage with Halcyon in Ireland, Cowes Online Article by Sue Pelling

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A voyage with Halcyon in Ireland http://www.cowes.co.uk/zonexml/story?story_id=6716;cp=0 Take a step back in time and enjoy the ultimate tailor-made sailing experience aboard the luxury, 1920s classic yacht Halcyon, writes Sue Pelling. If the rich, dark, teak panels aboard SY Halcyon could talk, they’d doubtless have a few tales to tell. This 95ft loa, 1929 Thornycroft-designed and built Bermudan Ketch with her distinct bow and unmistakable counter-stern is one of the most elegant classic yachts in existence and, having been immaculately restored to her original form, it’s difficult to imagine how she could have survived such a harsh former life. During World War II she was requisitioned by the Navy and used as a barrage balloon tender, then used as the flagship of a flotilla of minesweepers in Greece, and during the early 1950s was the private yacht of Madame Renault from the Renault cars dynasty. In 1958 on, for the next 30 years, she was a training ship at the Warsash School of Navigation. She had a tough life and by the end of her days at the navigation school was destined for retirement but, as in all good fairy tales, she was rescued from certain fate and given a new lease of life. Thanks to oil/energy magnate, Andrew Armour - the current owner – who recognised her pedigree and potential, Halcyon is in sparkling condition once again after a £1 million re-fit and is now used as a fully-crewed charter yacht for the ultimate, luxury sailing experience. But, as I was lucky enough to find out during a charter off Crosshaven, County Cork, in Southern Ireland earlier this year, this is no ordinary charter; far from it. Imagine being a guest onboard and reliving a sort of fantasy from the yacht’s flamboyant, heyday years in the 1920s when the likes of the original owner Sir Sam Turner (chairman of Turner and Newall) used her for entertaining? Imagine the strange, yet overwhelming feeling of excitement of being on the same boat, sleeping in the same cabins and sitting in the same saloon as sailors and guests from that bygone era? That’s exactly what to expect when you step aboard Halcyon. But better than that, and better than any Orient Express/luxury cruise line experience, guests are invited to benefit from the experience of enjoying what’s comparable to being given the free run of a staffed country mansion for the weekend including the keys to the owner’s wine cellar! The fairly exclusive charter package with provision for just eight guests for cruises, 11 guests for day charters, and four crew members means that the whole experience is rather intimate allowing guests to come and go as they wish. With customer care a priority there’s provision to tailor-make the itinerary allowing guests the opportunity to explore the hundreds of hidden, magical anchorages littered around our coastline. To explore further, in places too shallow to risk taking the yacht, there’s a chance to relive those ‘Swallows and Amazons days’ with a sail/row on the yacht’s original 12ft clinker dinghy tender. If you fancy something a bit faster however, or are keen to try your hand at wakeboarding, then the jet-powered RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) would be the best option. Although Halcyon is primarily a performance sailing boat with a highly experienced and qualified skipper and mate, guests have the option to choose whether to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery, or participate in the sailing. Rob Hickman the skipper and team, including First Mate Ollie Cotterell and Annette Corder, hostess, are happy to run the sailing, but they are always keen to encourage the help of others. Hickman commented: ‘Because we’ve tried to keep Halcyon as original and authentic as possible we only have two winches on board and block and tackle systems which means it’s all hands on deck when hoisting the 2,275sq ft of sails. Obviously there’s no real pressure because we can do it ourselves but there’s nothing like getting our guests involved to give them a real flavour of what it’s like to handle a big yacht.’ Her solid structure of teak planks on an oak frame means that Halcyon feels exceptionally robust. Interestingly though, she’s incredibly light and sensitive on the helm and her sizeable sail plan means she performs well in a breeze. Cruising off Crosshaven in a 20 knot breeze she clocked at least 10 knots, and according to Armour she was tracking a consistent 11 knots for hours on a recent 650 mile pasage from Stavanger, Norway to Cowes. ‘On a journey like this,’ commented Armour, ‘you really feel as though she’ll look after you because she exudes confidence. She makes me laugh because I also get a kind of romantic feeling this 80 year old is like a maiden aunt who’s looking for someone to look after her. I’m sure she casts her eye over everybody who comes aboard and says: ‘I wonder if this one’s up for it, when this old git is dead and I’ve taken all his money?’ There’s one thing for sure, she’ll find someone else to take her on once I’ve bitten the dust.’ Her spacious deck layout means guests can enjoy the freedom to come and go as they please without disturbing those sailing her. There are also plenty of potential sunbathing areas on the rich, spotlessly clean teak deck, and for those feeling brave enough, a trip out along the bowsprit to lie in the bowsprit netting is the ultimate relaxation therapy. One of the most popular locations on the boat, particularly for non-sailing guests, is the windowed deckhouse, which serves as a welcome retreat during inclement weather. With comfortable seats all round, it’s also the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner… or two in the summer. Because the owner is aware that after a good day’s sailing there’s nothing guests like more than to go down below and relax in the warm with a glass of fine wine in sumptuous surroundings, Halcyon has been fitted with a log-burning stove, similar to the one originally fitted when she was built. The stove, situated in the main saloon/dining area in the centre of the boat has a 300 million year-old piece of slate as a surround weighing 65kg and is, not surprisingly, a key focal point. A key talking point however, has to be the exquisite cuisine masterminded by chef Kerri Humm. As far as my experience of yachting goes there is nothing to compare to the exceptional quality of food and wine, and the well thought out, varied menu during my charter in Ireland. The caramelised red onion tartlets with pecorino sauce, and the oven-baked salmon darnes served with crushed potatoes, minted peas and asparagus, were nothing short of divine. Kerri tries to buy organic provisions locally sourced and the wine is specially selected by the owner. In recognition of Halcyon’s masterchef standards, the yacht even has its own cookery book produced by former chef Andre Daniels. Published in hardback with over 150 gourmet recipes to choose from, this book with its stunning photography serves as the perfect reminder of time spent aboard Halcyon. As I stepped off Halcyon at the end of my voyage I was in deep envy of guests signed up for charters on the two-month Scottish part of Halcyon’s annual itinerary in June and July. Exploring the coastline around Scotland’s western isles aboard this comfortable, graceful yacht has got to be the ultimate way to appreciate the stunning scenery. And for Whisky lovers, the pièce de résistance has to be the excursion to the Islay and Jura Whisky distilleries on the leg between Largs and Oban. The final part of the Scottish tour includes the highly popular Classic Malts Cruise, from Oban-Mallaig-Largs. From Largs, Scotland, guests have the opportunity to sail on a passage all the way down the west coast of Britain to Cowes for Cowes Week, a highly popular location for corporate entertainment opportunities where guests are not only free to enjoy the sailing but can also enjoy being part of this key event the English social calendar. Although Halcyon does have a charter schedule, Ireland in May, Scotland in June/July and Cowes in August, there’s plenty of flexibility to ‘write your own itinerary’ particularly along the south coast of England post Cowes Week. ‘Ideally we like people to know where she’ll be at certain times of the year,’ concluded Armour, ‘but we’re happy to listen to what the customer wants and try to tailor-make what we hope will be a voyage to remember.’ For a three-night charter in Cork, Southern Ireland at the beginning of May expect to pay £400 per person (sharing a twin/double cabin). Price includes food, fuel, berthing, use of watersports equipment, but does not include flight to destination. For more information including sailing schedule and how to book, go to the Halcyon Yacht Charter website shown below or telephone +44(0)7787 567 674.

Sunshine, Showers & Journalists

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following the departure of our full compliment of guests, once again the crew set to getting on with a changeover to prepare Halcyon for our next charter. We had been thoroughly spoiled by two weeks of consistent fabulous Scottish Weather to compliment the outstanding beauty and needless to say we were due for some changeable conditions. Our next 2 guests, Geoff & Barbara arrived in Oban and joined us late afternoon on the Saturday. We departed Oban and headed for our favoured close anchorage, Locc Aline, for their first night on board. This particular anchorage has a very narrow entrance for Halcyon but opens up into a lovely Loch which is guaranteed protection for almost any wind direction. It was a little chilly and damp so a fire was laid and a sumptuous meal was prepared. The following morning was very overcast but we were confident that the sun would try and put its hat on later in the day. We departed Loch Aline and headed up the Sound of Mull to Tobermory. After a light lunch our guests were ribbed ashore for an amble round in the unexpected sunshine. The sun didn’t last long however, and once back on board the drizzle had set in. We departed Tobermory around 4pm and headed towards Ulva where I planned to anchor for the night. Winds were a light 5 knots from the NW, which wasn’t quite enough to put any sails up. I had hoped we could anchor in Gometra Harbour but unfortunately this was full and because I like to ensure we find a secluded anchorage up here we moved on to the picturesque small sheltered Cragaig Bay. It was a fairly tight anchorage for Halcyon so the kedge anchor was laid to stop us swinging and we lay peacefully and quietly for the night. The following morning brought fairly persistent rain so wet weather gear was donned by all and we weighed anchor and headed for Staffa and Fingals Cave. Despite a bit of a swell from the South the guests were ribbed to the Cave to their sheer delight. It was then on to Iona where a picnic was prepared for Barbara and Geoff to enjoy while exploring Iona and it’s Abbey while Halcyon waited at anchor in the beautiful Sound of Iona. Once guests were back on board we weighed anchor and headed to Loch Tarbert for the night. The wind was still absent and whilst motoring I was contacted by Richard Clapham, one of Tommi Nielsen’s shipwrights who worked on Halcyon’s 2006 restoration. Richard is skipper of a traditional gaff cutter called Eda Frandsen which also cruises the West Coast of Scotland and whom we had briefly seen visiting Fingals Cave that morning. Richard was heading north to the Garvellachs Islands and his conversation with me was cut very short due to a minke whale breaching about 100 metres in front of his boat. That left us all a little green with envy but I’m sure our time for such a sighting will come. We arrived in Loch Tarbert and anchored for the night. The following morning bought sunshine and 20kts of southeasterly wind and we managed a cracking sail across to the north approaches of the Sound of Islay. It was then sails down and a motor into wind and with tide through the Sound. We had a brief stop for lunch at Jura House but didn’t hang around as this was a little exposed and hence a little rolly. We headed for Gigha for the night and anchored in a lovely secluded bay just big enough for Halcyon. The following morning was rather grim with rain, about 15 knots of wind and a fair swell from the south. With mizzen and staysail up we headed for Craighouse on the Isle of Jura while guests stayed in the deckhouse where spirits were high despite the conditions. On arrival at Craighouse, Geoff & Barbara were ribbed ashore to savour the delights of the new Bistro called The Antlers, followed by a personal tour of the Jura Whiskey Distillery. This was incredibly kind of the staff here as they were fully booked for both tours on this particular day but they made a special effort to accommodate our guests, which is greatly appreciated. A force 8 gale was forecast and I decided before the weather really started to set in we should make our tracks back towards Oban at least we would be running with the swell which would be much more comfortable for all. Olly and I had reefed the main and we departed around 2.15pm and following a fairly uncomfortable morning we had a fantastic sail in the sunshine up to Poll Nan Corran, in the Sound of Luing for the night. After a nice night at anchor, well protected from the force 8, it was time to get Halcyon ready for her next leg of the journey. That morning we were visited by a friend of ours from the Isle Of Wight in his twin engined jet boat. He had recognised Halcyon from a distance and came over to say ‘Hi’, he works on the Island of Lunga, which runs survival and activities weeks for kids during the summer months. It was a nice surprise of seeing a familiar face from home to start the day. Unfortunately the weather was once again a little grim so wet weather gear was donned and we departed back on our final leg. The wind was blowing 25 knots from the S with a considerable swell whipped up from the winds the previous evening. It was decided by our guests that we head straight back to Oban where I knew it was would sheltered and we could sit out the strong winds. Once back at anchor in Oban, Annette lit a fire and a hearty lunch with wine was organised which was well deserved by our guests. It had been a fairly rolly trip but still spirits stayed high. This was the end of Geoff & Barbara’s holiday and they departed Halcyon the following morning. Despite our extreme changes in weather they had had a fantastic time and departed feeling refreshed and full of enjoyable Halcyon experiences despite some conditions being slightly unfavourable. Once again Halcyon had done us proud so it was time to reward her by giving her a deep down clean, do the laundy, get about repairs, shine the brass and have her gleaming once again for our next round of guests who were due to arrive in 2 days time. On Sunday we received our next group which included Halcyons owner Andrew Armour, our marketing guru, David Green and 3 journalists from different lifestyle magazines. Once all aboard, which was rather late in the evening due to a staggered arrival times, I introduced the new comers to Halcyon and a run down of our planned schedule for the next couple of days. The following morning, we saw some real Scotch mist, wet drizzle and no wind, something one just gets used to up here and which, never dulls the beauty of the Western Isles. We had an early start as we were motoring up to Tobermory for lunch so after a hearty breakfast, wet weather gear was distributed and off we went. We arrived at Tobermory around 12.30pm and Kerri served the famous Cullen Skink, which was very well received given the morning’s conditions. The guests were then ribbed ashore where a tour of the Ledaig Whisky Distillery had been organised together with some samplings. Once back on board we weighed anchor and headed off towards Loch Aline for dinner. Despite only have 4 knots of wind Andrew was determined to show our guests how well Halcyon moves under sail so all 5 sails were hoisted and we ghosted along the Sound of Mull being admired by fellow yachtsmen and shoreside ramblers. We arrived in Loch Aline and were securely anchored by 1900hrs. Sails were all stowed, the chimney was erected and pre dinner drinks, in the form of something bubbly, was enjoyed by Andrew and his guests in the deckhouse. Kerri amazed them all with her Red Onion Tarte Tatin followed by Herb crusted Rack of Lamb. Desert was the ever popular Eton Mess followed by a selection of cheeses and port. There was, as usual, lots of laughter and everyone had enjoyed the day and of course couldn’t stop talking about dinner. High spirits in the saloon continued but the crew excused themselves and settled down for an early night after a long day. The following morning saw bright blue cloudless skies, a complete contrast to the last couple of days. With 8 knots of southerly breeze all five sails were hoisted and we tacked down the Sound of Mull towards Oban. It was a perfect sailing day. I was aware that a large tanker called ‘Superiority’ was heading down the sound behind us, so I thought I would check in with the Captain to make sure he was happy for us to continue tacking in his path. I contacted him on the VHF and he was happy with my plan but asked me to contact him again once we had gone through our next tack. This of course I did, only to be told that he had trained on board Halcyon during her Warsash years. This never ceases to amaze me, wherever we go we always bump into a cadet who has trained on Halcyon and its always so nice to speak to so many people who have sailed on board in her previous years. Halcyon has so many stories which she keeps to herself so well. After a wonderful morning sail in the warm sunshine, we anchored just off Seal Island behind Kerrera where a lunch of Ciabatta’s and beers and wine were served. It was then time for David and 2 of our journalists to depart so they were ribbed round to Oban quay to get their respective connections. Amazingly enough, a small pod of Dolphins had arrived in Oban bay and decided to play around Olly, David and Steve on their way in. What perfect timing and a perfect end to a perfect trip. Back on board, I couldn’t believe the weather, it was so warm, in fact it was hot and it really felt at last like summer was here. Andrew decided he should take the clinker for a row with our remaining guest so the clinker the launched and while they rowed to shore for a walk, the crew cooled off with a swim. Well actually Annette and Olly went swimming, I wasn’t quite convinced it was warm enough and Kerri rarely removes her thermals! After an afternoon of diving off the bowsprit, bombs and back somersaults, we headed to find a quiet anchorage for dinner. It was very kind of Andrew to invite the crew to dine with him on this perfect evening. The deck table was erected and dinner was served al fresco. It was an amazing Scottish sunset. The following morning we were required to get Andrew and his guest back to Oban by 7.30am so they could get on the road to catch a 10.30am flight from Glasgow. We were up at 6am to a glorious morning. Once the kedge and anchor were up we set off for a gentle motor back to Oban. Once back at anchor in our usual spot, Andrew and his guest were ribbed ashore and the crew stood down for a very well deserved break.

Western Isles

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ollie ‘keen as mustard’ Cotterell offered to write another Captains log this week, so who am I to stand in the way of a budding literary talent… After the departure of Charlotte and Andrew it was time for a quick turnaround. The next group, which consisted of eight guests, was arriving Sunday afternoon and in this time we had to re-provision and clean the boat thoroughly. Not a minor task bearing in mind that we would be at anchor the whole time! Unfortunately our rib was in the shop getting some attention and our replacement RIB was a bit smaller, this was not a problem other than the fact we would have to do more trips. Annette was however saw an opportunity and had a quiet word with the Kerrera water taxi driver. It was soon agreed that he would drop the guests off directly to the boat. We were now “ready and waiting” and at about four o’clock on Sunday Malcom, Ann, Euan, Clare, Jeanette, Tom, Jane, and Alex arrived for a week on Halcyon. The weather was fine though there was little wind as we headed out of the north passage bound for Loch Aline. The passage over was calm and gave a chance for the crew to get to know the guests and vice verca. A deck brief was given so that when the wind decided to pick up we would all be ready to set Halcyon free. After a very pleasant and calm evening in Lock Aline it was off to the infamous Tobermory, the place where the children’s program Balamory is filmed. It is a very picturesque town with an immaculate fishing fleet, a Spar in a Church, and excellent ice cream. Once the guests had had a good look round, including a walk out to the light house it was back aboard for a trip out to Staffa and Fingals Cave. The wind picked up a little but was on the stern so only the mizzen and staysail went up, Euan and Tom getting the hang of the Helm on the way. Once at Staffa the sails went down and I ribbed people into the cave in two’s. It was near high water which meant that I could take the rib all the way to the end of the cave. I was trying to avoid the drips from the cave roof landing on the guests and while there were no complaints I had one of two hit me on the head! Once everyone had seen enough of the cave we headed for Kilfinichen bay which given the forecast looked like it would give us a nice flat calm anchorage for the evening. I brought us in and Robert dropped the anchor; it held first time, we were in. The chimney went up, the fire was lit and Kerry started serving the food. The guests had indicated that they wanted to explore Iona so the anchor was weighed and we set off. Rob and I had previously looked at Iona on the chart but did not realise its significance. Malcom informed us that it is a very important island for religious and cultural reasons; indeed it gets half a million visitors a year! The guests were ribbed ashore to go and explore the island including its Abbey, village and famous statue. To make sure that they would not go hungry Kerry had prepared some extensive packed lunches. Unfortunately at the current state of tide the Sound of Iona was to shallow for Halcyon to get through so while the guests were ashore we took Halcyon round Iona and came up the sound of Iona from the south ready to receive the guests and take them to Colonsay. By the time all the guests were on board a favourable wind was blowing so all the sails were hoisted. We had a glorious sail in the sun all the way to Colonsay dropping anchor at around eight o’clock. During the sail I was able to arrange bicycle hire for the guests. The following day the guests were ribbed ashore for a day on Colonsay. They returned in the afternoon and again the weather was fair for a sail so the sails went up for the quick sail to loch Tarbert. The following day we left Loch Tarbert for Jura House, which has extensive beautiful gardens that are open to the public. Though there was no wind for sailing it was a glorious sunny day and with the fair tide pushing us through the Sound of Islay we hit 11.7 knots over the ground! Once through the sound the guests were dropped a beach just down from the house. It was only a three mile walk from the houses grounds to Craighouse so the guests decided they would walk it while we took Halcyon around the coast for our rendez-vous. It was now time to make tracks north as up till now we had been sailing south the whole time. The wind was up and we had a brilliant sail all the way back to Oban stopping at a quiet little bay in the sound of Jura for Lunch, then passing the infamous Corryvreckan as we headed towards Oban. That concludes this week’s “captains log” we will continue to keep you updated about Halcyons movements around the Western Isles next week.

Halcyon Days & Fingals Cave

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To say Scottish weather is changeable would come as no surprise to most people; but to say Scottish weather is consistent…well there’s a statement! This week our guests have had a solid week of glorious uninterrupted sunshine, and not a drop of rain. Our charter took us from Largs to Oban stopping at a plethora of beautiful places along the way. After joining Halcyon on the Saturday afternoon and completing our orientation and safety briefings Halcyons new guests, Andrew and Charlotte, and her permanent crew slipped lines from Largs, sadly for the last time this season, and set a course for an evening anchorage at Holy Island on the East side of Arran. A breathless afternoon called for the engine to take us there, and a relaxed way to enjoy the first afternoon aboard; no bits of string to pull yet! We arrived at the Holy Island anchorage to see it was rather busy, so I decided to take us to where other people were not and found a lovely secluded spot on the South side of the bay where we lay at anchor for the evening. We might as well have well been in a millpond or alongside for the amount we were moving, the water was like glass; it was truly a peaceful evening. After dinner the guests took the opportunity to explore ashore and walk off some of Kerri’s delicious food. Sunday was going to be a long day covering around 50nm; we needed to round the Mull Of Kintyre, and as it’s a tidal gate, timing is key. We set off from Arran after breakfast to arrive at the Islands just off the Mull for a beautiful lunchtime anchorage at the Island of Sanda. The weather was so balmy that Olly decided that the crystal clear 12°C water looked quite inviting...I think he thought again from his reaction after he dove in! Following lunch it was time to weigh anchor and depart around the Mull, and as is tradition on Halcyon we played Paul McCartneys ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ on the speakers and educated Olly on this particular piece of music that he might not normally listen to! Once round the Mull we headed North up the Island of Gigha, a distance of around 30nm and dropped anchor in a very serene bay on the Northwest end of the Island which we had all to ourselves. It was then time to light the fire and for our guests to settle down to a well deserved meal, prepared by Kerri. Monday wasn’t going to be quite as tough; it was only a short hop across to Jura and the town of Craighouse, famous for its Jura whisky distillery. We had arranged for them to have a tour of the distillery and a few drams of the local amber firewater! Once returned back to the boat Andrew, full of Dutch courage decided to go for a swim, and I have to say took it more like a man than Olly had on the previous day! (You may have noticed that I am the only male not to have gone for a swim so I’ll be careful with my mocking!) After a spot of lunch we set sail for the West side of Jura, passing through the Sound of Islay, which is a beautiful stretch of water, and anchored at the top end of Loch Tarbert. I think you would struggle to fine a more secluded spot in amongst these stunning surroundings; Andrew and Charlotte put it in their top 5 anchorages of all time. The kayak was then inflated and it was time for an explore and a trip ashore. Tuesday took us to the small Island of Oronsay, which clings onto the South side of Colonsay. Andrew and Charlotte went ashore and explored the local Abbey, and so friendly are the people here that within no time Andrew got offered a job as an apprentice roofer, fortunately he declined and we were able to continue with the charter! Next stop was for our evening anchorage on the Southwest tip of Mull, the exact location of which I am keeping a secret, suffice to say it is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches I have ever seen, equalling anything I have ever seen in the Mediterranean or the Carribbean. I think this might have made it into a top 5 list of Charlotte and Andrews also! Wednesday needed an early start and breakfast underway to catch low tide as we were heading North up to the Island of Staffa which hosts the famous Fingals Cave, inspiration to Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. And true to form, the weather was perfect, a cloudless sky and a glassy calm sea and not a tourist in sight allowed us to get up close, explore the island and use the RIB to get into the cave. It is an amazing piece of geology and you can see why it has been an inspiration to so many. Just as we left the first tourist boat of the day full of tourists arrived, what timing, and what a privilige. Our lunch time anchorage was had in Calgary Bay before heading North around the top end of Mull to Tobermoray under full sail whilst being buzzed by the Tornados of the RAF. Thursday saw us meandering our way South, down the Sound of Mull under sail to Duart Castle for a spot of lunch together with some culture and history ashore as Andrew and Charlotte looked around this Historical castle, which was also used in the film ‘Entrapment’ starring Catherine Zeta Jones and the icon of Scotland, Sean Connery. After a diversion for some seal watching at the appropriately named ‘seal island’ off Kerrera we arrived at Oban, our destination for this trip. We would finally like to extend our thanks to Largs Yacht Haven once again this season, we are always greeted with a level of professionalism and hospitality that is difficult to match, it’s a pleasure to stay there.

Bunkering, Seals, Tugs & West Coast Sailing

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dun Laoghaire to Largs This week we have the Mate, Oliver Cotterell, writing the Captains log The forecast was for the NE wind to veer round to the E and maybe even the SE. This, if the forecast went to plan, was going to give us a cracking sail with a beam to broad reach all the way to Largs. It was set to be a stiff breeze to so we were looking for Halcyon to show her pedigree and get us there in a record time. The weather gods were not so kind however, and the wind stayed in the NE all the way to Largs. This was despite the repeated promises of the forecast that it would veer easterly! Halcyon was therefore not on her favourite angle of sail and it was a beat all the way to Largs, the engine was utilised providing assistance. Though the wind direction was not kind to us it was not all bad, we did have sunshine and as we passed Aisla Craig the wind and seas died welcoming us to Scotland. Twenty Four hours and one hundred and forty three nautical miles later we arrived in Largs Yacht Haven. As I am now becoming accustomed to, Halcyon drew quite a lot of interest. Largs hosted the Fife regatta in 2008 and a lot of people wondered if she was a Fife. I was quick to get the information board up and answered, as best I could, the questions of the inquisitive public. Refuelling The first thing that needed refuelling was the crew so Halcyon’s full time and delivery crew went into Largs for a spot of dinner on Thursday evening. We all went to Nardini’s a long standing Italian restaurant that does amazing ice-cream. I often have eyes bigger than my stomach but the ‘nickabockaglory’ was so good I managed to eat it all, Annette even managed to finish her ‘fudge fudge, wink wink’! The following day we said good bye to Gordon and Simon and the rest of the crew began preparing the boat for a dinner charter we had that evening. One of the major jobs was to refuel. This was to prove much more difficult than expected. Refuelling at Largs was out of the question because they could not accommodate our size, so Robert scoured the charts and started making numerous phone calls to marinas and fuel delivery companies. Eventually Fairly Quay looked promising and it was less than half a mile away, what luck! Arrangements were made for the fuel truck and permission to come along side acquired from the marina. Early on Tuesday the 19th the crew set off upon arrival at Fairly Quay it became apparent however that the quay was not suitable for a vessel of our heritage and beauty. It was a very industrial facility designed for steel ships to moor alongside with no fenders...not ideal for the new paint job! The trip was called off, the fuel truck sent on its way, and we returned to Largs where further enquiries about fuel were made by all members of the crew including the chef Kerri. Kerri in her search for fuel advice also managed to secure about 8kg of shellfish from the local fishermen for free, keeping the crew very well fed! It became apparent that locally the marinas were all incapable of accepting a vessel of our size and eventually even though it was three or so hours away Troon was decided upon. Early on a sunny Thursday morning we set off for Troon. A fishing line was put out and we were rewarded with our first fish of the season, a good sized mackerel (let’s hope there are many more). There was a bit of apprehension as the AIS said that there was a vessel moored alongside Wee Hurry Quay where we wanted to refuel, even though permission had been obtained from the Harbour Master to come alongside there. Upon arrival into Troon it was clear that there was plenty of room in front of the large vessel and we readied our approach. We were however cut up by a little fishing boat that shot in front of us along the wall exactly where we wanted to go! He seemed completely oblivious to us... Soon a few crew members of the Holland (the large vessel we had seen on the AIS) came out to look at us and Rob asked if we could come along side. They were happy so we moored alongside a 53m 1950 era converted salvage tug. The Crew of the Holland were very hospitable introducing themselves as Rob and Michael. They invited us aboard and we had a good look around her. She was an amazing vessel; Kerry was envious of the massive galley with walk in fridges and freezers while I was gobsmacked at the size of her engine. It weight almost as much as halcyon at 79 tonnes used 250L of fuel an hour and put out 2100 horse power (reduced from 3100). Before long the fuel truck arrived and the Halcyon crew jumped into action. It did not take long to take on our allotted 1000L of fuel and soon the process was complete. In the mean time 3 very large seals, native to the harbour and fat off the spoils of fishermen, had shown an interest. It might have had something to do with Rob gutting the mackerel so we fed him the head and tail of the mackerel. Kerry then got out a few prawns but he was not interested! The Holland crew later told us that he is very fussy and will only take certain fish! After some canapés aboard the Holland it was time to head for home. The wind gods were once again against us, the wind had been on our bow on the way to Troon promising a nice sail home but alas while we had been fuelling it swung and was once again on our bow! Still it was a nice sunny evening and a pleasant journey back to Largs. More importantly we now had full tanks and the diesel rationing had been lifted! Bank Holiday Charter Refuelled and spruced up it was time to take our first guests on in the Scottish area. Andrew and Olimpia (our first Italian guest) joined us for the bank holiday weekend. They came aboard late on Saturday evening arriving all the way from Italy. Sunday greeted us with sunny skies and a light wind. We sailed up the East side of Bute beam reaching at 8 knots, then through the Burnt Islands and stopped in a little bay at the top of West Kyle for lunch. After lunch Andrew was keen to put Halcyon through her paces sail so we headed out for open water. Unfortunately the wind gradually eased up so the sails came down and we motored into Loch Ranza where we would spend the night. Once the boat was securely at anchor I delivered Andrew and Olimpia to the shore so that they could explore this pretty anchorage. Sunday saw stronger winds forecast and it looked like Andrew would get his sail. The anchor was lifted and the sails were up in no time. As it was such a good sailing day Rob and I rigged the Flying Jib and soon it was hoisted, thrusting Halcyon eagerly to nine knots. Andrew and Olimpia decided that instead of stopping for Lunch they would prefer to have it on the hoof so they retired down below while Rob and I kept her sailing. Unfortunately the wind died after lunch and the foresails came down. We then motor-sailed up west Kyle to Kames Bay, which is just north of Rothesay; Kames would protect us from the forecasted SW wind and was very picturesque. The wind actually died off that evening and the anchorage became so flat that the sea became a mirror reflecting the surrounding scenery, it was beautiful. Monday was a quick hop skip and a jump back to Largs where we said good bye to our guests. The following couple of weeks are looking busy with charters so we will be sure to keep you updated.

Dolphins in the Emerald Isle

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At Last Halcyon Sails to Ireland For the last couple of seasons, we have had Ireland on our itinerary but for one reason or another we have not been able to make it over here. All I can say is that I am thrilled we did this year. It is always exciting taking Halcyon into a new port that she hasn’t visited before and the welcome we received from the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven couldn’t have been more hospitable for her and her crew. We had a very busy schedule planned with visiting journalists and day sails and everything went extremely smoothly. There was plenty of wind supplied as well which made the day sails very exciting and Halcyon was able to show her true colours and what she can do. A Busy Schedule We arrived into Crosshaven on Tuesday 28th April after a fairly quick trip which was a little lumpy at times. The normal procedure ensued with Kerri finding out where our provisioning holes were and Annette organising crew repatriation while myself and Ollie got to washing the boat down and settling her into a new marina. At the same time we had many very excited visitors coming to admire Halcyon. The rest of the week we prepared Halcyon for her media show. Andrew and David Green, our marketing guru, arrived on Friday evening. On Sunday our journalist guests arrived for their 2 night stay to savour the delights of Halcyon’s galley by Chef Kerri and experience the thrill of the wind in Halcyon’s sails. We had Richard Bundy Editor of Cowes Yachting magazine, Guy Venebles a freelance journalist and cartoonist – this was going to be interesting, Sue Pelling another Freelance Journalist and Mustafa Zebibo representing the World of Yachts magazine which is highly respected in the Middle East marine community. Champagne and canapés were served on arrival followed by a sumptuous meal prepared by Kerri which blew them away. The following morning we were all up early and after a hearty breakfast we set off for a day sail. We headed to Oyster Haven bay to anchor for lunch before heading back to the Royal Cork for yet another mouth watering series of courses prepared in Halcyon’s galley. They were all ecstatic about Halcyon’s delights in every respect and headed home very happy after a quick tour of the Jameson Distillery in Middleton. Meanwhile back on Halcyon, Andrew prepared his talk for the Royal Cork Yacht Club which was held on the Tuesday night and on Wednesday we hosted some guests for a day sail who had attended the talk the night before. It was then time for David Green to head home and for us to prepare Halcyon for her day sail with JP Morgan. A Long Awaited Halcyon Day Halcyon was able to fulfill a longstanding obligation on her last day in Cork. At the Ellen MacArthur Trust Ball in Cowes in 2007, Halcyon was put up as an auction prize for a corporate day sail which was bid for and won by J.P. Morgan. However difficulties with scheduling, from both sides, have prevented the day from being fulfilled… until we arrived in Cork. Cork provided a fantastic venue for the day with blue skies (at least some of the time!) breeze of 25 to 30 knots, necessitating two reefs in the main and a reef in the mizzen and just the staysail. With this reduced rig she made great progress to windward at about 6 knots before we eased her off and she leapt up to 8 knots as we surged back into the harbour to drop the sails and find some shelter for lunch. Anchored up in East Ferry within the Inner Cork harbour the wind could have done what it wanted as the shelter for Halcyon and her guests was fabulous. A long lunch was much deserved after the hard work of the morning. The day was topped off with a very welcome final drink in the Royal Cork Yacht Club, who have been wonderful hosts for us over the last 10 days. Tom Rutherford from J.P. Morgan said 'the long-awaited day with Halcyon could scarcely have been more enjoyed by our party. The shoreline ripped past quickly as Halcyon made the most of the good sailing conditions, giving our party a chance to see her at work and to get involved. The hospitality on board was an equal match to the excellent sailing, and we thought was well deserved after such good sport.' Crosshaven to Dun Laoghaire Our passage crew arrived on Friday 8th May in the evening in Crosshaven and we were lucky to have the help of Gordon Drysdale who was on the Stavanger to Cowes passage in 2007 and Simon Bradley a twice around the World Clipper Skipper. Andrew had also decided to join us for the short trip to Dun Laoghaire, just outside of Dublin. It seemed a popular decision to stop at least once en route to Largs to savour the delights of Ireland’s Guinness and Murphy’s once more and of course to admire the Emerald Isle. We departed Crosshaven on the Saturday around 1pm with a stiff breeze in our favour which eased over 24 hours and we were joined by a school of dolphins to make things even more perfect. We arrived in Dun Laoghaire 150nm later on Sunday afternoon just before some very strong winds set in. We tucked up here for a couple of days while the wind eased which gave me the opportunity of seeing my sister and her family which was wonderful. The rest of crew had some time to see Dublin and relax while Andrew headed back to Pembrokeshire. Dun Laoghaire Onwards. I am writing this while the crew prepare Halcyon for a 7pm departure and will update you on our next leg when we arrive in Largs which I anticipate will be sometime during the early hours of Thursday morning. Update to our Schedule & Prices Finally I would like to draw your attention to our updated Schedule & Prices. We have some fantastic offers for last minute Spring getaways so please do have a look to see if you can be tempted to come and join us on a cruise in beautiful Scotland.

Helicopters & Halcyon

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

STORM BOUND I am writing this Captain’s Log whilst storm bound in Milford Haven. Surprisingly enough our delivery crew joined us on Friday night and we were hoping to be able to leave at early doors Saturday morning to head over to Crosshaven although the weather forecast was looking a bit dodgy. Sure enough as forecast a Force 9 blew up over night and we weren’t going anywhere when I awoke at 5am Saturday morning. One of our veteran crew members, Neville Hopkins, suggested he drive us up to St Ann’s Head so see what we were missing and it really was very wild out there. After just about withstanding the gusts at St Ann’s we then drove over to Jack Sound which was as equally gnarly. So it seemed the best place to be was in a nice pub having lunch in Solva which is exactly what we did. MILFORD EV ENTS So, now to fill you in with events whilst we have been in Milford Haven. It’s been a busy time and believe it or not the weather has been very kind to us. On pretty much every day sail with guests that we had, the sun has shone. We haven’t had much wind but we must be thankful for small mercies. We have had some amazing guests on board and it’s been a great pleasure hosting every one of them. HELICOPTERS & CAMERAS We were all worrying a little that perhaps the weather might break for our planned 2 days of filming for our promotional DVD. But Monday 20th April was stunning. There was very little wind again but the sun was strong. Our guests joined Halcyon on Sunday evening which offered a sensible lock out time of the marina. We headed up to Dale for a relaxed dinner and a good night’s sleep before the real action began. On Monday morning the helicopter was a little behind schedule due to some fog in London but by 10.30 the film crew in the chase boat were alongside and the helicopter had landed on St Anne’s head and was awaiting instruction to take off. All cameras then started rolling, we had shots of weighing anchor and all the guests getting busy and the sun just kept shining. We managed to get all the sails up even though the wind was light and the helicopter just kept on circling with the film rolling – it was all very exciting. We then headed over to Jack Sound where we were filmed going through under sail in perfect conditions. Next stop was Musslewick Bay where dropped sails and the anchor, the picnic table was erected and a picnic lunch laid out. Annette was required to do a spot of wakeboarding behind the rib while the guests relaxed drinking wine at the picnic table. Two of our guests were then ribbed ashore to sit on the perfect beach and swim in the surf while the filming continued. Once all the shots had been covered by the helicopter they were then free to go and the chase boat filming continued. Unfortunately Annette had got herself dry and warm and back into hostessing mode when the chase boat then requested another take of her wakeboarding; and so a wet wetsuit was donned and off she went again. Thankfully due to the beautiful warm sun the wet wetsuit didn’t seem so bad to put back on. In the meantime Andrew & Olly proceeded to jump into the water from Halcyon’s aft deck and go swimming. Swimming without a wetsuit in Pembrokeshire in April is rather brave but I’m sure you now get the idea of exactly what the conditions were like on this particular day. It was a long day and finally filming came to a close until Tuesday so everyone got into relaxed mode, had a hearty dinner and retired to bed rather early. Day 2 was not so fine weather wise so the film crew who were on board Halcyon filming for the day were going to struggle a little with the light. Luckily because they had so many wonderful shots the day before they were able to focus more on the inside coverage. The master cabin was dressed and Kerri was busy in the galley being instructed to chop and stir when required. A 3 course dinner was then served all for the camera. As the day came to a close we were informed that over 400mins of film had been caught and the crew were very happy with what they had managed to capture. They will then have to edit down to a movie of about 5 mins long. Once this is finished it will be available to see on the website. So for now I will crack on with jobs on board and wait for a suitable time to depart from Milford. Tuesday is looking good which means we should be safely tied alongside the Royal Cork Yacht Club by Thursday afternoon time….but who knows!

Pembrokeshire Cruising

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 3 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We’ve been back on board Halcyon now for 2 weeks now and all is going well, our season is certainly shaping up to be a busy one. Our new crew, Oliver Cotterell and Kerri Humm are settling in nicely too, although Kerri has had a very steep learning curve on portion sizes for the two taller members of the crew! We departed Sharpness on Saturday 28th March after quite a week of provisioning and re-equipping Halcyon alongside in Purton which was rather challenging in itself from a logistics point of view. From Sharpness we headed down the Severn in the sunshine. With the Bristol Channel having the second highest tidal range in the world (with the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia having the greatest range) we were heading out just one day off Springs with a tidal range of 11.4m! This was pushing us along at an amazing 11 knots! So I thought this would be a good time for Oliver to get to know how Halcyon handles, so he took the helm and soon enough his eyes were as wide as saucers! I stood by his side and explained how she would react to the various eddies and whirlpools as well as concentrating on the various transits we needed to navigate along; considering this is one of the trickiest stretches of navigable water in the world he did very well. We arrived in Cardiff Bay at around 1.30pm and as we had a few hours to kill waiting for tide before we could head into Cardiff we decided to give the new windlass a sea trial. After a few teething problems we got it sorted, had some lunch and then prepared to head into Cardiff for our 4.15pm lock in. Once alongside Mermaid Quay we got to giving Halcyon her real clean down, all crew covers were removed and she started to look like the luxurious and comfy charter yacht she is. We had a function alongside Mermaid Quay on Tuesday 31st March which went very well and Kerri got to introduce herself as well as a selection her Canape’s. On Wednesday we headed over to Cardiff Marina for our second engagement in the evening which also went down very well and plenty of Champagne was consumed. On Thursday the crew were accompanied by Andrew and his wife Janine and we headed down towards Tenby. We stopped and anchored behind Worms Head in Rhossili Bay for dinner, a nice roaring fire down below and a good nights’ sleep. We arose Friday morning to very thick fog so weighed anchor and began our passage down to Tenby albeit at a very slow pace sounding the fog signal as we went. By lunch time the fog had started to clear and we were safely on the MOD buoy in Tenby Bay. After a spot of lunch, Olly ran Andrew and Janine ashore by rib and they headed home and the crew settled down to a spot of maintenance, the usual cleaning routine and then dinner. Saturday morning I ribbed the crew ashore for some provisioning and a look around Tenby while I carried on with jobs on board. This is all fairly new to Kerri and although I did say she should expect to get her feet wet as we gently came aground in the rib I didn’t expect her to get quite as wet as she did. Unfortunately Kerri lost her footing walking in the water towards dry land and subsequently ended up sitting down in the water which was, so I’m told, freezing! Thankfully she saw the funny side of it and even more thankfully she didn’t have her mobile phone in her pocket. I immediately ribbed her back to the boat where she was able to change into dry and warm clothes and then she re-joined Annette and Olly ashore. Saturday evening we were expected ashore for a talk that Andrew was giving at the Tenby Sailing Club about Halcyon. There was a good turn out and a few familiar faces that have sailed with us over the last 3 years and Andrews talk was excellent. On Sunday at around 12 noon we departed Tenby with Andrew and some friends and headed round to Milford. My passage planning was impeccable as ever and as we headed into the Haven I called up Milford Port control to let them know our movements and they informed us that the first LNG tanker visiting Milford that made the news on her arrival was preparing for departure. We stayed out of the channel and watched as she was being pulled off its berth by four huge tugs and swung 180 degrees; as a result the ship at one point was about 50 metres away from us with her huge bows pointing straight at us. We stayed just outside the channel and as a result posed no threat or problem to the work of the tugs and we were all incredibly lucky to see such a sight. We locked into Milford and were safely alongside our berth by 17:45 in glorious sunshine which was due to change very soon. Sure enough Monday morning brought rain which continued throughout the day so the general routine cleaning and maintenance was restricted to down below. We will be in Milford until around 25 April and running a serious of ‘special offer’ day sails over the Easter Weekend and a number of corporate day sails thereafter. We then head over to Cork and visiting the Royal Cork Yacht Club; which I am very excited about as this will be the first time I have taken Halcyon over to Southern Ireland.

Another New Season Approaching Fast

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The winter is almost over and thankfully spring is starting to show signs of arriving. 2009 seems to be moving at a very fast rate and it’s not long now until the crew move back onto Halcyon and start another season of cruising. I know you may think our newsletter has been a bit quiet but believe me behind the scenes there is a lot going on. Halcyon is now back in the water with her topsides gleaming from an excellent re-paint and varnish. The masts were stepped on Monday 9th March in effortless wonder as only Tommi’s team can. Meanwhile the new 16KW Mastervolt genset is in place and the new windlass is on board. Her clinker and RIB are on the deck and after 6 months of pampering she is looking like the lady that she has always been and deserves to be. Due to a slight glitch with one of the bridges along the Gloucester Canal, we have to move her out of the shipyard on the morning of Monday 16th March which is a little earlier than anticipated. Her final preparations will be done down in Purton, just a short trip from the yard. The Halcyon marketing team jetted off to Dubai to host a stand at the Dubai Boat Show and promote the Halcyon experience from 3-7 March. It was a fantastic opportunity and milestone for us to promote Halcyon and have her photos on display for all to see. We had some very encouraging offers of PR and exposure from some of the magazines over there and got the opportunity to chat to some of the sailing enthusiasts within the ex-pat community. We have now recruited our crew for this season and we are happy to announce that Oliver Cotterell will be joining as Mate and Kerri Humm as Chef. Both crew join us on Monday 23 March to help prepare Halcyon for her season. We are very excited to be working with them and you will hear more from them later on. This season looks to be shaping up nicely. We plan to cruise to Pembrokeshire from Gloucester, then head over to Cork before cruising up to Largs where we will be spending a little longer this year and therefore able to discover more of the Western Isles. I have to say that I am chomping at the bit, although I have managed to be on the water during the winter I am desperate to have Halcyon’s reassuringly sturdy deck under my feet and feel her cut through the seas in her inimitable style; I have a feeling its going to be a great season.

Halcyon Yacht Charter Attends The Dubai International Boat Show 2009

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HALCYON YACHT CHARTER IS DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE ITS ATTENDANCE AT THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW. The “Halcyon Days” of an English summer may seem a long way away from the searing heat of the Middle East but Halcyon Yacht Charter has identified an increasing trend of overseas bookings of its classic 1920’s Bermudan Ketch. Combining the sumptuous splendour of a bygone age with the magic of a traditional sailing craft, S/y Halcyon embodies all that is best about the pleasures of cruising the idyllic waters of the British Isles. Offering an attractive combination of itineraries ranging from the West Coast of Scotland to the Channel Islands and Irish Shores, S/y Halcyon provides her guests with exquisite cuisine and exceptional service which ensures an unrivalled sailing experience. With United Arab Emirates’ great sailing heritage in their traditional Dows and a great desire to experience more of the European style of sailing, S/y Halcyon offers a unique blend of hospitality and a purist sailing experience unrivalled by more modern charter yachts. Unfortunately S/y Halcyon was not able to make it all the way to the show but the next best thing her Captain, Robert Hickman, will be in attendance at the show. Also in attendance is Annette Corder the Hospitality and Marketing Manager and David Green who handles all their promotional activity and who will be happy to answer questions on the Halcyon Yacht Charter stand in the ESS Hall ( Stand no: J2-4 ). This attendance comes in a year where Halcyon Yacht Charter LLP has already announced its support of the wonderful work of the Ellen MacArthur Trust. The Trust which has been in existence since 2004 specialises in taking young people recovering from serious illness to sea. Their work is renowned as being some of the most successful of its kind in the charitable sector and has transformed hundreds of young lives. Andrew Armour, S/y Halcyon’s owner, has attended the EMT Ball and donated auction prizes in the past but has been so taken with the work of the Trust that he has agreed to donate 5% of all the income from individuals, groups and businesses who quote the Ellen MacArthur Trust when booking. This extra funding will help to ensure that more young people can engage in activity with the Trust in 2009. Frank Fletcher ( Manager of the Ellen MacArthur Trust ) had this to say about the good news: “The Ellen MacArthur Trust is delighted with this continued support from Andrew and the Halcyon team. This is a fantastic way for people to support the trust whilst cruising in this most fabulous vessel.“ Halcyon Yacht Charter, can be found on stand J2-4 in the ESS Hall and would be delighted to see you and talk about what is widely regarded as the most beautiful classic yacht on charter in UK waters.

Halcyon Yacht Charter & The Ellen MacArthur Trust

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 9 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HALCYON YACHT CHARTER ARE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT OF THE ELLEN MACARTHUR TRUST Halcyon Yacht Charter are delighted to be able to announce their support of the wonderful work of the Ellen MacArthur Trust. The Trust which has been in existence since 2004 specialises in taking young people recovering from serious illness to sea. Their work is renowned as being some of the most successful of its kind in the charitable sector and has transformed hundreds of young lives. Andrew Armour, Halcyon’s owner, has attended the EMT Ball and donated auction prizes in the past but has been so taken with the work of the Trust that he has agreed to donate 5% of all the income from individuals, groups and businesses who quote the Ellen MacArthur Trust when booking. This extra funding will help to ensure that more young people can engage in activity with the Trust in 2009. Frank Fletcher ( Manager of the Ellen MacArthur Trust ) had this to say about the good news: “The Ellen MacArthur Trust is delighted with this continued support from Andrew and the Halcyon team. This is a fantastic way for people to support the trust whilst cruising in this most fabulous vessel.“ Halcyon Yacht Charter, can be found on stand N68D at the LIBS and would be delighted to see you and talk about what is widely regarded as the most beautiful classic yacht on charter in UK waters. If you are thinking of making a booking and taking advantage of the LIBS booking incentive then don’t forget to mention the Ellen MacArthur Trust and you will get the great feeling of knowing that 5% of the proceeds of your trip will be going to help the Trust and their work.

Happy New Year!

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A very Happy New Year to all our readers. I hope you all had a thoroughly enjoyable, safe and healthy Christmas and saw in the New Year in good spirits. While Halcyon still lays serenely in dry dock at Gloucester Docks (see Gallery), Tommi’s team are back to work today (5th January) continuing to prepare her for our third chartering season. Just before Christmas I took a trip up to the shipyard to see how things were shaping up and her new painted hull is gleaming. Preparations and plans are now in place for the old generator to be removed and the new bigger generator will replace it. The order has now been placed for a brand new smaller, more powerful windlass which will be shipped from Australia shortly. To accompany this, 200m of new chain has also been ordered. In terms of what’s happening back in the office – Annette has been working very closely with our newly appointed Marketing & PR guru Mr. David Green from http://www.3GreenLights.com and things are shaping up nicely for an exciting and busy season. Halcyon Yacht Charter is pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting on stand number N68D at this year’s London International Boat Show at Excel. If you are planning on visiting then do please pop by and say ‘Hi’ to the team. Commencement on 2009 crew recruitment will be imminent and we will keep you up to date with who will be joining us this year. Other developments are also taking shape and Halcyon Yacht Charter is pleased to announce it will be working closely with the Ellen MacArthur Trust during 2009. See our press release for more info on this exciting news. (http://www.halcyonyachtcharter.com/news.php?id=21) Finally this latest Captain’s Log may have come to you in the form of our new E-Flyer which we do hope you like. Any comments would be very welcome to Annette on email@halcyonyachtcharter.com

Tales Of An Old Salt

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald Written By: Martha Tattersall Sailing north along the west coast of Scotland, a refurbished 1929 yacht, Halcyon, circumnavigates the isle of Aran and continues up to Holy Island. Misty mountain tops, cottages and castle ruins dot the landscape, while in the distance a minke whale rises to the surface and gannets dive. For the crew onboard, these are truly halcyon days bringing tranquil destinations, great food and seafaring friends. Chef Andre Daniels spent nine months on the 95-foot Bermudan ketch, striving to make exquisite meals and great service as the yacht charted its way along the coasts of Wales and Scotland, up through the fjords of Norway and on to Dartmouth in England's south. His experiences and some recipes he prepared are now published in the cookbook Halcyon Days. 'It was a real blessing,' he says of the time. 'The night I went for the interview for that yacht, I walked on and I went: 'This is going to be my home.' I just felt intuitively this is where I'm going to be.' Against the backdrop of breathtaking waterways and open seas, he discovered cooking on a yacht is a challenging endeavour and far different to his Sydney days under chefs such as Simmone Logue, Tony Bilson and Matthew Westhorpe. 'In the midst of cooking, the captain would say, 'Andre on deck, Andre on deck,' and I'd have to fly up deck, haul up the mainsail 70 foot high, help with tacking or turning the boat around and then run back downstairs and continue cooking. 'It was drama! Up, down, up, down like a yoyo,' he says. With a galley the size of a walk-in wardrobe, the choice of just one element on the stove or the oven and an overheating generator, organisation was vital. 'The great thing about working for Simmone was I would have to do an excessive amount of food for an excessive amount of people in a very short amount of time, so I learnt to be efficient, really quick and multi-task,' he says. Although he planned meals in advance, he often had to be spontaneous and intuitive. The guests - sometimes sailing enthusiasts themselves - were often a great addition to the crew. Up to eight people can sleep on Halcyon and day sails meant Andre could be catering for 14 people. 'When guests come on, it's really cool because a lot of the time they're interested in you, they want to know how you work and what you do, how you fell into this game of cooking on a yacht or working on a yacht. It's really lovely to meet all these people.' The differences between cooking in a restaurant and on a boat are apparent. After leaving Halcyon, he spent six months working in Berlin restaurant Vau. 'It was nice to have that camaraderie in the kitchen versus on a yacht, which can get quite emotionally intense,' he says. 'On a yacht, you're limited by time, you can't go too fine because you'll be working from 6am to 2am seven days,' he says. 'After a while, you start going a bit crazy.' Despite this, he would have no hesitation in returning to the sea. Seeing the world is an obvious drawcard. 'I got to see places that I never would have even thought of going to,' he says. 'I have never experienced anywhere as beautiful as Scotland. It was just phenomenal.'

Seasons Greetings

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Season’s Greetings Christmas time is almost upon us….it always creeps up a lot quicker than I expect. I visited the shipyard last Friday to see how things were coming on with Halcyon’s winter lay up. Work is continuing as expected at a steady pace in Gloucester Docks once again under Tommi’s watchful eye. The new Generator has arrived. It is a 16Kw as supposed to a 12Kw so is a little more beefy. The layout with regards to servicing is different however I think we can work with it (perhaps with a few minor adjustments)! Whilst Halcyon is under cover the guys will cut the hole in the deck and lift the old genset out by making up an A frame on deck. They can then start adapting the space for the new generator and prepping the space for the deck to be relaid, all whilst dry and undercover. Halcyon’s hull has been rubbed down and a second undercoat has been applied. All brightwork has been rubbed down and prepared ready for the many layers of varnish which will be applied. The shrink wrap that Halcyon is contained in is perfect for the jobs that need to be done at a weather challenging time of year. Both masts are now under their own long mast tent in the workshop and work on these is virtually finished. Annette visited the Earls Court Boat Show on Friday. Things were a little quiet on that particular day but it was good to catch up with a few contacts. We may be exhibiting at Excel in January but we will keep you posted on developments. Last but not least, we still have some copies of the book left should anyone be interested in last minute Christmas presents. Season’s Greetings to all our readers and I wish you all a very safe, healthy and happy Christmas.

Winter Pampering

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The winter lay up for Halcyon is now in full swing and Annette and I came across a familiar but forgotten sight this week. Halcyon is in dry dock with no masts and is experiencing a lot of pampering. It seems an age away since she was last without water around her hull and we have had so many adventures in that time. It’s nothing serious of course, purely a full rig check and a re-varnish for the mast. The gold sovereign coins which have laid under the masts after being placed there by Andrew on 1 November 2006 are safe and sound and ready to be replaced when the time comes. She is currently laying quietly while plans commence for a new generator and perhaps a new and slightly smaller modern looking windlass. As usual she is being thoroughly spoiled. Our winter maintenance list includes various further modifications in addition to the hull being re-painted. Next week she will have a shrink wrap tent erected around her to keep the decks dry and allow Tommi’s team to commence varnishing and maintenance in a temperature controlled environment over the cold period to come. Obviously we will keep you posted on the progress of her refit over the coming months.

End Of Season 2008

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Southampton Boat Show was a roaring success. Not only did Halcyon entertain a number of journalists and guests but the new Halcyon Days cookery book was very popular. After our 10 day stay at Saxon Wharf it was time to leave and take Halcyon back to Gloucester for her winter layup. Our crew joining us for this trip were all Halcyon veterans which is always nice; Damian Belson, Neville Hopkins, Dave Baggett and Lucy Paice who all arrived on the morning of Sunday 21st September. The weather was stunningly hot although fairly windless. Chef Lucy was busy cooking as many meals down below in case of a change in the weather/conditions, Annette busied herself stowing and organising cabins for crew while everyone else got the decks ready as we prepared to slip lines. Lucy Paice was hoisted to the top of the mast to check we had ample room under the Itchen Bridge – I think she was just desperate to go up the mast and look down on Halcyon from 25m. We headed east out of Southampton water and around the South of the Isle of Wight to catch a more favourable tide. We settled into watches around mid afternoon and I set a course from St Catherine’s point on the South of the Isle of Wight which pretty much took us all the way to the Runnel Stone but it was to be a fairly windless trip…up until Tuesday afternoon when we finally reached Lands End with a good 12 knots of breeze on the beam and with full sail up we approached the western corner of the UK and it was a sight to behold. As Halcyon steamed along we were surrounded by a number of very large Basking Sharks! What a sight, to see one is fantastic but to see a whole group is amazing; they seemed so relaxed to come close to the boat. I think in total we all counted around 10 with the biggest probably being around 30 ft in length. Quite extraordinary and a real high for all the crew. As we hardened up around Lands End we no longer had a favourable wind direction and Halcyon began to battle head on into the sea and wind which she never really likes….nor do her crew. The wind strength remained around 16 knots but the swell direction was very uncomfortable and we all knew we had a long night ahead of us. We headed on towards Lundy making a slow pace beating up St Georges Channel. By Tuesday evening after an arduous beat up the Channel I decided for the sake of the crew and our sanity to lock into Cardiff. At about 10pm we were alongside in Cardiff Bay ready for a good nights sleep and all the crew were very relieved after a fairly long and bumpy 24 hours. The tides predicted that our entry into Sharpness would be at 16.40 on the Wednesday so we departed Cardiff around 9am to head up the Bristol Channel for our lock in. By 17.30pm that evening we were alongside Purton for the night, a spot we seem to have frequented over the last couple of years and safely in the Gloucester Canal. After a good hearty dinner it was a trip to the local watering hole to discuss the highs and lows of our trip over a couple of well earned drinks. Andrew joined us on Thursday morning for our trip up the Canal and by lunch time we were safely back in the Docks after a warm and friendly greeting from Tommi and his team. Lunch was served and it was then back to work to repatriate the crew, and start to unpack Halcyon. By Friday evening, she was sitting a good few inches higher in the water and our muscles were a little stronger! I’m sure she is relieved to have some of the weight lifted from her so she can rest for a few months. Halcyon has worked extremely hard again this season, notching up nearly 5000nm; and while keeping her crew safe she has also always arrived on time to our destinations. So I say thank you to Halcyon for another terrific season and to all our 2008 guests who were a pleasure to cruise with. It is now time for Halcyon to remain rested, and the crew to depart. It is always sad to see people go their separate ways after working so closely with each other over 7 months, especially when the team worked so well together. Robert has been an outstanding addition to the crew this year, his unbounded enthusiasm, work ethic and polite happy demeanour very rarely went unnoticed by the guests and crew. He is always welcome aboard Halcyon. Lucy, in addition to being an outstanding chef was an invaluable asset to the crew always willing to help on deck; and it is solely because of her wonderful food, which I indulged in wholeheartedly, that I am now having to go running 3 times a week to shift some pounds! A sincere thank you to you both. Of course I must not forget Annette, who is always super organised and a pillar of support and level headedness. For now we will continue our Captain’s Log throughout the winter and will keep you posted on our attendance at any forthcoming boat shows. Do remember that Christmas is only around the corner so if you want to start your Christmas shopping, the Halcyon Cookery book makes a wonderful present. To order while stocks last visit the website http://www.halcyonyachtcharter.com/recipe_book.php We have also now published Halcyon's 2009 Cruising Schedule. Please have a look at http://www.halcyonyachtcharter.com/itinerary.php for details. Remember, Halcyons schedule can be bespoked to your requirements, so if you see we are not going somewhere that you would like to go, just call to arrange!

Orient Express Of The Seas Inspires Chef

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Published by the Western Mail Written by: Steffan Rhys SINCE 1929, it has sailed the world’s oceans and become known as the “Orient Express of the Seas”. Now, the seafaring chef aboard the luxury 95ft Welsh-based yacht Halcyon has launched a book inspired by his journeys aboard. Working in a space not much larger than a wardrobe to cook meals for up to 12 guests sailing on the £2m yacht, Andre Daniels said he had taken inspiration from the very best ingredients available at his favourite ports, ranging from the Mediterranean and Far East to the fish caught off the Welsh coast. Among his favourite dishes included in the book are baked freshly caught mackerel; braised lamb shanks with parsnips and courgettes; and curried scallops with spring onion, zhoug dressing, white sultanas and nutmeg parsnip puree. The Halcyon is a 78-tonne wooden-hulled yacht, classically designed, lovingly restored, and opulently decked out in art deco style. It was commissioned by the Lancashire industrialist Sir Samuel Turner in 1929, who kept the yacht until 1944. A luxury charter yacht since April 2007, its home port is now Milford Haven and it has a permanent crew including a captain and gourmet chef. Mr Daniels said he wanted to share his “sublime moments with food” and said since he had to prepare food in such a small space, there was nothing that couldn’t be recreated at home. The book contains the menus he has served for breakfast, picnic lunches and silver service dinners during Halcyon’s sailings in Scotland, Norway and around the West Coast of Britain. Chef Andre’s Halcyon Days is available now at www.halcyonyachtcharter.co.uk, priced £14.99

Darmouth Regatta 2008

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The regatta hub, as expected, started to build at a rapid rate. Quayside stalls were erected, the fun fair arrived in the square, Farr 52’s began arriving in the river and HMS Argyll arrived announcing her presence with an impressive 11 gun salute to the crowds as she made her way to her mooring. Meanwhile in the river, one of the Regatta’s most popular events, the rowing races, got underway. The racing involves a number of events in Whalers, and ‘Blue’ boats which are all owned by the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta and which were given to the Regatta by organisations and local people. By Thursday the visitor boats began to arrive en masse and the Dart Harbour team were kept very busy assisting in finding suitable berths for all. Once again the small town of Dartmouth took on a whole new character, which it does so effortlessly year after year. This has to be one of the best organised regatta’s I’ve been to and it’s always such a pleasure to be able to experience it. There is something for everyone at the Regatta with rowing races, sailing races, air and fireworks displays, and crab fishing contests for the children, and of course the Southbank Children’s Pavement drawing competition!. For Halcyon and the crew, we had the chance to enjoy the regatta for ourselves which was a real privilege as we had no guests on board. The glorious sunshine meant that Halcyon was treated to some TLC with the capping rails being varnished and deck fittings painted. Wednesday saw the start of the week’s terrific air display, kicked off by the Royal Navy Black Cats showing the admiring crowd how skilfully helicopters can be manoeuvred. Being between two mooring buoys mid-stream we were in a perfect viewing position on the loveliest viewing platform. On Thursday the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flew down the river, the sound of the thundering Rolls Royce engines was nothing short of magnificent. This particular flypast always makes me feel very emotional, it is a very good reminder to me of all the servicemen and women who put their lives on the line so that we can enjoy the freedom that we do today; a privilege that I think is too readily forgotten by too many. This was followed later in the evening by a staggering firework display. We had a little bit of clearing up to do the following morning as we were so close to the firework barge the decks had a dusting of gunpowder and rocket debris!. The Skipper of our neighbour vessel TS Queen Galadriel and I got cracking with our fire hoses and washed down the decks. On Friday evening the RAF Typhoon (Eurofighter) gave a taster display of what he had planned for Saturday night. For anyone who hasn’t experienced the Eurofighter, the only way I can describe it is LOUD and FAST. No words can really do it justice, it really has to be seen (and heard!) to be believed. At 17:15 as we stood on the 1920’s deck and Halcyon was bought very dramatically into the 21st century with the arrival of the RAF’s latest flying machine. The aircraft is so loud and powerful that parents are advised to ensure children wear ear plugs and pets must be kept indoors. The thrill of seeing it rocket straight up towards the sun after soaring down the Dart was spectacular. I couldn’t wait for the real thing which was due the next day. Saturday was the final day of the Regatta and they had quite a line up for us. At 12 noon we had the Royal Artillery Parachute Team ‘The Black Knights’ scheduled jump from altitude and land in the Dart but unfortunately this was cancelled due to cloud cover. Next up was another helicopter aerobatic display from the massive Merlin helicopter which when hovering produces around 100 knots of downdraft, another impressive bit of kit! We then braced Halcyon and ourselves for the full Eurofighter display…..wow. Unfortunately the Red Arrows were subject to some thick sea mist and although the commentator remained extremely enthusiastic about their arrival, we were unable to see them, only hear. It was a great disappointment as they really do put on an amazing display every time and I never tire of them, in fact how anyone can tire of them is startling in my opinion. The sea mist didn’t clear and the finale firework display also became a victim …….. Although we could still hear them we couldn’t see them very clearly, but the fall out was still the same….more cleaning! All in all, another splendid Dartmouth week, with military organisation. A welcome respite for the crew to get down to some routine maintenance and have a 9 to 5 working day. Maybe next year we could share the experience with some charter guests. On Wednesday 3rd September at 0530 we quietly slipped our lines from Dartmouth and headed back to Cowes. With a stiff SW’erly blowing we flew back to the Solent under mizzen and staysail and were alongside in East Cowes marina by 1900, not bad for a 100nm journey. Halcyon is now being prepared for entertaining guests whilst we have a presence at the Southampton boat show, as the launch of the new ‘Halcyon Days’ cook book gets under way.

West Country Cruise

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The strong south westerly’s finally abated to give us a long enough weather window to head west to Falmouth to collect our charter guests. For the trip from Cowes to Falmouth we were joined by the Sanders family; David and his wife Ryya and David’s parents, Julia and Brian. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their assistance. It was a somewhat uninspiring trip really as we were storm bound in Cowes for the first day. This gave the Sanders the opportunity to take a tour around the Isle of Wight. The wind was so strong that they were not allowing people to get to the viewing platform up at the Needles! Meanwhile on board Halcyon the crew were doing as many jobs they could as our time prior to the new guests joining was getting less and less. On the Thursday morning we made a dash for it. The wind was still south westerly but a much lighter 15 knots and the sea had surprisingly calmed right down. We hoisted mizzen main and stay sail and motor sailed out past the Needles. In order to keep sailing we couldn’t really manage a direct course but it was much more comfortable to sail than to motor straight into the sea which although had calmed down significantly was a still a little on the lumpy side. We all settled into watches and within 30 hours we had arrived safely in Falmouth at around midday Friday. On our arrival in Falmouth Halcyon suddenly found herself in some very good company indeed, namely Adix, Altair, The Lady Anne, Marriette, Mariquita all under full sail, racing in the Port Pendennis Cup, what an amazing sight to see on our shores, something you would only normally see in St Tropez or Antigua, we all felt very privilaged to witness a great event. Unfortunately this meant that there was no room for us in the marina so we anchored in St. Mawes and ribbed our passage crew ashore. We then got to preparing Halcyon for our charter guests who were arriving in the afternoon the following day. For another year running the weather forecast was not looking favourable for a trip to the Isles of Scilly which I hoped wouldn’t present too much of a disappointment. The guests joined at 1830 on the Saturday and we made our way straight to the Helford River to give a scenic anchorage for their first dinner on board. We had 7 guests in total, which included a family with their 2 daughters and respective partners, and their son. I discussed a potential cruising plan for the week to work with the unfavourable weather that the Gods were throwing at us, and it was well received by all. The following morning we departed for Fowey and arrived well before the strong wind warning was due to arrive. We stayed here 2 nights which was slightly determined by the strong winds but it provided good shelter and although the guests were all a little green around the gills Lucy’s dinner was consumed with gratitude. As we needed to remain here for an extra day I organised a trip for the guests up to the Eden Project which they thoroughly enjoyed. On Tuesday we headed to Plymouth and had a pleasant sail in what was still a fairly rolley sea. The guests were not to be won over by Halcyon’s motion in the current sea state so they proceeded to dose themselves up with pressure bands and stugeron which seemed to do the trick. We arrived in Plymouth and it was off to the closest watering hole for the guests after a hot shower. The following morning we carried on eastwards to Salcombe where we organised the relevant entertainment in terms of party poppers, balloons and a birthday cake for one guest who was celebrating a 60th birthday. Champagne flowed and although the weather was wet and windy everyone had a wonderful time and Lucy presented an extremely chocolaty chocolate cake which the crew were invited to share with the guests which was a very nice gesture. On Thursday morning the sun came out and the wind had completely dropped. We departed Salcombe and headed for our final port, Dartmouth, desperately trying to sail along the way in a very light breeze. After mooring up in the river the guests had time for a trip ashore to the shops before dinner was served. Our slightly altered ‘Isles Of Scilly’ charter of the West Country had come to an end and although they certainly had not been blessed with good English weather all had a fantastic time and were certainly another fantastic family to share Halcyon’s adventures with. The guests disembarked in Dartmouth on the Friday morning and for now we will stay put for the regatta and festivities that the next week holds. Dartmouth is currently very quiet but things will gradually start to build up and we await the famous air displays with excitement!

Skandia Cowes Week 2008

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It’s always the case that during Cowes Week there is always either no wind, which was pretty much the case last year or it’s blowing like crazy which pretty much sums up the conditions for this year. The usual strong tides which rip down past Egypt Point down to the mouth of the Medina together with strong winds don’t make terribly comfortable conditions for staying on a mooring buoy. But that’s where we were for the week just off the green near the Royal Yacht Squadron and which also happened to be right on the finish line for the races. This did provide a spectacular viewing platform for the down wind final leg of the races but when wind was against tide it did make doing anything on Halcyon a bit tricky as she rolled around in the chop. We had a good few days entertaining corporate guests, with Corum on board on the Monday. They were particularly keen to watch the start of the Extreme 40’s racing and I managed to manoeuvre Halcyon perfectly on to the start line but naturally well out of the way of the melee. The conditions were a little on the edge for these guys and by the end of the heats, 3 of the cats had gone turtle which was all very exciting for us but no doubt somewhat frustrating for the Extreme 40s crew. On the Thursday we had a fantastic day sailing which Andrew had organised with a number of Halcyon’s ex Warsash cadets. The weather was perfect providing a reasonable breeze and sunshine. We picked up the gentlemen from the Warsash jetty in Hamble, Halcyon’s old home, and they were transported to the boat via the navigation school’s rib. The majority of these guys were training on Halcyon at the tender age of 16 and they were certainly put through their paces. Still they all had very fond memories of these times and of course many interesting stories to tell. It was a privilege and a pleasure to be skippering for them. It also made life very easy for Halcyons permanent crew as the guests naturally didn’t need to be prompted as they all knew exactly what to do! On the Friday we had a day with some journalists on board to watch the racing with Andrew and of course on the Friday we have the air displays and finale fireworks which were as spectacular as ever. The Red Arrows put on their usual stomach churning moves and 2008 year was the final year for Skandia’s sponsorship of Cowes Week so the fireworks were even more impressive than usual. Saturday bought some very strong winds and rain for the final day of racing but this did not deter our guests from Ikon Science who were all very keen to get out sailing. So that’s what we did and they were all absolute stars considering the conditions. There were a few green faces but by the time we anchored for lunch in the shelter of Osbourne Bay, Lucy’s buffet was devoured and they were then ready for round 2 back to Cowes. We had a very wet boat that evening with 13 sets of oil skins and life jackets to dry out so it was a long day for the crew. The following morning we had more guests from Ikon Science and although it remained slightly drier the wind was still consistently blowing around 30 knots. We had another fantastic group of guests who were keen as mustard to get the sails up and do some sailing. Monday provided the best day in terms of weather in that it didn’t rain and we even had some sunshine! All in all Cowes Week was as exciting and eventful as ever although no doubt it provided disappoint for some of the racing crews who experienced breakages, retirements and sail destruction but then that’s racing for you. As for Halcyon, we are now heading West as soon as the wind abates to collect our next round of charter guests who are hoping for a trip to the Isle of Scilly. Fingers crossed! I feel I must at this time extend a personal thank you to my crew. They have all now worked tirelessly, for longer than I care to mention, within a very busy schedule which doesn’t allow for much time off. They have been cooking, cleaning (endlessly!), polishing, ironing, varnishing, sailing, maintaining and entertaining; and it is always done without question and in good humour; so a big thank you to Lucy, Annette and ‘Little’ Rob for there outstanding contributions so far this season, I couldn’t wish for a better crew.

Passage from Stavanger to Cowes

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A note from the chef… Having waved goodbye to our charter guests in Stavanger on Friday 25th July, Annette and I set about stripping & remaking beds in preparation for receiving our delivery crew. Whilst the washing machine and dryer were working overtime we filled the rest of the afternoon with a frantic visit to the supermarket to re-provision for the passage. This time we were to take 6 extra delivery crew (including the owner), so it took no time at all to fill 3 trolleys! By the time we returned to the boat, most of the delivery crew had arrived and so I set about making Roast Pork and roast potatoes for 10 people whilst trying to find space for all my fruit and vegetables in the fridge – never an easy task, but it seems to have a tardis-like capacity! After dinner, most of the delivery crew decided to sample the extortionately priced beer at one of the waterfront bars, whilst the rest of us, caught up on last minute stowing and an early night. Saturday morning and after bacon rolls for breakfast, we departed Stavanger for Cowes, via the fuel dock to take on diesel and water. We eventually got under way, fortunately with some favourable wind to get some canvas up. As the rest of the crew settled into their watch system, I got down to making lunch and then dinner. Ideally I like to prepare most of my meals in advance as you can never be sure what weather to expect and whether it will be possible to actually cook in the galley. Unfortunately due to our busy schedule I didn’t have time to make anything in advance and so I was approaching the trip with some amount of trepidation as even hardened yacht chefs get seasick! The good wind lasted throughout the evening and through to the next day but then started to die off as we progressed further south along the Norwegian coast. Sunday morning brought with it some stunning sunny weather – the sea temperature had now risen to a balmy 20°C. Unfortunately the wind had started to die off drastically and so we had to switch on the engine. The rest of the day was spent dodging oil rigs in the middle of the North Sea. It’s quite amazing how many there are out there – its own little city! Sunday night passed uneventfully with little wind and moonlight cruising under engine. As it was such a calm night I decided to bite the bullet and make Chilli Con Carne for dinner – normally spicy food is a big no-no on passage as people’s sense of smell and taste heighten if you are feeling seasick and spicy food is the very last thing you feel like eating, but seeing as it was such a calm day I reckoned everyone could handle it – judging by the clean bowls that came back I was right! Monday started off much the same as Sunday, however the visibility was deteriorating and there was a lot of moisture in the air, which as the day progressed eventually turned into fog. Monday also saw the arrival of an uninvited guest onboard…a racing pigeon! The poor little mite was a 130nm off the UK coast at the time and was obviously in need of a rest. After many quips about recipes for pigeon pie, we decided to be more humane and give him some water and seeds to refuel on. Now normally our feathered friends have a tendency to eventually ‘kark’ it onboard and I seemed to upset a few crew in mentioning that they may find our little friend feet-up in the morning….no such luck for us – this little fella was more likely to have his neck wrung by Rob the Mate after he proceeded to leave numerous green droppings all over the aft deck – this was his territory and he was marking it out! At one point he got so cocky we thought he was going to jump up onto the wheel and start redirecting us towards Yorkshire! As the evening progressed the fog set in – giving the oil and gas fields an eerie glow. The fog horn hailed every couple of minutes and so sleeping became a challenge if you were in a cabin forward of the loudhailer! Eventually in the wee hours of the morning the visibility started to improve along with the breeze. This also brought with it spectacular lightning storms, ear-splitting thunderclaps and lots of rain. The racing pigeon (now with no future career) decided he’d had enough of all this nonsense and after a few circles of the boat head south – just hope he finds his way home this time! By Tuesday morning the rain had gone but the swell had got up and of course was on the nose! Thus commenced a very uncomfortable day at sea – definitely NOT a soup day. At this point we were nearing the Thames Estuary and by early evening we got our first sighting of land accompanied by the first warm breeze I’ve felt all season. With the sea state unabated I mustered up the courage and stomach of steel to go and cook us all some dinner – I had decided to whip up a Cottage Pie (which for 10 is a lot of mashing of potatoes!). There certainly were some moments when I could feel my feet trying to lift off the floor as our trusty Halcyon crashed her way through yet another wave on the nose – a sea state she is very used to! The Cottage Pie went down a treat - although after slaving over it for a couple of hours I no longer had the appetite for it and settled for a packet of oatcakes instead! Us ladies settled in for another viewing of Sex and the City on DVD – a routine we had developed over the previous few days to make the afternoons pass a little quicker. Tuesday night remained lumpy and sleeping in the forepeak was entertaining to say the least. However Wednesday morning was like a dream come true – wall to wall sunshine and blue skies. No better way to cruise the South Coast of England. After dropping off one of our delivery crew in Eastbourne, we continued on our way, close to the shore, thus allowing those with cameras to take some spectacular photos of Beachy Head and The Seven Sisters in their full dazzling glory on this bright and cheery – and yes, calm summer’s morning. Just to make it the PERFECT sailing day, the wind veered round to a favourable beam reach and we were able to get all of the sails up again. Again it wasn’t really a soup day – this time for totally different reasons – but we’d had enough sandwiches on this trip to last a lifetime and so soup it was for lunch. Of course the perfect thing to do after a good feed is have a sleep, and what with the weather the way it was it would have been criminal NOT to sunbathe for the rest of the afternoon! Shorts and tee shirts were donned by all and sun cream was slapped onto white bits of skin. It was even clement enough to have a snooze in the bow net. Before long the Isle of Wight, our final destination, came into view and everybody busied themselves with getting the boat ready for our arrival in Cowes, however the wind (ever contrary) decided to die off, leaving us with flappy sails that had to eventually come down. Our final few hours of the trip were painfully slow, especially now that the island was in sight. However we finally pulled into Cowes Yacht Haven at 1925hrs on Wednesday 30th July by which point dinner of Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne with salad was almost ready…the beers had been on ice for hours! After dinner, we all decamped to the Pier View Pub in Cowes for a well earned beer or two where finally everybody could relax knowing they were going to get a good night’s sleep with no fog horn, lightning, rain or otherwise keeping them awake.

Cruising & Shark Fishing in the Norwegian Fjords by Mate Robert Smith

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After a week of grey skies and rain Halcyon and crew were treated to 25ºC temperatures and sunshine in Stavanger, and the arrival of good weather coincided with the start of a number of corporate day sails. Halcyon was joined by a selection of Revus employees as she explored the Norwegian fjords, and the fine weather also brought with it a gentle breeze. She was in her element sailing under full main and mizzen, staysail, jib and flying jib. In order that the guests could really appreciate how stunning she looked under full canvas I took them for rides in the RIB. Lucy our Chef, and also resident boat photographer, made her finest David Bailey impression and captured some fantastic photos too. Another dramatic capture was made by Captain Robert by landing a small shark….well the correct name for it is Tope but it looked more like a shark to us. A thick pair of gloves and a small amount of bravery was required to prise the hook from the jaws and our finned friend was returned to the water. After a fantastic week of corporate day sailing in the hot Norwegian sunshine, Halcyon then undertook a 6 day charter with our next group of guests. These guests embarked in Stavanger and we headed off to further explore the Ryfylke area. Halcyon continued to explore the fantastic scenery of Norway sailing to Sand and taking a relaxing cruise down Lysefjorden. A number of our guests took the opportunity to then undertake the 3 hour climb to the top of Pulpit Rock (Prekastolen) to take in the spectacular views. Later in the evening advantage was taken of the flat calm water on the wakeboard and after such an action packed day a relaxed evening on the beach with a BBQ was in order. Time really did fly by and by Friday we had made our way back to Stavanger. A fantastic week had been had by all and once again the Fjords of Norway did not fail to treat us with awe inspiring views, fantastic sailing and picturesque anchorages.

Inverness to Stavanger 2008

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I had planned to depart Inverness on Tuesday 17th June. Our crew who had volunteered to help us across arrived on Monday evening having flown up from Southampton. A good hearty meal was prepared and a thorough briefing of Halcyon and her crossing plan was given. We all had a good nights’ sleep and departed our berth the following morning to catch the final lock out at 11.30am. It’s always great to see some dolphins especially at the early stage of the trip – I take it as good luck – and they followed us out under Kessock Bridge, a good sign! For this passage we were joined by Lucy’s friend Sam Chalmers from Southampton, Clyde Wakeling, Dave Baggett and Beryl Young all from the Isle of Wight. We had a south westerly breeze of about 10 knots with a full level of cloud but it was dry; we hoisted the main (2 reefs), mizzen (one reef), staysail and jib. Everyone settled into their watch systems and we were on our way to Norway on a lovely beam to broad reach. Due to industrial action we were unable to register a passage plan with the Aberdeen Coastguard but we did make radio contact with a fellow canal transiter, Ursus Polaris (a replica Colin Archer yacht) who had changed her plan to head to the Shetland Islands and was heading to Norway but taking a slightly more Northerly route than us up to the Bergen area. The following day bought bright blue cloudless skies which was a real treat and we were able to spot the rigs and platforms during the day. Halcyon loved the weather, barely dropping her SOG to below 8 knots the whole way. I was keen to get in to Stavanger on Thursday as I knew the weather was changing on Friday and it was as if Halcyon read my mind as she was making excellent time for us. A wind shift about 6 hours from the coast took us on a more Northerly route and we adjust our approach to the North of the islands of Kvitsoey. As we were getting closer to the land the wind steadily built to around 18-20 knots and Halcyon really started steaming, she was hovering around the 12 knot mark and at one point I saw her at 13.8 knots, she revelled in it! We arrived in Stavanger the following morning at around 11am unfortunately in the rain! That of course didn’t deter some of Andrew’s colleagues waving us in from in front of the office, which was a warm welcome for us. Once we had all had a rest and a good breakfast. I got to the normal procedure of organising the crew’s repatriation, checking in with immigration, and touching base with the harbourmaster, while the crew got to have a look around the town. We then organised a wholesome dinner ashore at Skagen. The Harbour Master requested we leave Stavanger the following morning at 7am in order that they could accommodate 2 cruise ships, a 100m long square rigger and the vessels transporting in the sand for the International Beach Volley Ball championships. As the crew’s flights were organised for Monday we decided to take the opportunity to show them our favourite Fjord in the Ryflyke area, Lysefjorden with a refuel stop on the way. It was not easy to see Prekastolen as the rock was engulfed in cloud but the water falls and the dramatic 600m cliff faces impressed our crew as they looked on in awe at the beauty of the fjord. We anchored in our normal place for the night and the following morning everyone was up and ready for some routine maintenance jobs. I had a team of very able and willing people so we managed to get a lot done. In the afternoon a team went ashore for a walk and to collect some wood for the fire. After a fantastic couple of days showing the crew around as a thank you for all their hard work, we headed back to Stavanger where they were to disembark. As always I would like to thank the crew who joined us for the passage they were all outstanding and a huge help to us. Unfortunately Stavanger was being hit by torrential rain and gale force winds blowing from the North and hence straight into the port. Even tucking in behind the cruise ship Arcadia from Southampton didn’t really provide us with enough shelter. So it was a quick drop off and good bye and we headed straight back out to find a sheltered anchorage. We found the perfect spot which not only provided a visitors pontoon to come alongside but fresh drinking water also so we could fill up our tanks. As I write this we are giving Halcyon’s decks a good wash down and we are booked into Stavanger tomorrow evening. In terms of our schedule here, Andrew joins us on Sunday and we have a series of corporate events next week followed by a 6 day charter in the Stavanger area. For those of you who are following Lucy’s recommendations, please see her latest hints on the Cuisine page (link). Please also have a look at the new video page at http://www.halcyonyachtcharter.com/video_gallery.php

The Great Glen Revisited

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Andrew and his party joined Halcyon in Oban on Monday 10th June and we departed for the trip up to Fort William the start of the Caledonian Canal. Although we were looking forward to heading through the canal, especially Lucy and Rob as it was their maiden transit, we were also a little sad to be leaving the West Coast of Scotland. It really is a magical place and there is so much more we could explore. We needed to get into the sea lock at Corpach before the tide turned against us and we were there with about half an hour to spare at 14:20. We were joined by another 2 of Andrew’s friends here who were accompanying us through the canal. It was great to arrive to another warm welcome by the British Waterways staff who remembered us from last year and were very pleased to see Halcyon again. The following morning we entered the basin in preparation for the series of locks which lift you 19m via a series of 8 locks. This is a great opportunity for all guests to get fully involved as we have a shore team and on board team. At this point were we joined by another 2 of Andrew’s friends from Oxfordshire who were holidaying along the Great Glen. They joined for lunch and dinner. We organised a shore team who were responsible for walking the stern and bow lines up through the locks and whilst doing so get the opportunity to answer all the questions about Halcyon they receive from the lockside admirers! She once again managed to steel the limelight. And so the trip began with the gentle hum of Halcyon’s engine as we cruised along the canal. Our first overnight stop was in a quiet and empty anchorage in Loch Lochy. We were incredibly lucky to see an Osprey chick with its parents sitting either side high up in a tree. The sunshine also provided the perfect platform for the inflatable canoe to come out for the guests. Whilst the wood burning stove created its warm embers, the champagne bottle popped and guests enjoyed the mountain back drop. Meanwhile Lucy got to preparing a sumptuous dinner. Once wined and dined the visiting guests were taken ashore by Rob in the rib and we lay peacefully at anchor for the night. The following morning everyone was up and keen for a sail across the loch and once the deck brief was complete it was a smooth hoist of sails improving the view for the ramblers around the loch. Our next stop was at Fort Augustus, a small pretty village which allows you to get a few provisions before heading into Loch Ness. We stayed here overnight and after the guests dinner the crew and myself went ashore to help the local economy and sample the liquor in The Bovey pub. The following morning we departed our visitors berth and headed for the series of locks which take you back down into Loch Ness, a gentle motor took us to a lunchtime anchorage at Invermoriston. I was wondering whether we could get any takers for wakeboarding in Loch Ness this year, and low and behold Andrew was keen for a swim around the boat! So before I could suggest otherwise, the wetsuit was on and he was poised on the side of Halcyon deck ready for the plunge. Apparently the water was lovely! Once the morning’s activities were over we weighed anchor and set off for the anchorage at Urquhart where the guests were taken ashore by rib to the castle for a look around. Meanwhile back on board Annette and Rob were kitted up for some wakeboarding. Apparently wakeboarding in Loch Ness is something you have to tick off on your list of ‘things to do’. Why Annette needed to do it again I’ll never know, but it was very flat and calm and did provide good wakeboarding conditions. The next morning we hoisted main, mizzen, staysail and jib for an interesting and fluky sail down to the end of Loch Ness with 180 degree wind shifts and going from becalmed to very powered up, great fun! Unfortunately our trip through the canal was coming to an end once more and we headed out of Loch Ness for Muirtown – the end of the road. The guests departed and the crew got to preparing Halcyon for her North Sea Crossing.

Super Sunny Scotland

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We departed Largs on Wednesday 21 May after a fantastic dinner at Fins Sea Food restaurant just outside of Largs. The dinner was organised by Annette for my birthday. I really would highly recommend a visit as the fish and seafood was really quite something. While we are on the subject of food, I would like to bring to your attention our new Cuisine page, where Lucy lists some of her mouth watering dishes and gives some provisioning recommendations on http://www.halcyonyachtcharter.com/cuisine.php Our trip from Largs to Oban took us down between Holy Island and Arran – Annette was keen to look for the 2 very large dolphins we encountered last season through here but it was not to be. We continued on and headed down and around the bottom of Arran for Campbeltown; and it was then that we had a visit from our two friends! They were just off the bow and chose to stay with us and play in our bow wave, we were convinced they were the same ones we saw last year as they were both enormous; what a pleasure and surprise. We anchored in Campeltown for the evening and the crew headed to shore the following morning for a few supplies and a quick look around. We weighted anchor around lunch time to catch the tide around the Mull of Kintyre and headed up to the North West end of Gigha laying anchor in the same favourite spot as the Royal Yacht Britannia choose during her years of commission. On the way into the anchorage Annette spotted a whale which is always exciting. It was a stunning spot just off from a white sandy beach. Annette, Lucy and I headed ashore the following morning for a look around while Rob stayed on board to look after Halcyon. The geology of the island is extremely interesting with some amazing displays of glaciated rock. We weighed anchor just before lunch and headed up to Craighouse which lies at the South East end of Jura and which hosts the Jura Single Malt Whisky Distillery which was built in 1963. As we are very fond of this fine single malt I had organised a trip around the Distillery which was very interesting. We then headed out from Craighouse and navigated down around the bottom end of Jura and headed up the Sound of Islay which was nothing short of spectacular. Of course it is all helped by the continuous wonderful weather we have had since arriving in Scotland in early May. We chose Loch Tarbert for our anchor spot on this evening and unsurprisingly were the only yacht in the anchorage. The following morning the crew excluding myself ventured as far as they could into the loch by rib which almost bisects the island. Once the morning’s expedition was over we weighed anchor and headed up the remaining west coast of Jura passing the infamous Gulf of Corryvreckan and up to Mull and anchored in Loch Spelve on the south east coast for the night. We visited here last year and once again it provided a quiet peaceful anchorage. The warm evening sun also encouraged some more wakeboarding by the crew and finally Rob cracked it and is now hooked. The following morning we headed north up to Tobermory which is one of the loveliest and best known small towns in Scotland. The famous brightly painted fine stone houses on the main street form a very picturesque backdrop. We found a very quiet anchorage down at the far end of the town and stayed here for the Bank Holiday Monday which allowed us chance to go ashore and have a good look round and get a feel for the town. We departed on Tuesday afternoon after lunch and headed for Oban our port for a couple of weeks which means we all get chance to get catch up on the list of maintenance jobs that never get any shorter!

Lovely Largs

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We arrived in Largs in the very early hours of the morning on Monday 12th May. After settling ourselves into our berth the crew got their heads down for some sleep for what was left of the night. The next morning we were up to clean down the decks and organise the delivery crew’s repatriation. For our trip up from Milford we were joined by Mike Conner, a friend of Rob’s and a Halcyon passage veteran Neville Hopkins. Once again my thanks to them both for helping us on what turned out a very easy trip in terms of weather and conditions. The rest of the week was spent preparing Halcyon for our 3 day charter for a party of 8. It turned out to be quite an eventful and energetic week. As we were well ahead of schedule the crew, excluding myself, decided to hike up the valley behind the town of Largs and take in the stunning view across to Arran. I kept a look out on board and indeed with the help of the ships binoculars saw them at the top of the hill. The following day, Rob unfortunately dropped one of the capping rail covers into the water! This obviously had to be retrieved and there was no other way than to take a short sharp swim. Luckily he managed to squeeze himself into Annette’s wet suit but I’m not sure that really took the shock away of the low Clyde temperatures. Anyway the item was retrieved and Rob had a very hot shower immediately afterwards. The guests joined us on Friday afternoon shortly after lunch. Malcolm and his wife Ann were joined by some old friends of theirs, Rhona & Tommy, Joan & Doug and Malcolm’s brother Ewan and his wife Claire. Once guests had settled in we had a safety brief and orientation to the yacht which was done on deck in the very warm sunshine, we set off for an anchorage at Loch Ranza on the North West side of Arran. It was about 20 miles which gave Lucy the opportunity to bake some of her fruit muffins for the guests on route. Once securely anchored, dinner was served which consisted of the biggest Scallops I’ve seen in a very long time which Lucy bought from the Fish Mongers in Largs, this was followed by Herb Crusted Lamb and then a delicious Tarte au Citron to finish. There were a few red faces from the day’s sun and breeze so everyone retired to bed at a reasonable hour to prepare themselves for the Arran hike the next morning. Unfortunately Saturday brought some rain but that did not deter Malcolm and his friends to head to shore in the rib for a morning’s hike. Meanwhile Lucy and Annette prepared for a buffet lunch. After lunch we weighed anchor and with a fresh 12 knots of wind we sailed towards our anchorage at St Ninian’s Bay on the West Side of Bute where we were to stay for the night. By the time we reached our spot the weather had eased off and Lucy set to organise the evening’s menu of Sea Bream with a Bean, Pancetta and Tomato concasse. The following morning brought bright sunshine, it was truly stunning. The guests had requested to be taken to Mountstuart House, the traditional home of the Bute family for over 250 years and which lies on the East Coast of Bute. The magnificent gothic building is open to the public and is well worth a visit. While the guests were ashore in the afternoon, much to my surprise, Annette and Lucy had organised a severely chocolatey cake for my birthday which we all indulged in during the afternoon so thank you to them both for that. Annette, Lucy and myself also managed a walk on the beach while Rob kept watch on board Halcyon – it really was a stunningly warm sunny day and the water looked so inviting and clear but believe me it’s still freezing. You really can’t ask for anymore in this part of the world when the weather is perfect. The guests arrived back on board and enjoyed champagne on the deck in the warmth of the evening and we headed off to find a quiet and remote anchorage for the last night on board. We chose Glencallum Bay on the southern tip of Bute which required a stern line across to the shore which Rob organised successfully assisted by Annette in the rib. Another mouth watering dinner was served. Another surprise for me came in the form of a bottle of Champagne from Malcolm and his guests for my birthday which was an extremely generous gesture and which was of course enjoyed by all the crew. The following morning we weighed anchor after breakfast and headed back to Largs where the guests were to depart. It had been a wonderful weekend and we do hope our guests enjoyed the charter as much as did. The scenery was stunning and despite a slightly wet Saturday the weather was perfect. As for our plans now, we will depart Largs and head north for Oban some time this week. We will keep you posted of our Scottish adventures.

Milford Haven and Passage to Largs

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We arrived in Milford safely and much quicker than we thought. We had an amazingly quick rounding of Lands End and it took us less than 24 hours to get in through the Heads at Milford. We had a reasonably strong South Westerly wind and with mizzen, main and stays’l up, with a preventer on both mizzen and main, we flew up the St George’s Channel. For this trip we were joined by Damian Belson who is a friend of Lucy’s from her days on Lulworth, and Jack Peppiatt whom we know through Rob our mate. Once again my sincere gratitude is extended to these guys for taking time out of their busy schedules to help us. We anchored at Dale Shelf and all got our heads down for a well deserved couple of hours until we could get in to Milford through the lock…it had been a long night. On arrival to our berth in Milford Marina we set about cleaning up the boat and organising the crew’s repatriation, and it was then out for a crew thank you dinner. On the Wednesday we had Nigel Patrick from Tommi’s yard and Mark Yarworth our Electrician from Portland Engineering. They arrived with some new start batteries for Halcyon’s generator and engine, and also had time to build some very smart shelves in the crew quarter cupboards making Rob and Lucy very happy. On Friday evening we were joined by Andrew and his friends for a Bank Holiday weekend charter. The weather was mixed and although Saturday was reasonable, Sunday supplied some very British horizontal rain. On arrival Friday night we took the guests up river past Neyland, under the Cleddau bridge and with some careful tidal calculations under some relatively low power cables. We ended up in a very quiet anchorage where the guests could indulge in the delights of Lucy’s culinary skills on a beautiful evening with the sounds of owls hooting in the distance. We were up early the following morning for a sail to the island of Skomer, a bird sanctuary, where the guests got off Halcyon and had a walk on the island. We left Skomer and headed to St Bride’s Bay to anchor for dinner. After a full on day of sailing and walking the stove was lit for some saloon warming and everyone retired early after dinner for a good night’s sleep to be refreshed and firing on all cylinders for the next days adventure. On Sunday we motored to Tenby in the rain and anchored in the Bay just in front of Andrew’s house. By the time we were comfortably at anchor the rain had gone and it turned out to be a beautiful day. We got the RIB off and Rob took the guests ashore for a look round. The crew, back on board Halcyon had been busy sourcing some local seafood, approaching a local fishing boat for some of their day’s catch – 6 brown crabs and a lobster, at a very reasonable price. On Monday we departed Tenby and in a very roley sea headed back towards Milford, anchoring in Castle Beach for lunch before dropping the guests in Milford Marina. It had been rather a busy charter weekend but everyone had thoroughly enjoyed Halcyon’s hospitality. The following week we had a day sail out of Milford with some cracking local guests from the local boat building college (MITEC), Milford Haven Marina, Milford Haven Refinery, Sea Fair Haven etc etc. The weather was perfect – bright blue sunny skies and a gentle breeze allowing all sails to be hoisted and showing off Halcyon in all her glory, all in all a very successful and enjoyable day. On Thursday Andrew entertained 16 friends for a buffet lunch alongside in the sunshine on deck, with the deck table being used to its fullest potential. Unfortunately our time had come to leave Milford Haven and we departed the marina at 2100hrs on Friday night and headed out to anchor in Dale in order for all crew to get a good night’s sleep before catching a favourable tide the following morning to head up to Largs, Scotland and a charter starting on the 16th. I am actually writing this whilst on passage so by the time I get an internet connection we should have arrived safe and sound in Largs…..and we have! A very non-eventful calm passage with light winds on the nose all of the way, but we managed to average just over 6 knots.

Seasonal Sailing

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What a week last week. The usual last minute running around to get Halcyon ready to leave the shipyard was accompanied by recruitment of our new Chef for the season, just in the nick of time. First mate Rob (he will always be referred to as Rob in order to avoid confusion in our logs) was frantically busying himself varnishing and loading all the essential equipment back into Halcyon’s lockers, deck boxes, lazarette and anywhere providing storage. No sooner were you doing one job before you were off on another errand. It was a period of long days for the crew but they all wanted to see Halcyon looking her usual elegant self. The clinker dinghy was gently loaded back on to her chocks after some winter TLC and the rib was raised by her davits after a short spell of ‘running in’ around the docks….at controlled speed of course. Our plan to leave on Saturday was looking a little tight but we were all determined to stick to our schedule and so we carried on. Tommi’s team also threw themselves at the last minute jobs no matter how long they stayed into the evening. By Friday night beers all round were required and much deserved. Back to our Chef, we are lucky to have Lucy Duffell join us for this season. Lucy joins us from SY Atlanta, a 37m sloop which cruised the Northern Caribbean, Med and Long Island, New York. Lucy joined us on Thursday just before our departure day but she wasted no time in re-organising the galley and making use of the new modifications perfectly. Lucy and Annette went off to provision for our trip round to Cowes and did manage to leave a few things on the shelves at Tesco’s. You will hear more from Lucy and our new Mate Rob in our next Captains Log. We organised for two extra crew to help us on our trip round to Cowes. Emily Caruso, a freelance Skipper who has just resigned from her post as Marketing Manager for a leading UK shoe manufacturer in order to begin her career sailing. We were also joined by Tom Norgate, a friend of mine from Prep school and whom I hadn’t seen since I was about 9 – we found quite a few things to reminisce about. My thanks to both of them for helping us out, and being another addition to Halcyon’s star delivery crew. Saturday arrived and we were ready – well for our delivery trip but not the weather we were about to receive. After a fairly warm few days towards the end of the week, the weekend bought much lower temperatures but the sun was shining! At noon we radioed into Llanthony Bridge which was duly raised and we were off, once again waving good bye to the team who had come in to see us off. We headed down the Gloucester canal in the sunshine to Purton where we were to stay overnight. Lucy had cooked up an amazing Lasagne for us all and Rob and I constructed the chimney and got the fire going to warm through the saloon, and of course check it was all in good working order. We were all up at 0700hrs the following morning to head into Sharpness for our lock out and by 0840 we were off down the Severn navigating the strong spring 10m tide in brilliant winter sunshine with Halcyon reaching speeds of up to 13 knots under engine, and at points actually driving sideways to maintain our course! That’s when it happened – yes the snow began to fall and settle on Halcyon’s decks. It caused some frivolity among the crew who all found it very amusing. As we went under the new Severn Bridge we could see the ice flaking off the bridge and sparkling as it fell into the water. Not really what you would expect to see in April. The Bristol Channel lived up to its usual expectations and was very roley. The wind was ahead of us so there was no chance of sailing and as a result it was a little uncomfortable. As night began to fall the threatening grey clouds which had congregated delivered a heavy downpour of snow and Lucy and Tom decided to have a snowball fight! The snow eventually stopped and the night sky was brilliantly clear but very cold. There was also lightening going around the Cornish coast which was quite spectacular. The wind eased off but the sea was still confused and roley and our trip down to Lands End seemed to take a long time. Once round the corner things got much easier and Monday brought bright blue sunny skies and very calm seas but no wind. Nevertheless it was a pleasant trip into Falmouth and we arrived ahead of time at around 1800hrs. Lucy once again organised a well earned dinner and the crew then retired to the Chain Locker for a few beers. We had a few routine maintenance jobs to contend with and therefore stayed in Falmouth on Tuesday. This also gave us the opportunity of taking in the new Falmouth Maritime Museum which is definitely worth a visit. We departed Falmouth on Wednesday at around 10am to refuel and bunkered over 1000L of diesel and headed East for Cowes. The weather was gorgeous, once again bright blue sunny skies and very calm seas but not much wind. We did have about 13 knots for a few hours which allowed us all to get busy and hoist the full main, mizzen and staysail, which was all good practice for the new crew. We made incredibly good time arriving within 10 minutes of the opening of our tidal gate at the Needles and coming alongside Cowes Yacht Haven at 10am on Thursday. Our plans are to stay here in Cowes for just under 2 weeks where we hope to organise some promotional day sails. We will then head up to Milford Haven for the May Bank holiday and a charter with Andrew Armour and some of his friends.

Back At The Shipyard

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Halcyon has been back at the shipyard for well over a month now and our departure date is approaching fast. Where does the time go?! Annette and I managed to steel a much deserved break and headed out to enjoy some sunshine and windsurfing in Antigua for 2 weeks, which I have to say really recharged our batteries. Since we’ve been back I have been up to the shipyard about once a week to check how things are progressing on Halcyon. After a short spell in dry dock, she is now back afloat and the modifications down below are almost complete by Tommi’s team. The hull has been re-painted and she is gleaming once again ready for her second charter season. Meanwhile our bookings have been trickling in and Annette has been sorting out this season’s crew uniform, booking berths to suit our schedule and chasing up booking enquiries. Robert, our new crew member joined us on Monday 17th March and is already fully involved with final preparations for the run up to our departure from the shipyard. In case you were wondering, we haven’t quite yet decided how we will manage our names on the boat but I’m sure it will become evident in due course to all our readers. Our plan is to depart from Gloucester Docks around 27th March and head down to the Solent for some promotional day sails. No doubt our home for a few weeks will be either Cowes Yacht Haven or East Cowes marina, a familiar haunt for Halcyon and Crew. From there we will head once again around Lands End (as we like to do that at least twice a year!) and up to Milford for a cruise around the Pembrokeshire Islands before we head to the Western Scottish Isles. You may be asking ‘what about the Chef?’ Well this will be revealed in due course, I don’t want to give away all the information in one Captain’s Log.

Delivery Lows and Highs

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In case you were wondering, we did make it to Gloucester; it just took rather a long time. The weather was almost identical to January last year when we were heading round from St Katharine’s Dock and persistently blew around 30 knots from the South West. Luckily we had organised yet another fantastic crew who were also very patient and determined to see the trip through. Annette and I were joined by: Richard Clapham, one of Tommi’s team of shipwrights who also knows the Bristol Channel and the River Severn like the back of his hand; Mark Burton, a Freelance Skipper from the South Coast; Neil Wood from Devon, a sailor who needed a break from renovating a listed building he and his wife live in; David Baggett, father of Richard, Gipsy Moth’s lead skipper during her circumnavigation plus his friend Dave Rockall another classic boat enthusiast. Halcyon has an ability to attract some of the most amazing people and for that I am truly grateful. The crew joined on Saturday 12 January which turned out to be a stunning day quite different to what had been forecast. After checking every wind chart available, there didn’t appear to be a weather window until at least Tuesday. We decided therefore to take Halcyon out for a day sail on Sunday. This gave the crew a chance to get to know the ropes and how Halcyon runs. We waited until Tuesday and then headed over to Gosport – the only available fuel dock for us at this time. With her tanks full and our stomachs full of a fantastic beef stew prepared by Mr Baggett we headed out of Gosport at around 2am Wednesday morning for a favourable tide out of the Needles Channel. As expected once we were clear of the Needles there was quite a swell that had been kicked up by the strong winds. This was something we were going to have to get used to. Of course there wasn’t just a strong south westerly that we needed to monitor but also the 2000T of timber cargo from the sunken Ice Prince. After a phone call to the ever helpful Solent Coastguard we knew exactly where the bulk of it was and where it was heading and it posed no threat to Halcyon and her crew. As the tide started to turn foul we had wind against tide which made it a fairly uncomfortable sail, we all know it’s not Halcyon’s favoured condition. We persevered to Dartmouth and then pulled in to sit and wait for some forecast force 8’s to 10’s to pass us by. We were safely alongside Town Quay by around 6pm Wednesday evening. It was great to be back in Dartmouth and to be greeted by some familiar very helpful Dart Harbour staff. After a hearty dinner we all turned in to catch up on some sleep. Our stay in Dartmouth was longer than expected and we were unable to leave until Midnight on the Saturday. Our plan was to catch a slight lull in the 40 knot winds and head for Plymouth, braving a fairly heavy sea. It was quite a bumpy leg and we were all pleased to be pulling into Plymouth mid afternoon where we were given a good berth in the Yacht Haven. We were gradually getting West but I was starting to feel we would never get the break in the weather to make it round the corner. On Monday we had the traditional Sunday roast a day late and Chef Baggett assisted by Annette cooked a fantastic leg of lamb with all the trimmings. They had even walked for over an hour looking for a Rosemary bush for seasoning! It looked like our next window might just let us round the corner, if not there was always Falmouth to pull into. The forecasts were predicting a lull in the wind for the next few days, and for it to swing around to the North East for about eight hours from midnight; finally things were looking up. In preparation for this we left our birth at Plymouth Yacht Haven at 1600 and anchored in Cawsand Bay for a departure at midnight. On our way out I heard the unmistakable dulcet tones of my cousin on the VHF talking to Longrooms Port Control. He is a navigation officer aboard HMS Gloucester (which is freshly out of refit). So as not to disturb him whilst on duty I texted his phone, and HMS Gloucester ended up anchoring with us in Cawsand bay, our very own warship escort! Later that evening I had a call from my cousin, and just to confirm who we were I switched Halcyons deck lights on and off and in response to confirm who he was (as if we didn’t recognise the 125m Type 42 Destroyer next to us!) he switched ALL of HMS Gloucesters lights on and off! I’m not sure this was strictly Naval protocol, but a positive ID was confirmed! I also used this opportunity to get a military weather report, and the report back was exactly what we wanted to hear and confirmed what we already had. So the plan remained the same and we weighed anchor at midnight to catch the tide and the weather and subsequently had a glorious sail up to the Lizard. Finally the elements seemed to be in our favour, and we rounded Lands End around lunchtime on Tuesday at which point we all heaved a sigh of relief as we new from here on in we would have the weather with us. With a 20 knot tail wind and full sail up we rigged up a couple of preventers on the main and mizzen and off she went very happily. It was an amazing night sail. The sky had cleared and the full moon lit up the whole sea and you could appreciate how Halcyon loves to surf the waves. We had booked our Sharpness Lock in on the afternoon tide on the Wednesday but as Halcyon sailed up the Bristol Channel and into the Severn with Richard’s spot on navigation we were making such good time that we made the morning lock in. We headed out of the Lock and went alongside a barge at Purton, as the Canal is closed on Wednesday’s in the winter. Just as we secured lines, the wind got up again and there were white caps in the Canal….perfect timing. Still it was peaceful and quiet down in Halcyon’s saloon and the crew made a hearty lunch and then everyone had a well earned snooze. The following morning we were up at 8am and heading down the Canal towards Gloucester. It was a fantastic day with clear blue skies, a far cry from some of the weather we had experienced in the last 2 weeks. Although we were almost there, the trip wasn’t quite over. The crew were all keen to be on board all the way into the Docks. However due to a new bridge being constructed we were held back just outside. We came alongside at Roman Key and stayed here until Friday morning. Unfortunately at this point, Richard, Neil and Mark all had to leave us to get on with their busy lives (and appease their respective girlfriends/wives!). Suddenly the trip was over. After 2 weeks we had finally made it and although the weather was against us at the beginning, the crew’s spirits were high and everyone really enjoyed their experience, and once again Halcyon took it all in her stride. As we waited for the new bridge to be lifted, Annette, the 2 Dave’s and I all reflected on an amazing trip. SV Phoenix had been in the Docks having some maintenance undertaken by Tommi and his team and as she finally headed out of the dock and passed us in the canal we were given the go ahead to go through the last 2 bridges into the dock. We were finally alongside helped by Tommi, Nigel and the team and Halcyon was tucked up in the dock. Meanwhile Annette, the 2 Dave’s and I headed back to Cowes and after a 2 week trip to get there it ironically took us 4 hours to get home. I would like to say a big ’thank you’ to all the crew who were as always outstanding. You all helped make a fairly wearisome trip fun and I think we have made some more very good friends in the process.

Happy New Year

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 1 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A very Happy New Year to all our readers. I hope you all had a thoroughly enjoyable, safe and healthy Christmas and saw in the New Year in good spirits. Halcyon had a very quiet Christmas but this is her time for rest and recuperation. This was not the case for Halcyon’s owner, Dr Andrew Armour, who was competing in the 2007 Sydney to Hobart Race as part of a crew of ten on a Sydney 38 called ‘Another Challenge’, most of whom sailed with Halcyon from Stavanger to Cowes last year. The weather was pretty fair most of the way with the infamous Bass Straights being kind to them. ‘Another Challenge’ came in fourth in their class at 3d 19h 4m just 12 minutes behind the third place spot, congratulations to all of them for a safe and swift passage. Back in Blighty you might have read in the ‘Halcyon News’ section that Halcyon has been shortlisted down to the last 6 for ‘Classic Boat Restoration Of The Year 2007’. We are very proud to have been picked for this and its testimony to all the people who have worked so hard on her over the last two years, the passion and commitment of everyone has been amazing; well done to you all. In the meantime work, as ever, continues to keep her in tip top condition. The team at Ratsey & Lapthorn arrived the week before Christmas to put her sails back on and then I ensured she was tucked up snugly before I left for the few days of Christmas and headed over to see my family in Newbury, Berkshire. The New Year has certainly brought a chill with it and although snow has been threatening our weather forecasts we haven’t yet seen any on the Island (we very rarely do). We are however, due to sail Halcyon around to Gloucester this month, so we shall make sure that we are covered with appropriate clothing to keep us nice and toasty and dry. What you wouldn’t catch me doing at this time of year is jumping into the water, something the team at Marine Management Consultancy wouldn’t bat an eyelid at. They dived Halcyon today for a full hull inspection prior to our trip. I was fully assured that their dry suits were toasty warm and the dive was successful showing nothing more than a degraded anode and little growth on the keel. Not bad for sitting in the Medina for three months. We have a very strong crew of 8 due to join on Friday 11th January for a suitably warming dinner and plan to depart Cowes on Saturday around lunch time to catch the favourable tide west through the Needles channel and out of the Solent. Fingers crossed we should have good trip all the way round. I expect we will have a quick stop in Falmouth and then maybe in Cardiff before we start the trip up the Severn. Tommi’s team at the shipyard will be awaiting our arrival so that they can begin plans for Halcyon modifications and improvements which include her hull being repainted. Once she is safely back in Gloucester Docks I will leave her in the capable hands of the shipwrights and back to Cowes. Annette and I then plan to take a two week (sailing and windsurfing!) holiday to Antigua to recharge our batteries before our season starts again around end of March. We have not yet made any final decisions on our new crew members but as soon as they are recruited we shall let you know. That’s our news so far this new year but I will keep you posted of our imminent trip in due course. I hope those of you attending, enjoy the Excel Boat Show. Perhaps you could spare a thought for us sailing around Lands End and up the Bristol Channel and once again I would like to wish you all a very safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Halcyon Shortlisted For Classic Restoration Of The Year By Classic Boat Magazine

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Halcyon has been shortlisted down to the last 6 for the 'Classic Boat Restoration Of The Year 2007'. To give you an idea of the pedigree of this award it was won in 2006 by the beautiful yacht Lulworth. Final results will be announced at the Excel London Boatshow. http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20071105152610cbnews.html

Seasons Greetings

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Seasons Greetings to all our readers. I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since Halcyon was first re-launched in Gloucester Docks and we started our sea trials en route to St Katharine’s Dock with a Christmas stop off in Cowes. Time really has flown. In terms of what’s going on now, planning and winter maintenance activity continues. I am franticly running through the jobs list as far as I can before the winter weather really sets in. We plan to have Halcyon’s sails returned before Christmas having been professionally cleaned and repaired where necessary. Some time in mid January we will head back to Tommi’s shipyard in Gloucester Docks for some modifications and improvements and repairs ahead of the start of our 2008 season. I hope you have all seen our schedule for next year which is now final and posted on the website under 2008 Schedule & Pricing. It takes us on a very similar voyage to this year but additionally we are exploring Ireland a little and we have more time to explore the West Coast of Scotland which we are all very excited about as it is truly stunning. Annette is heading up to the new (old) Earls Court Boat Show on Friday for the entire duration show. She will be representing Halcyon Yacht Charters and is located on the Island Charters Stand, 1K26 so if anyone is attending do please go and say ‘Hello’ as she would love to see you. If she’s not on the stand then you might find her on the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink! Andre has now sadly departed Halcyon and crew and is onto pastures new, and we all wish him the best of luck in furthering his career. We are eagerly anticipating the launch of his ‘Halcyon Recipes’ book some time in the first quarter of next year. Meanwhile, we have started interviewing for two new crew (mate and chef) as we have decided to run with four permanent crew next season, allowing even more lavish attention to be bestowed upon our guests! We are about to take delivery of a new Halcyon Yacht Charter brochure and if anyone would like a copy then please join the Halcyon Mailing List and we can send you an electronic copy. So I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Happy Festive Season. Wherever you are in the world and whatever you are doing, enjoy Christmas and the New Year and I will be back in touch early in 2008.

Winding Down

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Well you’ve heard from the Captain on a regular basis this season and even the Chef, but I thought it was time you heard from the Mate so I am writing this week’s Captains Log. Before I get on with the latest news I would like to let you know that the Captains Log will continue to be published during the winter but it will be done monthly rather than weekly. Things have quietened down now for Halcyon and she is safely berthed for the winter in East Cowes Marina. It’s very sheltered up here from any northerly breezes that blow straight up the Medina. The sails have been removed and are in the safe hands of Ratsey & Lapthorn who will clean, repair and store them for us for the winter. So while Halcyon lies peacefully in her usual graceful manner, the team’s work continues. Robert is planning the maintenance schedule for the winter and Halcyon will return to Tommi’s yard in March next year for a few further improvements and modifications. Andre’s time with Halcyon is unfortunately almost at an end and he leaves at the end of October to go on to pastures new. But the good news is he is currently writing a book to be entitled Halcyon Recipes. It’s all very exciting and our official photographer Roger Paice and his lovely wife Julia are due to come on board the week beginning 22 October to take lots of mouth watering photos for the book. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Andre for being an outstanding crew member and Chef this season and we have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. We wish him lots of luck with his future plans and naturally we will keep you all in touch with developments on the book front. So I guess that leaves me. I am currently helping Andrew to prepare a suitable cruising schedule for 2008 while helping with final adjustments to our new website which goes lives tonight at close of business. I will also be dealing with enquiries, bookings and marketing during the winter months. Next season we will be cruising with a crew of 4 so recruitment of 2 new crew will commence asap. And of course, in any spare time I will be helping with any on board maintenance such as varnishing or painting, and as you can imagine, there is plenty of that to be done. So while Halcyon lies quietly new plans are being set and the excitement is growing already.

The Last Charter of 2007

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Captain’s Log for the last charter of Halcyon’s 2007 season has been contributed to us by Barney Smart. Barney is one of the strong team of Tommi Nielsen’s shipwrights and who worked on Halcyon’s restoration project from start to finish. There are many parts of Halcyon’s interior with Barney’s name on them and he reminded us of them all during our last weekend charter. Back to the charter, the last of our 2007 season, we were entertaining Tommi and a few of his team to a long weekend of sailing on board Halcyon. The idea was to give them the exhilaration that I and the crew have been so fortunate to experience this year, as a thank you for all their continued hard work and support. Over to Barney….. This weekend was a thank you gift from Andrew Armour, Halcyon and Crew, to the workers of the T. Neilsen & Co. shipyard that restored her. The few that were able to join us this weekend for this amazing experience was, Tommi Nielsen and Nigel Patrick (Foreman of the Shipyard) whom have both had the pleasure of sailing on board already, Alan Wellington AKA Taffy, John Pearce both of whom had never set foot on a ship before and myself. We were all incredibly impressed with how well the crew and Halcyon’s guests have looked after the ship this year and Halcyon still looked as stunning as she did when she left Gloucester Docks in December 2006. It was obvious to us all that the crew were definitely on top of all the maintenance work. We arrived in East Cowes Marina late on Thursday evening all very excited and just to round off the end of our week, a trip to the Victoria Tavern pub was voted in. The following morning we set off from East Cowes and headed West up the Solent. With a brisk 20 knots of wind blowing, Robert had organized the team to get a couple of reefs in the sail which of course was a very wise move. We tacked all the way up to the Needles and it was great to see Halcyon with all 4 sails up even though the main and mizzen were reefed. The Solent is new ground for me but I could feel Halcyon was on home ground and I can see why so many of these Captain’s Logs say ‘she graces the seas’. For John and Taffy there were mixed emotions. Unfortunately Taffy needed the first day to find his sea legs and spent most of it sitting at the stern with the ensign and John found his legs just wouldn’t go where he wanted them to go, so he chose to sit on one the deck boxes and take in the view. Once at the Needles we turned around and came back with the tide, surfing the Solent at just over 10 knots. It was awesome and I was on the helm all the way back to Gosport with a very large grin on my face. We berthed in Gosport marina Friday evening and the wind was forecast to ease over night. We had a hearty dinner – thanks to Chef Andre – a few beers, then bed. On Saturday, as forecast the wind had died but the plan was to get up early and sail (well motor sail) around the Island and that’s what we did. Andre made everyone a special Bacon Butty and we were off. Despite the forecast for the wind to pick up later in the day, it didn’t materialize. But nonetheless we had a cracking trip around the Isle of Wight and both Taffy and John had finally found their sea legs. We arrived back in Cowes around 5pm and after a few beers we had yet another of Andre’s slap up dinners. We couldn’t stop talking about the trip. It was awesome being on board with the crew as they were a good laugh. I speak for all the guys that weekend who had come from the Shipyard and we all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I felt very proud to be sailing on board Halcyon and even prouder that I had helped in the restoration of such a stunning ship. We all look forward to seeing Halcyon in Gloucester Docks again soon and thank you all once again for this fantastic opportunity and for making this happen. Barney Smart

The Royal Dartmouth Regatta

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I don’t quite know where to start on this one; should it be with the breath taking air displays, or the awesome fireworks, perhaps with HMS Somerset and her deafening 12 gun salute on arrival to Dartmouth, or the racing and organization of Dartmouth itself during the UK’s second biggest regatta to Cowes Week. Having never attended the Dartmouth Regatta it was quite a spectacularly engineered event for a small town. Going back to the 12 gun Salute, HMS Somerset arrived around 07.30 on the Wednesday morning and I have to say on hearing the guns, which were somewhat of a surprise, we were all up rather sharpish that morning. We were once again lucky enough to entertain and play host to a wonderful family and we played the ‘Mother Ship’ or WACs (wive’s and children’s ship) to a Farr 42 which was racing in the regatta. The guests arrived around lunch time on the Wednesday. The 6 children ranging in age between 8 and 18 were very energetic which was great as there is always plenty to keep them occupied on a busy yacht such as Halcyon! The weather, once again, played a great card as the sun continued to shine. The four day event kicked off with a display from the Royal Navy’s helicopter display team, the Black Cat’s. How they manage some of those gut wrenching manoeuvre’s I’ll never know. The river was cleared for all traffic during these displays so I had to ensure Halcyon and the Crew were ready to come alongside Town Quay at 5pm every evening. I must take this opportunity to thank all the Dart Harbour staff whose professional attitude and calm demeanor ensured a stress and event free time. They guided us perfectly to stand-by in the river amongst the rowing races, the river bus’s and general busy river traffic to ensure we were alongside safely every evening. This enabled our guests to have a perfect viewing platform for the air displays. We were required to depart from Town Quay each morning by 08.45 and were guided by Dart Harbour Staff between two buoys right in front of HMS Somerset. At around 09.30 on the Thursday morning, we had the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon practice. There are no words to describe the noise and vibration I felt right down in my stomach as it roared overhead. I could even feel the vibrations coming down Halcyon’s mast onto the deck. It was an incredibly exciting display, with the pilot seemingly missing the mast only by a number of feet; it was real ‘Top Gun’ stuff. Later that day we headed out of Dartmouth to watch the yacht racing, in particular the progress of the Far 45 ‘Atomic’, which was the HAC’s boat (Husbands and Crew)! Later on that afternoon we headed back in and were alongside for the eagerly awaited Red Arrows display. It never ceases to amaze me the turnout that these guys get, and boy is it justified. They are truly the best air display team in the world bar none, a real pleasure to watch. And if that wasn’t enough, as night drew in we were entertained with a phenomenal fire work display to rival any I have seen before. The following day brought more sunshine and a little more breeze, and after the guests had their morning trip ashore to see what delights the shops of Dartmouth held, we went out to see what delights Halcyon would behold with all her sails up. After some energetic pulling of ropes by the kids, Halcyon’s sails were filled and we were off, ghosting the racing fleet (and keeping up with them in many cases!) and certainly looking the prettiest out there. On Saturday it was decided it should be a day of watersports for the younger generation and so it was. I’m not sure who was more exhausted, me (who was driving them round on the slider) or them! I understand that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves while Halcyon provided a much more serene environment for the parents to observe and relax from. That evening was another outstanding display by the ‘Black Cats’ Lynx helicopters followed by an adrenaline racing Typhoon display which once again reverberated throughout mine and Halcyon’s body. Sunday arrived and our guests departed. HMS Somerset glided out of the river in the morning, a lot quieter than she had arrived I hasten to add, and Dartmouth wound down very quickly as the event wrapped up. By Sunday evening you would never have known the excitement, hustle and bustle that had taken over the town over the last 4 days. From our point of view our charter time in the West Country was disappointingly over although we did stay on another week as Cowes could not accommodate us due to the Little Britain Cup – well that was our excuse so that we could savour just a little bit more of Dartmouth. I do hope we head back next year. We departed Dartmouth the following Sunday morning at very early doors in order to catch as much favourable tide as we could. There was very little wind forecast so we were ready for a hot motor back as the Indian summer continued. We were helped, in terms of crew, by Paul Wootten from Pembrokeshire whom I met on a very enjoyable adventure to the Isles of Scilly last summer and who I can also thank (I think) for encouraging me into the water off the North Devonshire Coast to swim face to face with a rather large basking shark. We were also helped by a fellow Ozzie Chef of Andre’s, Jen Beer and I send my thanks to them for making our trip back enjoyable and fun. The trip took only 12 hours and we were back in the Yacht Haven by 19.30 that evening, just in time for a couple of well deserved drinks in a couple of the local establishments in Cowes. So what now I hear you ask? Well it has been a busy season for Halcyon, about 5 thousand miles under her keel so far this year alone. We have a very busy winter maintenance schedule to keep Halcyon looking her stunning and graceful self. We do have one final long weekend charter in two weeks time where we will be entertaining the Nielsen Shipwrights who are having a much earned jolly on board. Not sure where we will go yet but I’ll keep you posted.

Regattas and Red Arrows

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

After a fairly arduous 18 hour journey from Cowes to Dartmouth we pulled into Dartmouth harbour in the early hours of the morning and were immediately taken by the beauty of the place; the maritime history here was very evident. This was our first shorthanded delivery, consisting of just the 3 core crew and the weather was against us all the way……deja vu. However on arrival in Dartmouth we were greeted by an extremely helpful Harbour Master and were moored up on a buoy in no time at all. Following a well deserved knap we all got about the business of readying Halcyon for charter, changing her from ‘delivery mode’ to ‘charter mode’. This is no mean feat I can assure you, but we now have it nailed down pretty well. Annette gets about cleaning everything in sight, until it gleams brilliantly; Andre sets off on numerous shopping trips victualling the boat and getting to know the layout of a new town; I tend to everything above deck, using the time to fix things (on a list that never seems to get any shorter!) and service generators, engines, RIB’s etc. I then clean the deck and hull. If all this is done correctly it takes at least a day working from 8 in the morning until 8 in the evening. After a full day’s work and a 4 on and 2 off watch system on the way from Cowes we deserve a good meal and we head to shore to sample the delights of Dartmouth. Naturally this is all essential research for our forthcoming charter guests and part of the job(!) Our guests, Gary and his lovely wife Jane, arrived the following day minus their offspring, Rosie and Alex, who had apparently been celebrating their excellent exam results and hence attending a rather hip party. This gave them a quiet evening to indulge themselves in an Andre special dinner and a pure Halcyon experience. The following day a rather energetic trio arrived, Rosie and her friend Cat and Alex, and despite the persistent rain that had descended upon us, they were adamant they wanted to go fishing in the river which naturally I could not decline. After only 20 minutes, mackerel was once again on the menu! We departed Dartmouth the following day after waiting for some weather to pass through, and headed for Salcombe. Unfortunately we were all very much togged up with wet weather gear. We had about 7 knots of wind and within no time had 4 sails up and were ghosting along. Within what felt like minutes, the wind strengthened. We managed to furl away the jib pretty quickly and drop the stay sail while the wind continued to build, and then out of no where a squall hit us with 30 knots of wind and we all had to act fast to get the main and mizzen down. Our guests were amazing and were not fazed by the squall at all. Once the sails were down and the boat had settled we headed in towards the coast. I have rarely seen weather like that come in so quickly here in the UK. Annette’s description was that she likened it to how she would imagine the Bass Straits to be in the Sydney to Hobart race. Halcyon naturally wasn’t troubled by it and I could feel her desire to just go on and run with it. We arrived slightly weather beaten to a warm welcome from the folk in Salcombe and were assisted in mooring up to a buoy. I haven’t visited Salcombe before but it is a beautiful underdeveloped sailing destination. The following day we headed towards Fowey with an overnight stop in historic Plymouth. By this time the weather had really improved and the sky was cloudless. Cat sadly had to leave us here as she headed home to Jersey to recover from the results party season. Our sail to Fowey was excellent and with a gusty fresh breeze we hoisted just mizzen and staysail which still gave us a 7 knot SOG. Once again the folk were extremely welcoming and helpful and although Fowey Regatta was in full swing we were given a comfortable mooring buoy. Fowey is truly picturesque. This was my first trip to Fowey and I was very taken with it. The following day we headed around the corner to Lantic Bay where guests and crew enjoyed some of Halcyon’s water sports toys. The weather was perfect and when you get this sort of weather in the West Country you really can’t ask for much more. Once everyone was exhausted with waterskiing, wakeboarding and trying to hang on to the Slider, we headed back into Fowey for the annual Red Arrows Air Display which was truly spectacular. The guests thoroughly enjoyed it sipping chilled white wine at the deck table. The crew had a slight role reversal on this evening, Annette donning the chef’s hat and Andre the host. Annette had promised to prepare her Tiger Prawn Jumbalaya, and as Fowey had a wonderful Fresh Fish Shop she was able to get the perfect tiger prawns for the job and following the adrenaline of watersports and the excitement of the air display the dish went down a treat. Andre was also suitably impressed. On Friday we were joined by a couple called Louise and Nick who are friends of Jane and Gary’s. They arrived for lunch and we then set off for St Mawes in the glistening sunshine. I was a little sad to leave Fowey but am already looking forward to returning. The racing was spectacular and as our mooring buoy was almost on the fairway up the river we had a perfect viewing platform. Sunday saw some very light winds and a sedate sail back to Dartmouth with all sails flying on a glorious sunny calm day. This allowed us the unusual opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with Eddystone lighthouse, probably the most famous lighthouse in Britain situated about 13 miles Southwest of Plymouth. An amazing feat of engineering with the first lighthouse being built finished in 1703. However this is the 21st century so we slung the ringo of the back of the yacht and towed Rosie and Alex around! We made Dartmouth and our berth at town quay at bang on 1700hrs and came alongside. It has been a truly exceptional 9 days and a route I would personally love to repeat next year. A big thank you to the Popes and their ‘entourage’ who were good humoured, always willing to participate, and full of vitality, a true pleasure to have aboard. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Andre and Annette who have worked tirelessly all throughout this season and are still full of energy, good will and smiles.

Skandia Cowes Week & Fastnet 2007

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’m writing this week’s log while there’s about 30 knots of breeze blowing from the South West. Once again, another windy spell for Halcyon in Cowes. As the sun set on Friday 10 August I was finally able to sit on deck and watch the sun set and reflect on another Cowes Week. For the annual event there were a total of 997 entries this year experiencing some world-class racing and of course enjoying the exciting and varied social scene off the water in Cowes. The event offers something for everyone and creates a unique festival atmosphere which also leaves you a little jaded by the end. For Halcyon and her crew, it was also very successful with 4 days of corporate charter entertaining 12 different eager guests each day and who thoroughly enjoyed a ‘Halcyon Day’ while watching some of the racing. The week kicked off with Andrew and crew together with guests attending the Ellen MacArthur Trust Ball where we had the opportunity of dressing up in DJ’s and suitable attire. The evening consisted of enjoying a three course meal and participating in a silent auction, plus enjoying the bidding on an open auction for a chance to spend a day on Halcyon! We also managed to dance the night away to Bjorn Again, the Abba tribute band. We had corporate charters for Valiant Petroleum on Monday and Ikon Science from Tuesday to Thursday. While the best of the wind came earlier in the week allowing Halcyon to grace the Solent and show off her sails, by Thursday the wind had gone but it was incredibly warm and sunny encouraging all our guests to go swimming in Alum Bay at the Needles. They then sat down to enjoy another of Andre’s sumptuous buffet lunches on deck. Due to the lack of wind, the final day of Cowes Week racing was cancelled; as this was confirmed on the radio, Annette happened to hear a resounding cheer from the surrounding boats as they could now prepare for the final night of entertainment and go to the beer tent. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to invite some friends and family aboard for the finale Friday firework display which is always spectacular and we had a perfect view from our mooring buoy. The evening also hosts an air display by Road Angel which turns my stomach just watching him perform his seemingly impossible stunts in a Pitts Special with pulling more positive and negative G's than I care to imagine. By Saturday we were able to come back into the yacht haven as most of the yachts had departed and things were already starting to quieten down as the clean up crew moved in and tents were dismantled.. In terms of weather conditions, things changed a little on the Saturday as a low pressure system moved in and caused the organizers of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2007 to cancel the start on the regular Sunday start and move it to Monday and at 11am the class 0’s which includes the large and fast open 60’s got off to a flying start. This was the first time the start of the race had been postponed in 85 years. Unfortunately well over half of the yachts were forced to retire and pull into various ports along the South coast due to the strong winds heavy seas. However success came for the new 100-foot super maxi ICAP Leopard (GBR) which crossed the finish line off the Plymouth breakwater under spinnaker, breaking the Rolex Fastnet Race monohull race record that has stood since 1999. With an elapsed time of 1 day, 20 hours, 18 minutes, the Bruce Farr-designed yacht chopped just under 9 hours off the record set by Ross Field on the 80-foot RF Yachting. So after all that excitement it was time for us to prepare Halcyon for our West Country charters despite some rather strong winds hence me sitting here in the shelter of the deckhouse and writing this. Our next plan is to depart Cowes on Thursday 16 August and head to Dartmouth to collect our guests and from there, their wish is Halcyon’s command…..within reason of course.

Lusso Luxury - Classic Sailing

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Peter Rear jumps aboard the newly refurbished Halcyon Yacht Recovering from my experience on XSMG’s monstrous XSR48 powerboat, I needed to get over my newfound fear of boating. What should fall through the letterbox the following week but an invitation for a few days on a luxury 80ft Bermudan yacht; that should do the trick. To put you in the picture; only 40cm of the XSR48 sits in the water at its cruising speed of 60mph, two thunderous engines generate a massive 2000bhp and safety harnesses hold you in at its teeth grinding top speed of 109mph. My cure for this was to be a vessel likened to the Orient Express, fashioned by timeless luxury, and the perfect way to see one of the UK’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was to be the venue and Halcyon the boat. To see the rest of this great article on Halcyon please click on the link below: http://www.lussoluxury.com/content.asp/read-130072007130432/Peter_Rear_jumps_aboard_the_newly_refurbished_Halcyon_Yacht_.html

North Sea Passage

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This week we have a guest writer, Sayers Kyle, who helped us on the North Sea delivery from Inverness to Stavanger and recently on the passage from Stavanger to Cowes. Sayers formed part of a crew consisting of 9 people. 5 of this crew are planning to do the Sydney to Hobart Race at the end of this year; Halcyon being the perfect platform for them to hone their skills! This is what Sayers had to say. It was Friday mid day, I had nailed down the last few items I knew had to be finished and those three or four conversations on items that always come up on a Friday when you have somewhere else to be! I still got out of the office in time to get my flight to Stavanger. I was looking forward to seeing Andrew and the Halcyon crew again and had just a little trepidation about our voyage from Stavanger to Cowes. It would be a long passage 600+ nautical miles and the prevailing south westerlies would be against us. However offsetting that was the fact that our Sydney-Hobart team was sort of assembling to see how we got on together when keeping watches so I would see them for the first time in quite a few months. When I got into Stavanger it was a little grey and my taxi driver informed me that we would not be able to get down on to the quay side because the Stavanger food festival was on and sure enough as I strolled down the cobbled streets of “Gammle Stavanger”, the old town, I could see the charming little centre of Stavanger round the harbour, “The Vaagen” was full of tents and stalls selling food from round the world. When I had left Stavanger Halcyon was the only Classic boat in the Harbour but as I glanced up over the marquees I could see many more wooden masts. There was a classic boat festival on along side the food festival. How convenient! Anyway having spotted Halcyon’s masts I wandered over and was greeted by Glenda and Greg, my aussie friends and the inspiration for the Hobart, their son Chris and Ron from the Netherlands. We visited one of Stavanger’s oldest restaurants that night, “Straen”. It specialises in fish and also does a good line in celebratory champagne!! We cast off the next morning and weaved our way through some interesting heavy machinery, a couple of the North Sea’s largest crane vessels delivering platforms and facilities for installation in the Norwegian sector. We would see several examples later in the voyage. It was sunny and warm and very picturesque as we make our way out in light winds. As we exit the fjord into the North Sea proper the seas pick up a bit more swell as we turn left and head south west. To try to open some space so we can sail. Rob has mentioned that he has only limited diesel – I think he was teasing us? Our heading takes us down the coast and past several islands and slowly we edge away until Norway sinks below the horizon. After a few hours we all relax a little when we are able to turn off the engine and rely on the sails. The north westerly is fine for our course south through the Norwegian oil fields. Halcyon seem happy in the seas – it’s as though she was made for this. The wind is forecast to rise a little more and we had 2 reefs in the main before we left. As we passage south we settle into the watches and everyone, to various degrees, enjoys ship and platform spotting especially with the electronic help we have on board. We mostly observe but the “Green Tromsoe” is distinctly unfriendly and gets much closer than we want! Most of the traffic is oil field related. The winds remain favourable and strengthen to 20 knots, but Halcyon loves it and barrels along in moderate seas. We are making really good time. Pretty soon we pass some Danish fields and then the UK gas fields which indicates we are getting into the southern half of the north sea. The shallower water seems to bring lighter seas even though the strong wind holds up. This is well received by the team, or maybe the pills are working! First sight of blighty is some rather large buildings off the east costs, we spott sizewell power station and some of the developments on the Essex coast. Then we are in the Thames approaches and traffic picks up. The AIS system helps us get comfortable with course and speed of the various vessels. Gordon is perhaps a little alarmist when he raises Rob for one which is 17 miles away – better safe than sorry!! As we round into the Dover Straits, the white cliffs are bathed in warm sun and look splendid. The wind eases and we need to motor a bit to keep on schedule but it is a glorious day. We hear some reports of channel swimmers but they seem to be heading east and we never see them – I hope they are ok? 81 hours after we let go in Stavanger we tie up in Cowes there is a good deal of grinning and some bubble to celebrate a fine crossing. The next day we start our race training and Chris sets off to talk to Sail Logic. All is well and we do what all crews do their first night in port after a long passage . . . . . . . The next moring a little fuggled we catch the red funnel to south Hampton, meet John our instructor and reccy the boat a Reflex 38 – It is a bit Spartan after Halcyon – and it doesn’t even have any sails up yet!! We have 3 cracking days of race and general sailing, spinnaker flying and jibing, although the first day is very light winds. Then we have hot sun and good breezes. Lunches on board in Yarmouth and Portsmouth by the Warrior Museum and in amongst the war ships. On Saturday we return up the Solent and weaver through the racing boats, confident in our ability to handle the 38 footer. It is the first Saturday of Cowes week and the spectacle of several hundred boats on the water in great racing conditions is world class. Each afternoon we return to the comfort of the old boat to relax and recharge our batteries. Strange how we left one festival in Norway and arrive into another in Cowes – Halcyon seems to be charmed that way. Evenings are spent browsing the quaint old streets of Cowes with great sailing shops and many restaurants all ready for the Cowes week. The marinas are full to bursting and the place is just spilling over with people who want to be on the water. Water taxis chug back and forth with people getting organized for the races or just relaxing and enjoying the buzz and the atmosphere. Everyone is a sailor. Tents and music and laughter fill the gentle evening air. We enjoy a stroll past the cannons of the boat club ready for the racing tomorrow as the sun sets. Sad that tomorrow we depart for many different points but with one more happy memory to carry with us. Thank you Halcyon, Andrew, Rob, Annette and Andre, it was monumental !!

Sailing - Norsk Style

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This week Halcyon has entertained Harald Vabo the CEO of Revus Energy, the oil company that Andrew is Chairman of. Harald was accompanied by his lovely wife Siri and daughter Trine and his friends Atler and Anna with their children Aadne and Karen. We entered new Fjord territory for me and headed North which was exciting. Unfortunately the rain was still with us but on our first day we had 16 knots of breeze, so we had 4 sails up and had a cracking sail, although I will say the sea was slightly rougher than I had got used to in the Fjords. That day we clocked a top speed (SOG) of 10.4 knots, very respectable. That evening we anchored in a nice bay called Tonnesunddet on the island of Krkjoey, and had a very special guest join us for evening dinner; Harald’s mother, and later on one of his sisters and brother-in-law. The following day we headed further North to the next main town after Stavanger, which is Haugesund. We had a tough beat into the wind and some swell but arrived in high spirits. Unfortunately, although we had called the harbour master ahead of time, I don’t think he was quite prepared for us so sadly we couldn’t come alongside in the town centre, however he did find us a lovely spot on the old fish processing docks (just for the halibut!) After a quick explore around town in the morning we set off for a little place called Auklandshamn about 15nm Northwest of Haugesund; a nice tucked away place with a long tradition as a fishing port. Unfortunately due to the way things are nowadays this industry has all but faded away. We were greeted with a speedboat coming hurtling towards us which turned out to be a friend of Haralds, called Kjel, beckoning us to come alongside their pontoon, so we took them up on their offer. I have a feeling their little pontoon had never accommodated such a large vessel, but it did so with ease. We had a very warm welcome and all the guests hopped to shore for a champagne reception! In the meantime we put the boat to bed, got the fire lit and Andre busied himself in the galley and cooked up one of his usual sumptuous feasts. After dinner it was decided that wakeboarding, skiing and general messing about on the water (at speed!) was in order. I think everyone slept very soundly that night. The next morning Kjel kindly gave the crew and I a guided tour of his house, built in the 1800’s by his Great Grandfather who started the town and the fishing business there. The type of fishing they undertook is not very PC nowadays, but they used to whale hunt, being away from home for months at a time, going as far South as the Falkland Islands and offloading their catches onto larger processing vessels. A remarkable journey to undertake once, let alone time after time. On Tuesday we headed North to a town call Bekkjarvik, a comparatively large town (for this part of the world) with a similar fishing history, specialising in herring. The town still maintains its heritage, however the small herring fishing boats have now been replaced by very large ocean going fishing vessels. On entering the harbour we were greeted with the most unusual site on the quayside, five camels grazing on some grass….the circus was in town! Kjel’s brother-in-law had been forewarned of our arrival and had cleared the quayside for us; a very important man in town who seemed to own most of it, along with the fishing vessels. We spent a nice night alongside, and awoke to see that the circus had packed up and left town. Next stop was an island called Espevaer. A quick sail got us there in good time with a max SOG of 10.5 knots. We managed to find a space alongside the quay and the guests stretched their legs and walked around the island. Provisioning was for once very easy as the shop was right on the quay so Andre could re-provision without one of the supermarket shopping trolleys for a change which I would like to add he naturally always returns. We stopped here overnight and after refuelling and filling up with water we began our trip back down South towards Stavanger. We decided to break up the journey home by stopping in Kvitsoey for the night. The day provided another fresh breeze which enabled a good broad reach all the way. Kvitsoey is a very pretty little town and very typically Norwegian. The guests were run ashore for a look around while Andre prepared their final Halcyon dinner of Sumac duck with Lyonnaise potatoes. Following dinner and with a clear blue sky (although the breeze was fresh) the girls were determined to go swimming and much to my surprise they actually did, although it was rather a jump in and jump out, than a swim. Still they were braver than I would have been. We had a good sound anchorage so stayed here for the night. Everyone was up bright and early the next morning for our 8am departure for Stavanger and at last the sun was shining – it was a glorious morning. Sadly our guests were to depart in Stavanger but once again their Halcyon experience was not overshadowed by a bit of Fjord rain. Another very good time was had by all.

Teapots and Waterfalls

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It was tempting fate I suppose to start a charter on Friday 13th an unlucky day in two ways, firstly due to the date and secondly due to the fact it is historically unlucky to start a sea voyage on a Friday. Our American guests joined us on the Friday, and almost immediately the rain set in and decided to stay with us for the whole week. Added to that our guests luggage had been lost in transit, so they turned up with their hand luggage, what they were wearing, and big smiles on their faces; they weren’t going to let a little rain and a handling error detract from having a good time on board Halcyon. They were a lovely family from Chesapeake, Leander and Stephanie with the delightful children Emma, Leander and Anna. They also bought Halcyon a lovely traditional London Bus t-pot which took pride of place in the saloon. Despite a slightly wet week their spirits remained high as they enthused and immersed themselves in life aboard Halcyon and generally enjoying spending time together as a family in the beautiful setting of the Fjords. We departed Stavanger on Saturday and headed to Lysefjorden under sail. We made a brave attempt in some pretty fickle winds until the rain came in, the wind died and on went the motor. However, as we entered Lysefjorden the rain cleared and it certainly didn’t fail the ‘wow’ factor. The fjord looked stunning, with the low lying mist covered mountain tops adding that extra dimension. We anchored overnight for dinner and once everything was cleared away and the guests were full and cosy watching a DVD I took the crew wakeboarding. Both Annette and I were determined Andre was going to crack this skill as he’d had a bit of trouble getting up and then ‘Eureka!’, on this still evening he managed to get up and was (annoyingly) looking like a natural pretty quickly. What a breakthrough! The next day we headed, under mizzen and staysail (in the rain!) to an anchorage off the island of Sjernaroey where we spent a very peaceful night. A new day brought….you guessed it more rain, and we headed for Sand, stopping on the way for lunch at a striking anchorage in a bay off the island of Ottoeynna. Once alongside in Sand, the guests got a chance to stretch their legs and see what a sprawling metropolis a town of 1300 people has to offer in Norway. After a little investigation at the tourist office in Sand the guests returned to the boat full of gusto and laden down with brochures and pamphlets. The itinerary for that day was to head down Hylsfjorden, which has to have one of the most magnificent waterfalls in the fjords that we have seen so far, providing an excellent photo opportunity for all (see the gallery). We motored almost right to the end of this Fjord and the silence was almost deafening. We decided to savour this for the night, so I found a spot under a waterfall, and we dropped the anchor and Annette and Andre rigged a couple of stern lines to rocks ashore using the rib. The rain had stopped for a while and our guests enjoyed a glass of red wine on deck and took in the scenery and stillness. Leander (junior) and I did a spot of fishing and managed to catch a few respectable sized mackerel. As evening set in the anchor unfortunately dragged, and we were encouraged to head back down the fjord to an anchorage called Gardvika. The following day we headed to another stunning anchorage at Vatlandsvaagen and our guests ventured ashore for a walk up to the nearby lake. It was then homeward bound via Finnoey and Hidle where our guests decided to savour and enjoy the delights of Flor Fjaere to bring there time aboard Halcyon to a close

Halcyon Clad in Armour

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 6 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We’ve just completed our first week’s charter out of Stavanger in Norway and I’ve managed to steel a few minutes in between getting Halcyon ready to receive our new guests to write this log. I do feel for everyone back in the UK at the moment as we’ve heard how dreadful the weather has been. Although we have had mixed weather with some very hot sun and very wet rain, today it is very overcast and wet so I can relate to how you must all be feeling. However, we have just completed a fantastic week with Andrew and his two brothers, Ron and Robert and their lovely wives Gill and Jane and Andrew’s sister Jean. Apparently it was the first time they have all holidayed together since 1962 and we’ve been informed they all had a wonderful time and enjoyed Halcyon to the full. We departed Stavanger last Saturday while it was in the midst of the International Beach Volley Ball championship finals. The Quay was packed with supporters to the teams representing countries all around the world. We headed to Lysefjorden which I have to say is one of my favourites so far. The colour of the water against the silver rock which climbs 600metres or more is just stunning. We also discovered a plunge pool towards the base of a waterfall which Andrew couldn’t resist to swim in. We found the perfect spot to drop anchor and Andre did his usual miracle work in the galley. Andrew was up bright and early the following morning for his swim around the boat and the day’s activities started. The clinker was out, the canoe was inflated and the fishing rod was over the side. Meanwhile the ladies got to catch up while sipping freshly brewed coffee on deck. The water was like a mirror and as a result provided the perfect platform for a spot of wakeboarding which Annette and I rose to. After an action packed morning we headed off on our Fjord adventure which took in Hoegsfjorden and Sandsfjorden where our guests all visited the Salmon and Trout observatory. From there we headed South to an anchorage off the island of Tjul where we stayed overnight. I’m sure you are all keen to know of some of the delights that are prepared in Halcyon’s modest sized galley. This particular week, Andre’s menu’s included: Comfit of Duck with Plum and Ginger Jam, Corn-fed Chicken Breast with Wilted Spinach and Asparagus served with cornichon Creamed Mash Potato, Pressed Belly of Pork with Fennel and Cumin spice, Courgette, Red Pepper and Parmesan Veal wrapped in Proscuitto with Palenta. It’s making me salivate just writing it! The week came to an end far too quickly but the last day saw a good 8 knot breeze which allowed us to fly all 5 sails much to Andrew’s sheer delight. I also used the opportunity of a steady light breeze to take a trip up the main mast whilst under sail to take a few pictures which I will post in due course in the gallery section of the website. We were heading to Hidle where the guests very kindly treated Annette and Andre to dinner at the islands Flor Fjaere restaurant (http://www.florogfjare.no/en.info.html). This is a particularly special place where you can enjoy some stunning gardens with palm trees and exotic plants while enjoying tranquillity, bright colours together with savouring delicious food made from the best of local produce. In case you wondered where I was, I delegated myself to stay aboard Halcyon to ensure she stayed peacefully at anchor while enjoying another stunning Fjord sunset.

Halcyon's Days - Classic Boat Magazine

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 1 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

5 page article featured in Classic Boat magazine - July 2007 Halcyon's Days Built for a captain of industry and sailed by a sea school in Tall Ships races, Halcyon is reborn as a luxury charter yacht and heading for Norway. Peter Willis went for a sail Getting the hang of a boat is often made easier if you can fine some specific, significant detail to focus on and, so to speak, work out from. Halcyon, being a large boat with a long varied history offers a wide choice. But let's start with the green-and-black marbled slab behind the stove in the saloon. It's one of the most recent installations, as is the stove itself. It was chosen with care by Halcyons present owner, Andrew Armour, and is, he tells me 400 million year old piece of Kirkstone slate from the Lake District". Andrew would know this sort of thing - he's a geophysicist (he made his money in oil exploration in Norway). As we set sail out of Milford Haven he points out the various cliffs and rock formations and describes, graphically and fascinatingly, the tectonic movements and continental collisions that created them and the sea-bed beneath us. But there seems a curious logic at work when, later on, we look up at the night sky and he admits, I'm not all that good on stars." Andrew bought Halcyon about 18 months ago, the result, he says, of a secret lust for a big boat as a business venture - a Med-style luxury charter yacht, but for the Celtic Sea, West coast of Scotland, and Norway". There are, of course, existing charter operations in that area - particularly the West coast - but, observes Andrew, They're based on ex-working boats, or replicas of them, not a gentlemans yacht'." Halcyon is that alright: 95 foot long (28.9m) and 85 tons, she was built in 1929 for Sir Samuel Turner, the industrialist who founded Turner & Newall Andrew's search began in late 2005. Broker Peter Gregson of Wooden Ships took him first to look at Mascotte, the Bristol Channel pilot cutter - great but not right for me". Then Peter took him to Gloucester to look at a couple of boats. One was the unfortunate Johanna Lucretia. The other was Halcyon, and it was love at first sight. She was tired, sad, dingy, a bit damp - in fact she was a bit of a mess. But I could see through all that." Thus Andrew, whose current "other boat' is a 24ft (7.3m) Cornish Crabber, and who started sailing in the Lake District at the age of 10, with an open canoe to which he added a sail, became the owner of Halcyon. Her previous owner turned out to be David Fletcher, who set up the Atlantic Challenge gig races. He'd had her for 13 years, having brought her from a Welsh Farmer, who'd got her from an Australian adventurer (he imported bulldozers into Australia as spare parts to avoid the import duty on complete bulldozers") who had seen her for sale in Calshot, around 1988, by the Warsash School Of Navigation. He picked her up for a song - �35,000. It's said that there was a huge row, and someone lost there job over it - she'd been refixed the year before for �30,000 - but the contract was signed." Halcyon had been bought by the school (from Mme. Renault, of the French car family) 30 years previously as a "temporary' replacement for the Moyana, which sunk off the Scilly Isles following the first Tall Ships Race in 1957. The school interpreted "navigation' very broadly; it included seamanship and what would now be called "the social skills required to live together in a confined environment'. So Halcyon would go cruising, ot take part in Tall Ships races, with a dozen cadets, stacked in pipecots three deep in the fo'c's'le, plus two senior cadets in the lazarette, plus a master, first, second and third mates and a bo'sun distributed between two existing, and surviving, cabins and the saloon, which was converted into two further cabins. We're constantly being hailed by chaps who come up and say "I used to sail on her in 19-whatever,'" says Andrew. The name Halcyon - it's the Greek for kingfisher - was chosen by Sir Samuel to commemorate the St Ives fishing boat of that name in which he was taught to sail by fisherman Dan Paynter. He subsequently bought the boat and re-presented her to Dan as a wedding gift, renaming her Mamie, after Dan's bride, and keeping the name Halcyon for his new boat. Built by JI Thornycroft, Southampton, in teak on oak, Halcyon was described by The Yachtsman and Motorboating, 31 August 1929, as A wholesome and comfortable type of seagoing yacht". Her refit last year at Tommi Nielsen's Gloucester Docks yard revealed the hull to be in remarkably sound condition. The timbers were wonderfully solid - none had to be replaced," says Andrew. They did discover, in the course of surveying her, that at some stage an additional 4in (10cm) of lead had been added to the keel. The engine was lifted out and the aft floors repaired - the others had been done by David Fletcher - before pitch was poured into the bilges to create a straight run across the frames. A new engine, a Perkins l3Ohp diesel, was installed. The hull was re-sheathed in copper sheeting. They took the old copper off," explains Andrew in admiration of the yard's work, and plugged 60,000 nail holes. Then they put the new sheets on, with another 50,000 nails. It's what they do!" The deck, teak on ply, appeared sound and indeed was, but a warning signal was given when one of the deck beams fell on the heads of two of the yard's shipwrights. The cause proved to be non-bronze screws, used, presumably during her 1964 restoration, to fix the subdeck to the beams. Other beams were similarly affected, though to a much smaller extent - just small areas of rot around screws. The choices on offer were either a new deck (six-figure sum) or, for a lot less, Richard Ayers, Halcyon's surveyor, proposed saving the existing planks and subdeck, fixing them with new bronze screws and plugging them (the deck never previously had plugs - it was all secretly nailed to the frames). Richard also recommended pulling both the masts - again they were found to be generally OK, apart from a little rot around the mizzen. The masts and spars were stripped down and re-varnished, and the metal fittings re-galvanised and repainted. The standing rigging was replaced in new galvanised wire and all the running rigging and wooden blocks were also replaced. The original hydraulic windlass was re-galvanised and restored. When the time came to re-step the mainmast, a little ceremony was arranged at Nielsen's and for good luck Andrew placed a 1929 sovereign under its heel (CB223). Halcyon still has her original 12ft sailing dinghy, restored and carried on deck, with the original davits; she's also equipped with a modern and practical RIB. Other equipment includes a new generator, new navigation systems and new electrical and plumbing systems (We plugged all the skin-fitting holes, 26 of them, and put in 13 new ones - we can't get it down to fewer than that."). There also a blown-air central heating system - If we'd been going to the Med, we'd have opted for air-conditioning, but we're going north." The galley has a new electric hob and oven (no gas on board) plus an ice maker, Miele washing machine and tumble dryer and a water maker. The original Burma teak panelling in the cabins and saloon was retained and refurbished. In the saloon, a hanging locker has been removed to improve its proportions. This is, in effect, the heart of the ship, a spacious, airy room with its glass skylight - and cosy at night when we get the stove lit. An eight-seater dining table barely obtrudes, occupying a benched alcove of its own. The table is a fun toy, too - it can be slid forward or aft to improve access to the benches, and its pedestals incorporate a gimballing mechanism so that it can be levelled when the ship is heeling. Andrew also proudly draws attention to the glass cupboard, elaborately fiddled to protect its contents, and to the widescreen entertainment system, concealed behind a teak panel. On a shelf behind the table is a fine chrome clock and barometer, which was presented to Sir Samuel by his colleagues in 1937. It was returned to Halcyon by his grandson, Christopher Bateman, who presented it to Andrew at the mast- stepping ceremony. Immediately forward of the saloon is the galley, domain of Andr� Daniels, the ship's chef. This part of the ship also contains crew's quarters, right in the forepeak, with its own heads and shower, plus two new twin guest cabins, also teak-panelled, which have their own heads and shower. Abaft the saloon, off the short stretch of corridor leading to the companionway are two en suite cabins - master's (double) to starboard and VIP (twin-berth) to port. Ascending the companionway, we come up into the deck house, a comfortable spot for out-of-the-wind relaxing on its upholstered benches. At its forward end is the original chart-table, now more of an electronic nav station. Old photos show the deckhouse has been remodelled from time to time, at one stage having side doors. Now the doors face aft, connecting conveniently to the steering position. The ship's wheel and an array of instrument displays are ranged around or within a small declivity in the deck, not really big enough to qualify for the name of cockpit. Nearby, on the afterdeck, Andrew points out a couple more examples of Tommi's (or his staff's) handiwork: the rebuilt hatch leading to the skipper's quarters - and a circular cover for the lazarette. He's full of praise for the attention to detail displayed by the yard, and its resourcefulness. Tommi noticed these glass lampshades in the deckhouse, very vulnerable and prone to getting broken. He took a mould and cast a set in acrylic. And there were the original washbasins - they were cracked and I was looking to get them replaced, but Sarah at the yard knew somewhere and sent them away to be re-enamelled." Clearly, Andrew and Tommi are two of a kind, with a near-obsessive attention to detail. Notice the chairbacks in the saloon, with the Halcyon name and kingfisher logo carved into them, echoed on the linen and towels. It all reinforces the effect of being aboard a five-star boutique hotel. This, though, is a hotel that heels and lists, though not very much, most of the time. Being a big boat - it's easy to forget, but she's as long as a Thames barge - she's steady and stable. The sensation of sailing is softened by her size; she can thrash, for sure, but a careful management of the sail plan will keep things within the comfort zone of most charter clients. We did, incidentally, ask if there were photographs of Halcyon with full sail set but it turned out there were not. Being a ketch, her rig offers a selection of sail plans to suit most conditions without hoisting every rag. And Halcyon, by deliberate choice, has very little in the way of mechanical assistance for managing sails. When we hoisted the main, everyone on board, including chef and owner, was called on to sweat and tail the halyard. Halcyon's charter publicity advertises the option of being hands-off, but it's to be hoped that at least some of the charter party want to be hands-on. Otherwise they'll be missing out on a major part of the experience, and the boat will be doing a lot of motoring. Robert Hickman and Annette Corder constitute the permanent crew. Both ex UKSA, they were recruited early on in the refit - Good oil industry principle," says Andrew, get the ops crew involved in building the platform." Robert has already been researching Halcyon's history. They make a good team, effortlessly bridging the navigational and hospitality roles, he skipper, she pretty much everything else apart from cook, a role fulfilled, at gourmet level, by Andr�, the chef. We headed out from the dock, one of Andr�'s mouth-watering mega-sandwiches served on deck to keep us going, and made our way down the beautiful Milford Haven waterway, and out to sea. Just a short, afternoon jaunt, out to the offshore island of Skokholm, famous for its birds, and back, but enough to revel in the purposeful, striding motion of this big yacht, and to get a feel for the idea of her heading up beyond Scotland, past the Shetlands and on across the North Sea towards the fjords of Norway. It promises to be a magnificent adventure, and Halcyon, with her beautiful but at the same time no-nonsense lines seems just the boat for it. We've decided to spend the night at anchor, and pick a sheltered spot near Dale. It's beautiful, and deserted. A sense of utter peace and wellbeing descends, which in due course is enhanced by an exquisite three-course dinner from Andr�, and a few bottles of wine; and, as there's still a nip in the evening air, a chance to bask in the warmth of the stove. I sleep in the VIP suite, on a broad bunk, beneath a soft cloud of duvet, and wake to a sense of motion and the muffled thrum of the engine. We're on our way up the Haven in search of diesel. Ironically enough, considering Andrew's background and the fact that we're in the UK's main oil-terminal port (not that it obtrudes much on the scenery) this is proving hard to find. Halcyon is simply too big for the fuel pontoon in the dock. The option of ordering a delivery by (road) tanker has been considered - she can take 1,300 litres - but they pump it under pressure, and her filler-pipe is too small to cope. Andrew's phoned around and has tracked down a supplier, Dale Sailing, at Neyland. So we're enjoying a 7-mile chug up the waterway in the low, early morning sunlight. Andr� is dispatched to make some bacon butties, which inevitably arrive just as we dock at the fuel pontoon. There's much greeting and shaking of hands - we might almost be in France. Andrew knows this area well and there's inevitably much interest in Halcyon. Once we've finished, we cruise a little way upstream, then turn around, hoist a sail or two, and head back down towards the dock. Andrew and I find a bench on the sheltered, sunny side of the deckhouse, and chat some more about the yacht. I'm interested to know how much all this has cost. He won't say, but he does tell me Halcyon's insured for �1million. Can this charter business, I wonder, possibly be profitable? Andrew's hoping it will cover the running costs, but you can't realistically expect to make back the capital costs. They just remain tied-up in the boat until such time as you decide to sell her." I get the impression that won't be too soon. Andrew is clearly in love with his new boat, and for him, I think, chartering is less about her earning her keep, more a way of sharing his delight in her. This year, he plans to accompany her on her cruise to Norway. She will also be fitting in short breaks and corporate daysails, and will be at Cowes Week, where I daresay she'll turn a few heads. The halcyon, incidentally, turns out to be a bird that was fabled to breed in a nest floating on the sea at the time of the winter solstice and had the power to calm the wind and waves. "Halcyon days' therefore are calm, quiet, peaceful, undisturbed. All I can say is, mine certainly were.

North Sea Passage

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This week the Captains Log has kindly been written by Dr. Andrew Armour, the proud owner of Halcyon. Our trip across the North Sea to Stavanger was going to be one of the high spots of Halcyon’s summer schedule, a 360 mile crossing from the end of Telford’s great Caledonian Canal at Inverness, out through the Moray Firth and Central North Sea oilfields to Stavanger. On Friday and Saturday we assembled our crew of stout hearted sailors in Inverness. The passage crew consisted of the ever present Robert, Annette and Andre of course, plus Sayers, Ray, Neville, and Mike, most of whom had sailed with me before, but only on my much smaller vessel ‘Little Triton’. This was to be a big adventure for us all. Saturday dawned grey, blousy and a bit wet but the forecast was for improving weather so we slipped our lines from the lock basin at Muirtown and after some difficulty getting off the wall in the Sea Lock passed out into the Beauly Firth and rode the tide to pass beneath Kessock Bridge. We had checked that or 25 meter mast would pass beneath the new suspension bridge across the Firth at 27.4 meters but it always looks very close when you actually do it! We fought a stiff North Easterly Force 5 out of the shallows to enable us to anchor up in a sheltered part of the Moray Firth and wait for the promised amelioration of the weather. Our anchorage in Fortrose Bay was to give us a spectacular wind against tide competition. Halcyon rode around her anchor in a major and completely repeatable pirouette. For three hours she described accurate, if a little squashed, figures of eight around her obviously well set anchor. By the time the wind abated slightly in the early evening of Saturday, the tide had set with the wind so we had to fight both tide and wind out of the funnel of the Inner Moray Firth to escape for our crossing. Not very nice! At 9 pm on Saturday 16th June a couple of Moray Firth dolphins greeted us as we passed through Chanonry narrows and we set off on our long beat to windward. It was set to be a long passage and tiring passage. Rob set up our watch system. With our strong crew we could manage a two hours on and five hours off watch system. This was quiet luxurious and allowed us plenty of time to get over the wet and cold after each two hour stint. Wind hard from the North East was forecast for much of the voyage, dying towards the end and finally coming round to the Northwest and this indeed proved to be the case, although the wind had more North than East in it. Our progress out of the Moray Firth was punctuated by our passage through the oilfields. Captain, Buzzard, Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Buchan, Alba, Britannia, Balmoral, Andrew, Sleipner, fields that some of us have worked upon, all gradually appeared and passed astern. It was as if there was a buoyed channel pointing us to Stavanger. We chatted on the VHF with a passing seismic vessel, the Sea Profiler, which was sailing round in what seemed like circles but was in fact a 3D survey, ahead of us, and he confirmed that our radar echo was strong and clear at 5 nautical miles. It was reassuring to know that our SeaMe radar enhancer was working to improve our radar cross section; wooden ships themselves are poor radar targets. The Sea Profiler wanted to know how we knew her name at 10 miles range when we spoke to her. The answer is that our AIS, or Automatic Identification System, receiver was telling us the name, location, course and speed of all the commercial traffic in the North Sea (not that we had a very good pair of binoculars as one crew member suggested!). An extremely useful tool for the navigator! Sunday and Monday came and went in a seemingly endless round of cups of tea and coffee and good plain food. Andre was excused his usual gourmet duties and reverted to providing comfort meals for the crew standing their two hour watches and then getting some downtime in their bunks or recovering from various grades of the dreaded Mal de Mer. The nights never got really dark, as Midsummer sunset is around 10.15 at these latitudes and it dips just below the horizon and comes up again before 4 am. The twilight never really leaves the horizon invisible for instance and only the brightest of stars can be seen. At the start of our trip, with strong headwinds and confused rolling seas in which Halcyon pitched and rolled horribly I sometimes asked myself why I wasn’t flying to Stavanger as usual but when Tuesday dawned clear bright and with calm seas and 10 knots of wind from the starboard quarter I knew why I chose to arrive ‘Halcyon style’. She was flying along at 8 knots, admittedly still with the push of the motor, in a sparkling blue sea and without a cloud in sight. The coast of Norway emerged over the horizon, first the small but tall island of Hastein in the Skjaergard off Tananger, then more and more of the offshore islands which guard the coast, the radio masts on Kvitsoy and the higher mountains inland. We rounded Tungenes Fyr Lighthouse at around midday on the Tuesday morning, downed the sails and motored in the last mile past a Revus office who had turned out in force and waving their Norwegian flags to greet us. We then had an hour or so on the phone to negotiate a berth with the Stavanger Harbourmaster. It had been impossible to book a berth ahead and they were dealing with two great cruise ships that day but eventually, with Harald’s (CEO, Revus) highly effective assistance and encouragement, they found us a clear berth astern of Oceana and right in front of the harbourmaster’s office. A terrific berth at the end of a terrific and triumphant crossing. That evening we did what most sailors do after arriving in a new port and having been deprived of land and booze for a few days, we set out to “rehydrate” ourselves. Skagen restaurant and Hansen’s Hjorner on the quayside assisted nobly in this effort and even the cruise ships conveniently left so that we could sit in the sunshine, sip beer and watch Halcyon until the sun went down at around 11.30 Stavanger time. A very satisfying end to a beautiful day. The following day the crew departed for their flights home, except one who left for “meetings in Oslo” as soon as his feet touched the shore. I would like to say a big thank you to them all, they who provided the companionship and thoroughly reassuring watchfulness that allowed us to make such a good passage. The total distance run was about 360 miles and our 64 hours passage time means that we nearly averaged 6 knots. We motor sailed the whole way of course, we did have appointments to keep in Stavanger on the Wednesday and we all wanted to get to this fine city, some for the first time and some for a return to familiar surroundings. Stavanger is playing host to a suite of events this summer, the great Cunarders, QE2 and QM2 are here now (these liners really do look like ships, unlike some of the mobile blocks of flats that sometimes come in), the sand volleyball world tour is here (that’s a whole other story of course) and Queen Sonja of Norway will celebrate her 70th birthday here on 4th July. It seems the British Royal family will be here too so we will have to see what contribution the Armour clan can make when they are here that week!

The Great Glen

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For anyone who hasn’t done the Caledonian Canal trip you really must put it on your ‘to do’ list. I know I would probably be a bit biased but there can’t be a better way to explore the 35km of canal and 62km of Lochs through the Great Glen than on board Halcyon. That way in addition to taking in the views along the canal you can also do some of the many walks taking in the canal’s cultural and historic interests and meet the boat later on along the canal. It really did live up to its expectations as being one of Europe’s most fascinating waterways. Halcyon as always attracted a lot of attention while waiting in the locks and while cruising along the canals and lochs. We were regularly told she is the prettiest boat any of the Lock Keepers had seen during their tenure. The trip began with Andrew and his wife Jan joining us in Oban for the short trip up to Fort William. It was odd coming into Fort William and seeing civilisation again after experiencing some of the most breathtaking scenery I could ever have imagined up the West Coast of Scotland with not a vehicle or sign of habitation. With Ben Nevis as the backdrop (still with smatterings of snow), Andrew’s guests – Jean and Andrew, Janet and Andrew, (a lot of Andrew’s and ladies names beginning with J!) joined us in Fort William on the Sunday around dinner time all of whom were very excited and raring to go. We checked into the British Waterways lock office and collected our key which gives us admission to all the facilities should we need them and a regular top up of water. We were booked for Neptune’s Staircase at 10.30am on Sunday morning which raises the canal 19m through a flight of 8 locks. This was done effortlessly and with ease with a combination of very helpful and friendly lock staff and by our very keen and eager shore party who walked the lines up through each lock. Our canal trip had begun. There were no sails just the gentle hum of Halcyon’s engine cruising along the quiet canal while she took in the compliments from the tow path ramblers. Our first anchorage was in Loch Lochy at Achnacarry Bay for dinner and an overnight stay. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and the guests enjoyed joy rides in the jet rib with Andrew at the helm and the inflatable canoe. We were also blessed with a sighting of a nesting Peregrine Falcon who gave us a show as he chased away a heron. And if that wasn’t enough they jumped at my offer to hoist them up the mast! So all the Andrews and Jean were hoisted up for a photo opportunity – not all at once of course. The next day we departed for Laggan Locks which was the site of the ‘Battle of the Shirts’ between the Clans, Fraser and McDonnel in 1544, and berthed alongside for lunch. Filled water tanks. Then on through Loch Oich. Andrew, Jan and their guests got off here to do the walk to Collochy Lock where we were waiting for them to rendezvous with Halcyon. It was then a stop at St Augustus which is a bustling village with a flight of 5 locks at its heart. These locks signified a turning point in the journey, they were the first locks to take us down. Andre managed to stock up with some provisions from the local butchers and delicatessen while the guests did a bit of memorabilia shopping. We stayed here overnight and after some local Fish n Chips for lunch the next day, we headed for Loch Ness. Jan and Jean got off to walk around Loch Ness - I think they were Nessie spotting - and Annette skilfully collected them by rib at Invermoriston. We then proceeded up to Urquhart Bay for dinner and to anchor over night. I managed to convince Annette that the water temperature was warmer than in Loch Spelve and she fell for it and went wake boarding at 9pm after dinner in 11 degree water. I have to say I don’t know how she did it, just driving the rib and watching her sent a shiver down my back. But there was no lasting damage, well nothing a hot shower on board couldn’t solve. The next morning the guests went ashore to visit Urquhart Castle ruins and to meet up with Ray Dafter who was joining us for the North Sea crossing. The wind was pretty strong on Loch Ness kicking up a bit of a chop and Annette’s RIB driving skills were tested to the limit and the RIB soon became a bit of a bath tub! This unfortunately led to Ray getting a rather wet welcome on board Halcyon but this didn’t seem to dampen his enthusiasm. Apologies from Annette once again for that wet ride Ray, but I think he enjoyed it really. We departed our anchorage at around 14.15pm and were treated to some spectacular low level flying from the Royal Air Force in Tornados and Hawks down Loch Ness, we seem to attract them all! To complete our trip through Loch Ness we headed North East and on to Muirtown Loch where we stayed overnight and prepared for the final flight down of locks to Seaport Marina and back towards sea level. The week went so quickly and I could have quite easily turned around and done it all over again, but there wasn’t time in Halcyons packed schedule. It was time to prepare Halcyon for the next stage in her adventure across the North Sea to Stavanger, Norway for a month of charters.

Scottish Beauty

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 8 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Wow! I am completely awe struck by the sheer beauty of the Western Coast of Scotland. I have been lucky enough to have sailed in many pretty parts of the world but nothing comes close to this. I am really disappointed that we have only had a week of chartering but hopefully next year we will come back for more of Scotland’s treasures. The evenings are light until at least 11pm and when the sun comes out its really warm. I wasn’t prepared for any sun knowing that Scotland is notorious for its rain and cooler temperatures but we have had some stunning weather up here. Our 2 charter guests arrived on Saturday afternoon and we headed out of Largs to find a remote anchorage for dinner which is easy up here as they are plentiful. We settled in Kames Bay on the East side of Bute and we got the stove going to provide a little cosiness. The weather was a little threatening and just as forecast Sunday brought alot of rain. I don’t think we’ve got that wet for a long time but the scenery was still stunning and didn’t dampen our awe of this place. We headed up the East Kyles through the narrow gap at the top navigating the Burnt Islands and then down the West Kyles. We headed to Loch Tarbert got the Tender over by use of the new and very efficient winches on the davit arms and ran the guests ashore for a look around. We then headed to St Ninians Bay for dinner on the West side of Bute. It was just as we were heading into our anchorage that we spotted a number of gannets diving and sure enough there was something else in the water, a minky whale which really rounded the day off. By this time the rain had eased off and St Ninians provided tranquillity, calm and a beautiful anchorage for a quiet dinner. Monday morning we headed to circumnavigate Aran which was stunning. The sun also showed its face and I really can’t find words to describe the scenery. Lunch was had under way, the rib was launched underway too and the guests were able to take some photos of Halcyon sailing albeit in very light winds. By mid afternoon the wind filled in and we had a cracking sail round to Holy Island. As we were approaching the South Channel between Aran and Holy Island we were escorted in by two of the biggest dolphins I have ever seen. Annette and Andre were in the bow net and Annette was convinced she was riding the dolphins as they were so close. We dropped the hook near the North end of Holy Island and watched the sun set. Tuesday morning we headed back to Largs to collect our third guest who was accompanying us to Oban. During our trip up to Oban we experienced some more breathtaking scenery and anchorages. We stopped off at Campbeltown, which I was informed was where Halcyons owner, Andrew Armour’s family can be traced back to. We rounded the Mull of Kintyre catching a favourable tide up the Peninsular. We then anchored for the night in Kinuachdrach Harbour on the Island of Jura which had some of the clearest water I’ve seen in the British Isles. I could clearly see about 20 metres of anchor chain amongst the phosphorescence. On our final day we crossed the Firth of Lorn to anchor in Loch Spelve for lunch. It was a stunning day, clear blue skies and very hot. Annette even ventured in to the water and wakeboarded which encouraged Andre to try his arm at this too. Meanwhile the guests tinkered around in the inflatable canoe spotting a golden eagle with juvenile in the trees. On this afternoon we also had some low flying RAF action with a Tornado and a Hawk flying overhead. We heard him well ahead of him being in site and we all looked on in awe. I had the urge to be up there flying but as the pilot dipped his wing to us I think he would have liked to have joined us for lunch on Halcyon. We then headed to Duart Bay for dinner with the castle (which featured in the Hollywood blockbuster film ‘Entrapment’ with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones) providing the perfect back drop for Halcyon before heading into Oban where our guests departed. I am absolutely blown away with North West Scotland. Its beauty is truly heavenly. I will be disappointed to leave here but very much look forward to coming back again next season.

Delivery Plymouth to Largs

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 1 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Well I may struggle for words on this log as I am amazed at the speed Halcyon clocked and the time it took us to get from Plymouth to Largs. On this trip we were joined by 7 strong and keen crew who wanted the experience of sailing on Halcyon up the West Coast of the UK. We had Alan, Marc, Ted, Doug (who had never sailed before but whom I think was rather hooked), Douglas, Phil and Cynthia. In addition to myself there was Annette, Andre and Tom Marsh who joined us as watch leader. We left Plymouth at around 9pm on the Monday evening and headed towards Falmouth to refuel. The weather was in our favour and although some strong winds were forecast they were all from behind and we all now know Halcyon loves the weather from behind. Tuesday was nice and we had some sunshine and managed to get all the sails up including, thanks to Tom for his assistance, the flying jib. Tuesday night brought the driving rain and force 7 winds but the crew all remained in high spirits loving the novelty of a watch system. It was during the night and on my watch that Halcyon clocked 15 knots and she was surfing the waves with a large pod of porpoises playing around her bow sprit. She absolutely loved it. I think she was just as keen as I was to get up to Scotland to appreciate its beauty. The rain eventually eased on Wednesday and we were making excellent time. The conditions continued to be in our favour although the wind abated and we arrived in Largs at 4pm on the Thursday well ahead of schedule. I think we were all pleasantly surprised as I was initially a little hesitant that the schedule was rather tight should there have been any North in the wind. We all celebrated by means of a good meal ashore in downtown Largs and then we all crashed for a good nights sleep. The delivery crew headed their different ways on Friday and I would like to once again say it was a pleasure to sail with all them and thank you for all your help. Annette, Andre and myself all hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did on this trip.

Gipsy Moth IV homecoming

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We had a short spell in Saxon Wharf near Halcyon’s original build shipyard. She was lifted to attend to some essential maintenance and much to our surprise and the crane drivers, she weighed in at 84 tonnes! That would explain why she carries her way on for 5 minutes before coming alongside. We left Saxon Wharf at the bottom of the tide at around 1am on Saturday morning heading for Plymouth. We had a crew member up the mast for the transition under the Itchen bridge which we made with 2 metres to clear! For this trip we were joined once again by ex Clipper crew Joe Mulvey who has apparently now succumbed to a proper office job after some deliberation back in January, and by our friends Lucy Paice and Sarah Hallett together with Hazel Wilson from the RYA. Once again we had a very strong and willing crew and it was good fun too. For the first time we had 4 sails up and the Wykeham Martin furling gear held up to expectations. The weather was favourable too and the sun even showed its face which encouraged the girls to start discarding some layers. Halcyon did her usual trick of getting us there way ahead of schedule and we arrived in Plymouth at around 11pm on Saturday evening just before the rain set in and the Force 9 Gale which had been threatening on the way down. Sunday was a complete wash out unfortunately but then I guess that’s the norm for bank holiday weather. This enabled all the crew to assist in a good interior clean before our Gipsy Moth IV welcome and they were then rewarded by one of the best pub Sunday lunches I think I’ve ever had. Monday morning arrived and Halcyon was being pinned onto the pontoon by a strong wind. Although it was due to drop by mid morning we still required two work boats to pull us off, thanks to Conrad Humphries and his crew for there assistance with this. The day was an enormous success with good winds, which did eventually ease off. We entertained the main Gipsy Moth IV sponsor, Corum and a good time was had by all. Gipsy Moth IV rounded the point exactly on time skippered by my good friend and fellow Islander, Richard Baggett and Halcyon got close enough for some words of congratulations while he took the helm, this also enabled some great photos to be taken. Once back alongside in Mountbatten Marina there was no time to waste. Halcyon was transformed back into delivery mode and we were joined by our guest crew for the trip North to Largs, Scotland.

Solent Sailing Under The Watchful Eye Of Sir John I Thornycroft

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 13 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Hhmm we are certainly paying for the warmest April on record. I was looking forward to getting back to my home sailing ground for a few weeks but the weather has been pretty dismal since we got here. Nevertheless we have had some very successful and fun corporate days in the Solent and the sun has made an effort to present itself on a few occasions. Included in our string of guests has been Hamo Thornycroft, Cowes Marine Photographer who proudly informed me that his great Grand Father, Sir John I Thornycroft, was the wisdom behind the building of Halcyon in Southampton at the famous J.I. Thornycroft yard all those years ago. In fact its the very same yard you see on the opposite side of the River Itchen as you exit Ocean Village Marina. Sadly the Vosper Thornycroft yard has now moved to its new premises Portsmouth, but if you look carefully you can still see the J.I.Thornycroft sign adorning the disused crane, a reminder that she is in her home waters once more. We are currently based in Cowes Yacht Haven and have had prime viewing for RIBex 2007 which sees many new RIBs of different shapes and sizes. We have also had some strong wind while we have been down here but as I write this Captains Log the wind has blown itself out, the RIBs have all headed off and the Yacht Haven is very peaceful. All I can hear is the resident mullet scavenging around the pontoon ... oh and the rain! We have another couple of weeks here with plenty of maintenance jobs to complete including rigging our new Wykeham Martin furling gear for the jib ... yes I’ve succumbed to some equipment to make life a little easier and so we can set more canvass faster. We are also in the process of designing a system so that we can get the RIB on and off the boat a little more easily (perhaps involving winches), although the block and tackle system is physically possible…if you have Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of your crew! We are then expected down in Plymouth for 28 May as we are forming part of the flotilla welcoming Gipsy Moth IV back in after her second epic worldwide circumnavigation. That evening we will set sail from Plymouth and head up to Largs in Scotland for a charter before heading through the Caledonian Canal and across the North Sea to Stavanger, Norway where Halcyon will graceful lines will compliment the Fjords for 4 weeks.

Classic Yacht Back On The Solent - Isle Of Wight County Press

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 4 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This article was published in the Isle Of Wight County Press on Friday May 4th 2007 The beautifully restored classic yacht Halcyon of Southampton graced the Solent last weekend. Her £1million makeover at T.Nielsen’s shipyard, in Gloucester Docks, was overseen by her skipper, Robert Hickman of Cowes. He, along with Annette Corder, also from Cowes, were recruited to run the yacht by owner, Andrew Armour, from Oxfordshire. Halcyon was built in Southampton for a Lancashire Industrialist in 1929. Later she was used by Warsash School of Navigation for around 32 years, training merchant Navy cadets, many of whom went on to be masters of their own vessels. Following her year-long restoration Halcyon was re-launched in December and Robert and his crew sailed her to Cowes for Christmas. In the New Yea, they went on to St Katharines Dock, London, for a series of corporate engagements on board. “Its amazing how much interest Halcyon has generated already and we were visited by many people in London, including some Warsash cadets, who had trained on her,” said Robert. “One thing that everyone had in common was a smile on their faces and an experience to remember. It has been an exciting project for me to be involved in and we are looking forward to the start of our season.” In July she will be in Norway before returning to Cowes for Skandia Cowes Week, where she will be seen sailing every day, entertaining corporate guests on board while watching the races.

Halcyon Days - All At Sea

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 1 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This article was printed in 'All At Sea' May 2007 Edition “I’m working,” I told myself as I relaxed in the sunshine on the warm, teak deck of the 95-foot Bermudan ketch. “In order to write a report about luxury yacht charter I have to be able to fully appreciate the experience,” the voice inside my brain continues. Last month I went to Weymouth to write about the new Sail Laser centre. I spent an incredibly fun and incredibly painful day sailing a dinghy in temperatures that would not be out of place on Pluto. I was due a bit of pampering. I had been asked to come and experience for myself the elegance and sheer extravagance of Halcyon. She was built in 1929 by an industrialist named Sir Samuel Turner who had something to do with asbestos. She has been restored by Tommi Neilsen - one of Europe’s foremost specialists in the restoration and renovation of classic craft. The work took place at Neilsen’s yard in Gloucester and took almost a year to complete. The boat is now available for charter in a variety of stunning locations including the Norwegian Fjords, the Isles of Scilly, the Western Isles of Scotland and the beautifully rugged coastline of Pembrokeshire, which is where Charlotte and I went to meet her. We travelled down from London the night before by train. After the French TGV that recently broke records by reaching 357.2 mph, the five hours it took to get there felt slightly ridiculous. I managed to console myself in close proximity to the onboard bar. When we fi nally arrived we were put up at the Canaston Oaks, a five star B & B nestled in the folds of some stunning Pembrokeshire countryside. The owners, Eleanor and David Lewis converted the place from the old stables of Canaston farm, which has been in their family for generations. They were wonderfully warm and hospitable and Eleanor cooked us an unreasonably tasty breakfast before we set off the meet the yacht. Bellies full, Charlotte and I headed down to Milford Haven to rendezvous with the crew, which is comprised of the captain Robert Hickman, the mate Annette Corder and professional chef Andre Daniels. Also in attendance were an assorted bunch of freeloading journalists. Nearly all of the Pembrokeshire coast is national park and it is absolutely stunning landscape - rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and meandering estuaries that deserve to be explored. Then there are the islands of Grasholm, Ramsey, Skomer and Skokhom that are known for their huge seabird populations, including Manx shearwaters, Guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, kittiwakes, puffins, gulls, storm petrels and shags. We visited none of these places during the course of our day trip because of the wind, or rather the complete lack of it. Despite putting up almost all 2,275 square feet of sail we made fewer knots than a bone idle boyscout. No one seemed to care though. We were entirely happy to drift along in the sunshine, some reading books, others chatting absentmindedly and all digesting Andre’s gourmet lunch. Some of the more energetic passengers took it upon themselves to give the crew a hand. Captain Robert, with his laid back demeanour, managed to make them feel as if they were actually being useful as opposed to simply getting in the way, which was more often the case. Those who decide to charter this £1million vessel can expect a real classic sailing experience. There are very few winches on board. Most lines go through traditional block-and-tackle. There also is a total indulgence of the style of the 1920s. It feels like a kind of aquatic Orient-Express. The saloon even has a wood burning stove. But although the refurbishment has been devotedly true to her original design and construction all the modern facilities are included – you just can’t see them. The ice-maker, central heating, DVD player and the rest of it remain hidden behind teak panelled cupboards. The yacht is also equipped with her original clinker sailing dinghy. A modern RIB for waterskiing and coastal exploration is to be added. I hope it will not spoil the aesthetics or the peacefulness of this beautiful yacht. Apparently the name ‘Halcyon’ comes from the Ancient Greek for ‘kingfisher.’ It was thought that the kingfisher only visited its nest, far out to sea, on calm, fine days – hence the expression “halcyon days.” Halcyon is all about lazy days in picturesque bays. She lends herself perfectly to doing nothing . . .which is exactly what I did for my entire time on board. It was the best day’s work I’ve ever done.

Going South

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I have no other experience of sailing in Pembrokeshire than lovely blue skies, fair breezes and calm waters, so I have no reason to believe it is ever any different! To reinforce this notion, as soon as we left Pembrokeshire waters for the delivery down to the Solent the weather turned, the dark clouds came rolling in and the sea state steadily built to a 4m rolling swell….I quite liked Pembrokeshire I thought to myself! As I mentioned in my previous log entry the crew for this delivery consisted of myself and Annette plus we were joined by the ‘Ancient Mariner’ (my father) and two brothers Charles and Matthew. We were slightly under-crewed for this 250nm journey but everyone stepped up to the plate with not so much as a grumble heard (or if there was it was out of my earshot!). The original plan was to head down to St Ives in one hit from Milford Haven then overnight at anchor before heading round Lands end and another overnight in Falmouth for a bit of R&R prior to a leisurely cruise back to Cowes. As is the nature of sailing it didn’t quite work out like that. Due to the nature of the wind and swell and its toll on the boat and crew, it was necessary to divert our course and head to Clovelly where we anchored in a very picturesque setting. The next day we headed for Padstow and with the wind on the nose most of the way and anchored in Port Quin bay awaiting forecasts of gale force 8’s in the morning. Luckily the forecast never materialised and we finally made it to St. Ives two days behind schedule. The crew managed to get to shore and feel solid land under there feet (I think it was called ‘The Sloop Inn’!) and replenish supplies. The weather and tides were looking good for an afternoon departure to Falmouth and after an initial rolly start the passage was a very pleasant one and we came alongside at 0330. Owing to running behind schedule somewhat we unfortunately had to push on and a visit to the ‘Chain Locker’ on this trip was not on the cards. We slipped our lines at 1400 and pulled away from Pendennis heading out into Falmouth Bay, when we saw what could only be described as a Pirate vessel. This had one of our crew member particularly excited as he had an unhealthy passion for their way of life! We made ready our canon and headed over to inspect what was going on. It turned out to be the Earl Of Pembroke doing some film work in the bay, I thought I recognised her as we had seen her in the docks at Gloucester having work done. She looked absolutely stunning in the setting of Falmouth bay…..so we came alongside and fired our canon at their broadside! This had the appropriate response and a battle was underway in seconds with return fire from a home made spud gun. Satisfied with a great victory in Falmouth we headed onwards to Cowes and made good time up until Start Point when the wind veered onto the nose and the tide went foul for 6 hours. We eventually got to the Needles at about 1800 and made for Cowes (even though the GPS said we were heading down the M4 for about half an hour) where we tied up at 2030 in time for a couple of Friday night celebratory drinks for a job well done. Once again I would like to extend a very big thank you to our crew, Charles and Matthew Bagshaw and David Hickman, all of whom were indispensable.

Perfect Pembrokeshire

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What amazing weather we’ve had here in Pembrokeshire! I hope all our readers have been lucky enough to experience it. Since we arrived in Milford the sun has not ceased to shine. We’ve had a very action packed month with various corporate day sails, evening dinners, plus our first 2 official charters of the season with some fantastic guests, and a number of visits by journalists including BBC Wales Radio, ITV Wales, Classic Boat, Lusso Luxury and many more. Halcyon has soaked up the attention and admiration. I am especially thankful once again to Roger Paice who came out on Easter Sunday and spent the whole day photographing Halcyon and our first Charter Guests while we sailed around Grassholm, Skokholm and Skoma. The images he has captured are second to none. Take a look at the Gallery in ‘Under Sail’. It’s hard to believe in some of the shots that we are actually in Pembrokeshire, it could be somewhere in the Mediterranean or Caribbean with those azure skies. We’ve now had the opportunity to get 3 sails up and the crew have a very smooth and efficient routine in bringing Halcyon’s true canvassed beauty to the fore. We’ve even launched the Clinker dinghy and used her to explore North Haven on Skoma Island to see the resident seals and puffins. A truly wonderful anchorage which comes alive at night with the sounds of thousands of Manx Shearwaters flying overhead mixed with the haunting howls from the seals on the shore. The fabricated on deck dining table has been up on a number of occasions and has provided the perfect platform for Andre to serve his superb lunches for guests. Our Williams Turbo Jet rib has arrived, and wow it’s pretty nippy and handles very well. I can see that we will be using it regularly to assist us parking in tight spots. So we are now complete and our schedule of events up here in Milford has come to a close. We have spent the day today preparing Halcyon for her trip down to the Solent and plan to depart tomorrow Sunday after fuelling up in Neyland. Our plan is to head down south possibly stopping in St Ives and then Falmouth before heading on to Cowes. I am writing this while I wait for our crew Charles and Mathew who are joining us and it’s a great pleasure to have my father (the Ancient Mariner!) on board for this trip.

'Halcyon' days for sailor Lucy! - Tenby Observer

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 6 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This article was published in the Tenby Observer on Friday 6th April 2007 A restored luxury yacht sailed into Milford Haven last Thursday, having taken to the seas again in the latest of a long line of adventures dating back to the 1920’s when it was built. The Halcyon, dubbed, the ‘Orient Express of the sea’, will be able to sail passengers to the shores of Ireland, Scotland and Norway from its new home in Milford Haven. It owner, Dr. Andrew Armour, of Tenby, has spent over £1million refurbishing the 95 foot vintage Bermudan ketch. “Classic sailing is a passion for me, and it was for this reason that I acquired Halcyon and had her completely refurbished to such a high standard”, said Dr. Armour. “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”, he added. During the war Halcyon – named after the ancient Greek for Kingfisher – was requisitioned by the Navy and spent some time as the flagship of a minesweeper flotilla based in Greece. A local girl, 22-year-old Lucy Paice, of St. Florence, who is in her final year studying Watersports Studies and Management at Southampton University, was also recently invited to join the crew. Lucy joined the vessel in Cardiff for its VIP visit to the Welsh capital before setting sail for Milford Haven. She had previously been part of the yachts successful voyage from Cowes to St. Katharine’s Dock, London, for the London Boat Show held in January. Lucy’s father Roger Paice, has also been associated with the restoration and sailing photography of the magnificent vessel. Lucy gave up New Year travelling to the Isle Of Wight to brave the English Channel in very stormy and cold conditions. “It was wonderful sailing up the Thames to Tower Bridge in such a lovely old classic”, she remarked. “It was quite scary in the Channel with huge waves behind us on the night watch.” Whenever possible, Lucy plans to join Halcyon on further delivery and re-routing of charters.

Halcyon Sails Home - Western Telegraph

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 3 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Halcyon sails home By Becky Hotchin - Western Telegraph A 95 foot vintage Bermudan ketch sailed home to Milford Haven last Thursday afternoon. The Halcyon was berthed in the haven for ten years in the 1990s. She has recently been acquired by new owner, Dr Andrew Armour, a man with strong ties to Pembrokeshire and its waterways. The ketch has undergone a £1m refurbishment to restore her to her former glory. Built from teak and oak in 1929 for industrialist Sir Samuel Turner she has passed through the hands of several different owners and has been put to a variety of uses. From 1957 until 1988 the Halcyon was used as a training vessel for the University of Southampton school of navigation. As a result hundreds of merchant navy cadets have been schooled aboard, creating what owner, Dr Armour calls a Halcyon family. Dr Armour bought the ketch last year after falling in love with her as soon as he stepped on board in Gloucester docks. One year and much dedicated work from Tommi Neilsen's famous boatyard later and the Halcyon has taken to the seas again. She will now make Milford Haven her home port, sailing out to ports around Britain and Europe on charter. Click this link to see a video of Halcyon entering Milford Haven http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/videonews/index.var.3706.b.0.php?search=halcyon

Sailing back into the Roaring Twenties - Western Mail

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Published in the Wales Western Mail: A luxury 1920s boat dubbed the 'Orient Express of the sea' is about to start a new life sailing out of Wales. The Halcyon, an opulent 95ft ketch worth more than £1m, is preparing to take its first batch of passengers on upmarket cruises from Milford Haven. Behind a Bermudean 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 labour of love for owner Andrew Armour of Tenby. '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'.' The boat has undergone an 11-month refit to cater for clients looking for a spot of decadence on the high seas. Passengers will be able to enjoy voyages to the shores of Ireland, Scotland and Norway, while being fed gourmet meals prepared by chef Andre Daniels. Typical menus can include eggs benedictine for breakfast, a piri-piri chicken lunch and freshly-caught lobster thermidor for dinner But despite the Halcyon being one of the undoubted 'sails of the century', there's nothing budget about the price, with just a day's sailing for a party of 12 costing about £3,000. The first clients are expected to sail out of Milford Haven at Easter. Those behind the venture are hoping to net yachting enthusiasts, or the kind of 'experience market' attracted by the likes of exotic balloon trips, and companies wanting to hire it for corporate events or hospitality. It is not the first time the Halcyon - which was recently used to promote Welsh tourism at the London Boat Show - has been based at Milford Haven. It routinely sailed out of there in the 1990s. Explaining the reasons behind operating out of Milford, spokesman David Reed said, 'It just fits so well. As well as the links, we've got the Pembrokeshire islands and the Irish Sea on the doorstep and the owner is in love with Pembrokeshire.' Mr Reed added, 'The emphasis of the experience of being onboard the Halcyon is a combination of traditional, classic sailing and the total indulgence of a style of a 1920's epoch that many feel has been lost in time, with the yacht's chef presenting gourmet dishes for guests who will enjoy the sumptuous character of their accommodation.' But in addition to the recreation of the finest of 1920s living, guests can also make use of the onboard water skis, wakeboards and dinghy. The vessel was bought by Dr Armour in 2006. It has taken almost a year to recreate the Halcyon's interior thanks to the use of photographs held at the National Maritime Museum. 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. History of the Halcyon Halcyon - named after the ancient Greek name for the kingfisher - was commissioned by the Lancashire industrialist Sir Samuel Turner, above, in 1929, and he kept her until 1944. 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'. During the war she was requisitioned by the navy and spent some time as the flagship of a minesweeper flotilla based in Greece. In 1957 she was acquired by the Warsash School of Navigation in Hampshire and was then used as a training vessel by the British Merchant Cadet Training School for 32 years. Throughout her life Halcyon has been involved in a number of adventures. She came unscathed through the notorious 1979 Fastnet race which saw one of the worst storms ever to hit an ocean yacht 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, and the Canaries.

The Scientist

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This week our chef Andre Daniels has written a piece on his first experiences of living and working aboard a luxury yacht. We left Gloucester docks on the 24th March 2007, the work on Halcyon almost complete, and onto Milford Haven. A short stop off in Cardiff for our first promotional function. The trip down Gloucester Canal was a black and white photographers dream. Beginning with brambles dotted with red berries, rolling hills, the estuary parallel to the canal, and worn in pathways where people stroll. Then the industrial village, old and new factories, concrete monsters rising up, bare grays, spacious, cold, not a single window, yet full of history. Surrounded by net fences with concrete stanchions and barbed-wire. One can feel what is and what use to be. Granaries, delivery yards, a mountain of scrap metal piled high in a pyramidal form, ideas and technology, aged and past. Textures of rust, metal, paint, iron, steel dulled with time and no longer respected for the thought and money that created these materials – unlike the ancient, this modern history is frowned upon as waste, our times , the age of disposable technology – maybe we take for granted the genius and the folly of humankind. The contrasting green of the countryside and a hint, a smell of farm life, cows huddled next to each other, and people watching the yacht go by. Skipper Robert Hickman knows Halcyons temperamental steering and appreciates her weight, her expense, so gently heads the helm, keeping her safe from the danger of grounding her classically crafted copper bottom. Slowly patiently he eases her up to Cardiff. Cardiff locks are huge, holding thousands of tons of water. As we enter the lock one can’t help but notice the arms of the lock, giant, strong, welded, keeping us safe from the sudden rush of water. Technology, mathematics, engineering, design- scientists are the new romantics of life and the romantics are the realists, clear about how life is and how we want it to be. The scientist creates it. Science and math gives us the opportunity to reflect, romanticize, live and create possibility. The beauty of Halcyon, technologically equipped with scanners, radars, computers, and DVD players makes one think the true romantics are scientists that give us a playground from which we can fulfill on our romantic ideals. This is the 21st century this is what is Tiger Bay, Cardiff is being ecologically manipulated, once a saltwater estuary, now its being transformed into a freshwater lake. You can see bubbles rising, huge pipes, aerators on the lake bed used to desalinate and detoxify. What was once natures design has been redesigned, to ‘beautify’ and create a recreational lake where residents of modern new apartments can sit on their balconies with the wisdom of wine and appreciate, for the tide will never steal her waters back to leave bare muddy sands. Through Cardiff locks and we are out to sea. Dr. Andrew Armour having waited patiently for the restoration of his Halcyon is finally able to be full of glee at the helm. His dream no doubt will be continually fulfilled upon. One must respect those who fulfill on their dreams, though I am not inspired by owning a high maintenance yacht, I can certainly see from Dr. Armour's world the pride of fulfillment. So on we go with the tide and at a speed of 7 knots toward Halcyons port, Milford Haven where she will be greeted by radio, press and other onlookers. Promoting, sharing her with whoever wants to taste the wrath of science and romanticism. Andre Daniels Chef SY Halcyon

Halcyon Days are here again after �1million facelift - Milford Mercury

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This article was published in the Milford Mercury on March 29th 2007 Marine enthusiasts will be delighted to see a 95 foot ketch return home to Milford Haven at noon today (Thursday). The Halcyon has recently had a �1m facelift to restore it back to its former glory and it is expected to create quite a splash in the town. Originally built in 1929, the craft is made up of teak and oak frames and a team of skilled craftsmen have been toiling for almost a year to do her justice. Built for renowned industrialist Sir Samuel Turner the vessel is known as the Fine Old Lad Of The Seas. Turner enjoyed the Halcyon in her heyday, sailing her until 1944. The impressive craft was later sold to Camper & Nicholsons and passed through the hands of numerous seafarers before Dr Andrew Armour became the proud owner. Armour entrusted his new vessel into the capable hands of Tommi Nielsen, who was given the task of revitalising the tired vessel. The newly restored Halcyon will no doubt wow the crouwds when she enters the Haven

Home Straight

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Well Halcyon’s final stage of refit is coming to a close in Gloucester and our season looks to be hotting up nicely. We have our 5 weeks of charter booked in Norway in July and will be on show for Skandia Cowes Week 2007, with various corporate functions happening regularly throughout the season. I can’t believe how the time has flown but Tommi’s team has once again done her proud and we have almost completed the last few jobs including the snagging list we had drawn up from our London voyage. Although I’ve been quiet on publishing the Captains Log, work and developments have been constant during our stay in Gloucester Docks. Our Chef Andre Daniels joined us on 1st March and on return from spending a week windsurfing in Dahab with Annette (yes, it’s not all work, work, work!), I found that he has already made his mark on Halcyon by polishing all the copper deck fittings, making a complete inventory of galley equipment, and compiling a number of mouth watering menus. As a result Halcyon is gleaming and raring to go as indeed are we. You can find a biography of Andre on the website (http://www.halcyonyachtcharter.com/crew.php). Down below on board Halcyon, the wood burning stove takes centre place and it really throws out the heat on those cooler evenings making the saloon even more cozy and welcoming. The remaining electronics including the auto pilot, forward looking sonar, audio visual systems, loudhailers, ships intercom, AIS, emergency lighting (the list goes on!) are being wired, fitted, implemented, networked and commissioned. We have ordered our jet rib, a Williams turbojet 385 (http://www.williams-salesandservice.com) to compliment Halcyon’s equipment which will be delivered to Halcyon mid April in Milford Haven. For the thrill seekers there will also be an array of toys that will be towed behind the RIB. Currently our plan is to depart Gloucester on Friday 23rd March and head towards Cardiff for our first public engagement at Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, and then it’s onto Milford Haven where we will be based for a few weeks. On the way we plan to have a thorough shake down, test the new systems and finally(!) hoist the main sail, weather permitting of course.

The Halcyon Express

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Finally for the first time since we left the shipyard in December the weather was in our favour for our passage plan. At last the wind shifted and veered around to north easterly which was perfect for our trip back towards Gloucester. We left Eastbourne after being storm bound for a week on Monday 22 January with a crew of 6, some of whom were rejoining us and some were new. Our lock out time was mid-day and we were spot on. Thankfully the sea was much flatter but the wind was still strong and all of a sudden we had the temperatures that one would expect in January – it was very cold. With staysail and mizzen up, Halcyon flew back to Cowes, our first stop. She definitely seems to love a bit of weather so long as it’s behind her. We managed to sustain a speed of 11 knots all the way and our wind graph showed a top speed of 60 knots in one gust. The crew only needed to do one watch before we approached the entrance to the Medina River in Cowes. It was quite extraordinary; we had done the trip in less than 8 hours. The next challenge was trying to get Halcyon settled alongside Cowes Yacht Haven with a strong wind pinning her to the pontoon. We were saved by some extra fenders which were donated by the UK Sailing Academy and Cowes Yacht Haven. I was deeply grateful for these and they did the job perfectly. The wind eased off during the night which was a relief. Tuesday lunch time we were off again on the high tide and headed towards the Needles and out of the Solent. We were privileged to be photographed by Hamo Thorneycroft of Cowes who came out in his rib to take a few shots of Halcyon under sail. Unfortunately the weather was not quite good enough to have all her cloth up but Hamo took some fantastic photos. We again made tremendous time with a favourable wind and arrived in Falmouth around 8am on Wednesday. We chose to stay in Falmouth for the day and night to thaw out and recharge our batteries before heading around Lands End. The Chain Locker also has a magnetic force to it in Falmouth and a few swift ones were welcomed by the crew and I. We left Falmouth on the Thursday at around 11am and we were straight into some heavy seas and a Northerly wind, but the weather Gods must have been looking down on us and I was pleasantly surprised by how calm the seas were as we rounded Lands End, the wind even backed to the North West enabling us to sail all the way up the coast and into the Bristol channel, our speed never dropping below 6 knots. It was quite an anti-climax, I had prepared myself for some heavy sailing weather but we had a fantastic trip up the East Coast and arrived in Penarth at 1400 on Friday. We needed to catch the flooding tide on the Saturday to head up to Sharpness so we stayed in Penarth on the Friday evening. Saturday morning, in glorious winter sunshine, we headed up the Severn under the bridges, one of which had Andrew standing on it waving to us which was a great home coming. We locked into Sharpness at 1400 exactly at slack water. Once we had gone through the lock we stayed alongside a barge just before Purton Bridge until Sunday morning. At 0800 we then headed up the Canal back to the T.Nielsens in Gloucester Docks. What a first month it has been for Halcyon, we’ve seen all sorts of weather and had an extensive entertainment schedule in London.The amount of attention she has generated is astounding and it’s only the start. I am so lucky to be skippering a vessel that makes so many people smile, and rekindles so many memories. Halcyon will now be back in the care of Tommi and his team for her final work in preparation for the start of our season in April. Annette and I might take a short break but I will be based in Gloucester again overseeing her final work. Once again, and I can’t say this enough, I would like to thank all the volunteer crew who have helped us over the last month, many of whom are professionals within the industry, for giving up your valuable time to sail on this extraordinary vessel. We couldn’t have done it without you and it has been a real pleasure sailing with you all.

A Successful St. Katharines

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Weekend Ending 19 January You think I missed last week’s Captains Log which to a certain extent is of course true. But the reason for this was that we were completely absorbed by our St Katharine’s entertainment schedule. What an amazing week it was. We were lucky to be visited by so many people from so many different walks of life but who all left with one thing in common, an experience to remember of a visit on board Halcyon. Over the 10 day period we welcomed around 170 guests onboard, about 70 of these were for a Champagne breakfast consisting of smoked salmon and scrambled egg served with a glass of chilled champagne between 8 and 10 every day during the week. These guests were on route to the London Boat Show 2007. I did over hear one guest while he ate his breakfast say “I think the boats at the Boat Show will be a little disappointing after stepping aboard Halcyon”. In addition to the guests for breakfast we had a daily lunch time champagne reception for friends and business associates of Andrew’s, together with a few evening dinner parties for which our Chef Sarah from Food by Robinson served some amazing 5 course meals which included such delights as seared duck with a rosemary and balsamic sauce served with ginger sweet potato mash, Gin & Tonic Sorbet and Champagne Syllabub, enough to get even the most discerning of diners’ juices flowing. Sarah did an amazing job and we were extremely lucky to find someone with her energy and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her once again for working with us for the week. Sunday came around very quickly and after entertaining our last guests, who included Tommi Nielsen and Sarah White from the shipyard and our official photographer Roger Paice, his wife Julia and daughter Lucy all of a sudden Halcyon was very quiet. Without a break Annette and I immediately set about preparing her for the delivery trip back to Gloucester. We left our berth on Monday at around 9.30am for our lock in. In terms of crew we were joined by Tom Marsh and Joe Mulvey who were once again fantastic. Tom has worked as a training Mate for Clipper Ventures and Joe has been round the world with Clipper Ventures in the 05/06 race. We headed down river in the sunshine after refueling outside the lock entrance. Unfortunately once we cleared the Goodwin Sands and rounded the corner to Dover things became a bit different with a very confused sea and large swell. Even though we were running with the tide, the strong south westerly wind was knocking her back and every wave was acting as a brake, subsequently we were managing to make only minimal headway. Needless to say we were very aware that the tail end of week held another imminent storm so we decided to pull into Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne and sit it out here. As I write I have placed myself on a self imposed storm watch, it’s 5am and the storm is in full force and the wind speed is measuring over 60kts. I am very relieved that Halcyon and her crew are tucked up safely. I was always told that it’s much better to be in here wishing you were out there, than out there wishing you were in here! Our plan is to stay here until Monday when the forecast is for things to have died down a bit to allow us to head on to Cowes for the next leg of the journey.

Safe in St. Katharine's

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 7 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A very Happy New Year to all our readers and an apology for the delay in this captain’s log. We finally arrived safely at St Katharine’s Dock, London on Friday 5th January with literally minutes to spare before our first champagne reception; passage planning to perfection. The weather has certainly not been on our side with our delivery schedule with strong wind warnings all over the country and up to F10 on the South coast. Whilst in Cowes Halcyon hosted a champagne reception. Guests included some familiar faces from Cowes and some very welcome unfamiliar ones which included an old First Mate, Mike Lee, who hadn't stepped on board for over 20 years (see the Gallery section 'Halcyon Memories' for some of Mikes photos from when he served on board) we also had the pleasure of the company of Mrs Fiona Kennedy, wife of Hugh Kennedy a long serving Captain on Halcyon whilst she was at Warsash. Eventually we made a dash for Gosport Marina from Cowes Yacht Haven on Tuesday 2nd January for bunkering but were hit with strong winds and so decided to sit it out for a night there. Unfortunately this did not go without incident; whilst moored up on the outside pontoon we were exposed to the full force of the 30+ knots of wind plus the wash from passing vessels and with a loud ‘crack’ a 6 foot section of the bulwark was ripped out where the amidships breast line was located. However no structural damage was incurred and the offending item was duly removed. Once again Annette and I had had a great crew for our trip up to London, Andrew, Lucy Paice (our photographer, Roger Paice’s daughter) and Tom Murrells, all of whom were first class and a real pleasure to sail with. We finally left Gosport on the Wednesday and headed east assisted by a strong westerly wind which reached 40 knots at times, all of which Halcyon took in her stride under a reefed mizzen and staysail. We made very good time and entered the Thames Estuary in the early hours of Friday morning. It felt great to be motoring up the River Thames and through Thames Flood Barrier towards Tower Bridge. We entered St Katharine’s Lock at around 1400hrs and finally safely in our berth by 1500hrs. There was no time to waste and our Chef, Sarah from ‘Food By Robinson’ was ready to board Halcyon and start preparing for our first Champagne engagement. I can’t think of a better location for Halcyon to be for her first series of engagements. From the deckhouse while I write this I can clearly see Tower Bridge in all her splendour and I feel Halcyon sits perfectly in these surroundings. We have had, in addition to our invited guests, a string of interested visitors and old crew members who trained on her and it’s been a pleasure to show so many people around the yacht and see them smile in awe of the craftsmanship and her beauty. We will be here entertaining a number of people on a daily basis until Monday 15th January when we depart and head back to Gloucester for some further finishing touches before our season commences. We will be stopping in Cowes briefly to test a jet rib to compliment the ships equipment. We then head to Falmouth to see our charter agents, Classic Sailing and from there it will be back up the Bristol Channel and the Severn to Gloucester Docks. It will be over a month since we left but I seem to have settled into life on board Halcyon and it feels as if we have already achieved so much since we were last there. I am signing off to turn in; we have a busy morning with 9 guests on board for breakfast, a champagne lunch reception and a 5 course dinner and at the end of the day another group of very happy and satisfied guests.

A 'Grand Lady' Of The Seas Returns

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 5 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Press release for the London Boat Show The luxury classic yacht Halcyon has ‘lifted her skirts’ and returned to Northern European waters to challenge more conventional charter yachts to beat her for a traditional sailing experience. She is confident that there are many, selective people still seeking a craft that offers the style and comfort of a bygone era, yet combined with the exhilaration of being under sail in a traditional yacht. Built in 1929 by JI Thorneycroft and Co Ltd of Woolston, Southampton, Halcyon is a beautiful 80 foot Bermudan ketch (95 foot including her bowsprit). She is constructed of teak on oak with a luxurious Burma teak interior. The original saloon and main accommodation have been preserved perfectly during her long life, but are now refurbished to cater for the discerning guest of the 21st century. Her new forward accommodation is also constructed in Burma teak in total sympathy with her original style. She has been totally re-equipped with all modern facilities and equipment including navigation and communication systems, and a fully equipped galley to provide culinary delights not even dreamt of by previous occupants, although these acknowledgements of today’s charter guests needs only compliment her traditional decor and atmosphere. The refurbishment, completed in time for the ‘shake down’ cruises prior to her presence at St. Katharine’s Dock, London to allow ease of access from the London Boat Show, was undertaken by the internationally renowned T. Nielsen and Co Ltd yard at Gloucester, using expert artisans from across Europe employing many skills that are fast disappearing from modern boatbuilding methods. The work also incorporated the inspection of Halcyon’s towering ketch rig and the masts and spars have been refinished and all the standing and running rigging has been overhauled and replaced where necessary. Her inventory of wooden blocks has been renewed and she boasts a refreshed wardrobe of sails. Halcyon will take 8 charter guests in four cabins, or up to 12 guests on a daytime charter, managed by a professional crew of 3 including her gourmet chef. The proposed itineraries start from her home port of Milford Haven, in the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, out around the wildlife rich islands of Skomer and Grassholm before cruising down to the Isles of Scilly and over to Southern Ireland. Then she will cruise up the Irish sea and the Welsh coast to enjoy the stunning islands of Western Scotland before transiting Scotland via the Caledonian Canal to cross the North Sea to the unforgettable and majestic fjords of Western Norway. She will return via the North Sea to the South Coast of England in time for Skandia Cowes Week 2007 and then cruise the West country, the North and West coasts of France before returning to her home port. Halcyon is offered to charter parties either in groups or in specially planned cruises available to individuals and couples, joining the vessel at various ports. However, there will also be planned opportunities for daytime guests to enjoy the classic yacht experience at selected locations. The common factor for all of Halcyon’s guests will be there wish to become part of the unique experience of cruising around outstandingly beautiful coastline on a magnificent, traditional yacht in the style and luxury of an era almost forgotten and missed. More information and the latest photographs from the restoration can be found at www.halcyonyachtcharter.com and the information regarding opportunities to sail on board can be found at the marketing and booking agent Classic Sailing’s website www.classic-sailing.co.uk

Halcyon Days For Yacht - Gloucester Citizen

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

This article was published in the The Gloucester Citizen. A Luxury yacht has undergone a £1 million refurbishment in Gloucester Docks.The Halcyon, a classic 1930s gentleman's yacht, was spotted in the Docks last week. The vessel was shipped to Gloucester for special treatment at Tommi Nielsen's dry dock. Its owner, Andrew Armour, decided to bring it to Gloucester because of the shipyard's reputation. The yacht, which has sailed all over the world, is now in first class shape - which county residents can discover. The Classic Sailing Company, based in Cornwall, is hoping people who spotted the Halcyon in the Docks will fancy a trip of their own. Adam Purser, one of its skippers, said: "She is a very special yacht and it is not often that people are able to come aboard and cruise with us. "She can sleep up to eight guests and we visit places like Cornwall, Scotland and Ireland. "It truly is a wonderful experience and I hope the people in Gloucester will want to take a closer look after seeing her in the Docks." For more details, call the company on 01872 580 022.

A Successful First Passage

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Well Christmas is back on my agenda after a very successful sea trial and delivery from Gloucester to Cowes. We had to wait until Saturday 16th December until the wind abated and we could leave. When we awoke on Saturday the conditions were exactly the same as those we experienced on the day the mast was stepped so it was perfect. We departed the docks at 1030 with a ‘Bang!’ as Andrew fired his replica canon to mark the occasion! Crew consisted of Tommi and 3 of his team, together with our delivery crew which consisted of Annette, Andrew, Stefan Crisp (a shipwright who worked on Halcyon during her restoration), Roger Paice (ships official photographer) and myself. We also felt very lucky to have some of the other shipwrights who had worked tirelessly on Halcyon for a year come and wave us off and I do believe there might have been a tear in their eyes. The trip down the canal was amazing, we had lots of admiring comments from morning strollers and you could almost feel Halcyon’s pride as she soaked up the adoration. We headed out of Sharpness around 4pm and down the Severn on the ebb tide. We had a quick stop for dinner at Penarth, Cardiff whilst we waited for the foul tide and then headed out in the Bristol Channel which certainly lived up to its reputation of being a little rough. As soon as we rounded Lands End the sea state calmed down as a high moved in and the winds turned to the NE. We had a quick stop in Falmouth which consisted of a couple of swift Cornish pints and some well earned food in the Chain Locker. We departed Falmouth around 8pm on Monday night and on Tuesday the sun came out again and we had a cracking trip back with Halcyon cruising effortlessly at around 9 knots, we even had an escort from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal for a couple of miles. We reached the approaches to the Needles at around 8pm on Tuesday which was well ahead of schedule and despite the extremely thick sea fog we finally docked in Cowes Yacht Haven at around 10.30pm just in time to catch last orders in The Anchor. Halcyon got us here safely and although it was cold and we were all a little tired we were all thrilled with her solid performance on the water. It was a successful trial and we ironed out a few small teething problems but nothing serious. So we’re here and our Halcyon journey has begun. We plan to depart from Cowes on New Year’s Day weather (and sore heads) permitting for the second half of our trip up to St Katherine’s Dock, London. I would like to take this opportunity to thank, once again, Tommi and his team for accompanying us all the way to Cowes and for their continued support; it was a real privilege to sail with him and some of the team. I would also like to thank Roger Paice, our photographer, who took some cracking shots on the way round (see the Gallery) and who was also a fantastic member of the crew. Finally I would like to wish all our readers, supporters and team a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Keep well and for those who are sailing, keep safe. We will be back in touch in the New Year.

Halcyon Gets Ready To Spread Her Wings

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The wind has continued this week which has given us and Tommi’s team chance to finalise and start to put right a short snagging list. I feel ready to leave now and although I’ve kept myself extremely occupied this week I am now feeling Halcyon’s urge to leave Gloucester Docks. We are leaving tomorrow (Saturday 16 December) at around 10am with some of Tommi’s team and an able delivery crew. I feel very at ease having the expertise of the yard guys with us for our first trip and privileged to be sailing with Tommi. As you can imagine the day before departure has been spent stowing – Annette has been on a food shop and appears to have enough to feed an army but it is almost Christmas which is always a time for indulgence. Talking of indulgence, I am writing this week’s Captains Log in between courses – Muscles in a Cream and White Wine Sauce followed by Sirloin Steak. In case you were wondering it’s not our Chef but Andrew, Halcyon’s owner who is cooking and testing the galley equipment to its full and checking it will produce the level of food that Halcyon’s guests will expect. We have also been on a constant shop for last minute equipment and galley essentials. I haven’t really had much time to think this week and I still can’t believe we will actually be leaving tomorrow but what I do know is I need a good night’s sleep tonight so I’ll sign off now and will post an update next week when, all being well, we arrive in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. I’m not sure the phrase ‘May the wind always be on your back and the sun on your face’ will apply on this particular trip but we can live in hope.

Weather Bound

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

First of all, a sincere apology to all our readers for the delay in this week’s Captains Log. It’s been a very hectic week and the achievements and results that have been made are nothing short of amazing. I also have no hesitation in admitting I forgot what day it was last week hence a late update! Everyone who has had a part in bringing Halcyon to fruition over the last year was working into the early hours of the morning in the last week to bring all the final pieces together in what can only be described as a Herculean effort. Unfortunately the weather has also not been on our side however this has not stopped anyone. The project team from Selex responsible for installing the electronic navigation, and communications equipment have also worked through the weekend. Sunday, one day before launch was a tense day and there was a lot to do but Monday morning the skies cleared slightly the rain eventually stopped and the party was a few hours away and I am sure you will all be pleased to hear it was a fantastic success. There was a tremendous turnout at the party including the friends and family of Halcyons owner Dr Andrew Armour, the many supporters and followers of Halycon’s restoration journey. We were also lucky enough to be joined by the Deputy Mayor and Sherriff of Gloucester and Gloucester radio. The guests all had the opportunity to look around Halcyon who lay proud in the Dock while the champagne flowed. We are now preparing to sail away from Gloucester and are somewhat at the mercy of the weather this week. Our plan is to head down the canal to Sharpness through the dock and on to Portishead where we will stay overnight. As soon as we have a favourable weather window we will head South for Cowes on the Isle of Wight where we will stay for Christmas and New Year. We will keep you posted on system checks and how she takes to finally breaking the water once again. A final thank you to all the team at T. Nielsen and Co. Ltd and all those involved in the project, who put in an exceptional effort. We look forward to seeing you again in the February. Captain Robert HIckman

Count Down

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 1 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 1st December 2006 I cannot believe how the time is flying now. Back in the summer, December seemed such a long way away but today is the 1st December and we have one whole week left before her launch on Monday 11 December. I am feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement but she is looking so eager to leave the dock now, I just can’t wait to get out to the open sea and see how she handles. This week the main sail has been bent on and the brass winches are on the mast. The last few exact measurements are being taken for the fiddles to hold the Dartington Crystal. The seamstress has been fitting the mattresses for all the bunks and preparing for the interior fabrics to be fitted. Tommi’s team continue to work in shifts to avoid being on top of each other and they just get on with things. Annette is now busy preparing for the launch party in addition to her daily varnish duties and whatever else the days throws at her. Delivery crew are in place for the shakedown – it really is count down. Captain Robert HIckman

Burning the midnight oil

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 24th November 2006 That’s exactly what’s been going on this week, Tommi’s team are now working shifts. This will allow the shipwrights to carry on with installations during the day and varnishing to take place in the evening. The two fuel were tanks were filled this week with a total of 1,200 litres, and no leaks! This process was a slightly more technical procedure than perhaps you might think; the fuel was added in 100 litre increments to allow the dipsticks to be graduated. The layout design for the instrumentation in the cockpit has been finalised. Down below there is measuring up for the fiddles to stow the china dinner service and the Dartington Crystal glasses and the embroidered napkins and towels have been collected. The guest and crew Musto wet weather gear has also arrived sporting the Halcyon logo, and the only two winches on the boat have also been delivered. Captain Robert Hickman

Wind And Rain Fail To Dampen Spirits

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 17th November 2006 Well we’ve been buffeted by plenty of wind and rain during the last week and I now appreciate how lucky we were with the weather and timing of the mast stepping. Work on the rigging continues with Roger (the rigger) trying to simplify things as much as possible; shroud tension has been tuned (as far as achievable when not at sea), and the mizzen sail has been bent on. The clinker dinghy was splashed, and as expected the water level inside the dinghy closely matched that of the outside as her planks ‘took up’ after being dry for so long. Tommi’s team are all over Halcyon’s galley, saloon and cabins. Some of the cupboard doors have swelled slightly and have required being taken off, adjusted and then put back on. Something I would consider a bit sole destroying but not to these guys they just get on with it. Her bespoke anchor chain stowage tube is now securely in place in the crew quarters, an imposing structure reaching from the deckhead to the bilge. The system employed before required a member of crew to be down below to flake the anchor chain below the sole board. With this new system the principle is that the chain will self stow inside the drum therefore negating the extra crew member from being down below and freeing that person up for other duties. Everything remains on schedule for 11th December launch. Captain Robert Hickman

R&R - Restoration and Remembrance

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 11 November Following last week’s excitement it’s been back to work this week. Annette and myself are getting on with sanding and prepping the remaining deck boxes to complete Halcyon’s deck fittings. Tommi’s team of shipwrights continue to work in ernest to get Halcyon finished. There is a never ending list of jobs to do to ensure Halcyon departs from Gloucester docks according to schedule which is week beginning 11 December. In case you were wondering, there will be another civilised gathering and a glass or two of champagne to celebrate her sail away. It is worth mentioning that amongst all her other adventures and achievements Halcyon was the command vessel to a fleet of minesweepers which patrolled the Greek waters of the Aegean in the Second World War. As a mark of respect and given Halcyon’s war connections, I feel it appropriate that we remember all those who served and died in the war for this weekends Remembrance Day. Captain Robert Hickman

Mast Stepping

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 2 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log, Week Ending 3rd November It’s been quite a week for Halcyon, Andrew, Annette, Tommi’s shipwrights and myself. It began on Monday when the dock was flooded (after remembering just in time to place an anode on the prop shaft!) The shores were removed and replaced with mooring lines, you could almost hear her breath a sigh of relief after sitting in the dry dock for nearly 10 months. The 1st November arrived and brought with it an autumnal brisk morning; beautiful bright blue skies with a very cold light Northerly wind. A beautiful day for a fantastic occasion. The champagne was on ice, the crane was ready and the guests and interested onlookers accumulated and mingled around the dock. We were privileged to be joined by Sir Samuel Turner’s grandson, Christopher Bateman and his wife Val. Sir Samuel Turner, the Lancashire industrialist, commissioned Halcyon in 1929 and kept her for 15 years. Mr Bateman presented Andrew with a beautiful clock and barometer which had originally been presented to Sir Samuel Turner by his work colleagues in 1937. It will now once again take pride of place in the saloon, where it will chime the traditional maritime watches. An extremely generous gesture indeed by Mr Bateman. Dressed in blue overalls and an adequate hard hat, Andrew proudly placed his 1929 gold sovereign on the mast step and procedure got underway. There were a few people in the party holding their breath but as is always the case with Tommi’s team the process went seamlessly; with barely a word spoken between them they went about the business of stepping and rigging the main and the mizzen. ‘Its just what we do’ commented the ever understated Tommi. Once the mast was in place, Andrew and the guests were given the chance to get on board and have a good look around as she lay looking proud and comfortable in her natural environment. It was then up to the office for a glass of champagne and canapés to celebrate while the team continued and stepped the mizzen and finalised the rigging. Once the guests had departed and the team finished work, Andrew thanked them all, and in keeping with tradition he awarded them all with some very well deserved beers! Special thanks must be made to Mr Roger Paice, Halcyon's official photogropher. Many of the photo's seen on the website are thanks to him. As I walked home that evening I glanced back at her and admired her serenity and graceful lines as she lay there quietly in the dock, and I thought to myself, 'I am one lucky Captain'.

Halcyon mast stepped, nearly there!

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 1 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

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 .

Dismasting - 1959

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Taken from the Warsash School Of Navigation Archive, December 1959: The Halcyon was on the last day of the fourth cruise this season when approaching Spithead in a moderate breeze with all canvas set. The mainmast carried away approximately thirty feet above the deck when the vessel was roughly four miles south of the Nab Tower. The damaged mast and gear was cleared, and the vessel reached her moorings on the Hamble under her own power without assistance and, fortunately, without damage to the vessel or injury to any of the crew.

New Deck - 1964

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Taken from the Warsash School Of Navigation Archive, 1964: Halcyon: Soon after the beginning of term our training vessel Halcyon was taken to Camper and Nicholson’s Northam Yard to have a new deck laid. The method of laying the deck is a fairly recent development and consist of screwing down ¾” plt to the beams and then glueing ¾” teak planking to the ply. It is interesting to note that the when the old deck was removed the beams were found, in the main, to be in good condition. After the ship’s return to her moorings all hands will have to take the greatest care not to damage or mark the new deck. A few improvements to the siting of some deck fittings is also being undertaken.

Weymouth - St Malo Race 1971

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Taken from the Warsash School Of Navigation Archive, 1971: The Annual Weymouth St Malo race was contested on the 12th and 13th July this year by a formidable field of 6. The School’s “Halcyon” (Mr Ward in command) was crewed by seven cadets and six Midshipmen, together with Messrs. Newman, Knipe, Gifford and Massey of the School Staff, and accompanied by two guests. Much of the working up period was lost due to a broken starter motor. This meant that “Halcyon” had to stay in Poole Harbour and it looked as if the cadets would have to return to School and forget about the race. However, the repaired motor arrived on the eve of the race and we proceeded with due haste to Weymoth where we arrived at 0600. We bunkered and moved out into the bay for the start at 1000. The race was divided into two classes - three boats with spinnakers and three without – “Halcyon” contesting in the latter. We got off to an exceptionally good start taking a clear lead. However as we moved out into the channel in the afternoon the breeze dropped, allowing the opposition to make up a lot of lost ground. The evening saw the wind rising and we began to heel over, ship water and make better progress. The ardour of several cadets was understandably dampened when they discovered on going below that their lee side bunks were saturated and that oilskins were almost as necessary below decks as above. By the time the 12-4 watch came upon deck the wind was a steady force 5-6 and the vessel was fairly close hauled, creeping towards 13 knots. Conditions remained constant for the first two and a half hours of the watch with “Halcyon” making good speed. Then with a sudden bang around 0300 the Yankee and Balloon staysails carried away and we spent three-quarters of an hour struggling to bring down the torn sails and hoist substitutes. At the time of the disaster , which cost us our chances in the race, we were off the Minquiers but, nonetheless, we managed to cross the line third, behind “Malcolm Miller” and “Robert Gordon”. On corrected time the “Robert Gordon” was pushed back to fourth and the “Malcolm Miller” to second by the only foreigner in the race – the Irish “Asgard”, winner overall. We maintained our place as third overall and second to the “Malcolm Miller” in our class. The 13th July was spent drying out bedding and recuperating. The next day was Bastille day; the prizes were presented and afterwards everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time sharing with the French their National holiday. We returned to Warsash with the help of our engines and not without some navigational high jinks – Cadet Finney and Midshipman Davis taking a “sight” of La Corbiere Light, Jersey which subsequently turned out the be another yacht. All in all, everybody had an extremely good time. Crew: Midshipmen M Coyne i/c, M Hanschell, G Irvine, P Davis, S Mills, K Overington and Cadets K Finney, N Wood, J Nicholl, C Jones, P McManaway, J Hooper, K Wilson. K J Wilson, Senior Cadet.

Rounding the Cap

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 27 October 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. The main boom gallows which sit above the deck house have been fitted, along with the davits which sit either side of the boat ready to take the clinker dinghy and a tender. I have spent some of the week putting the Clinker dinghy back together and she really does look stunning, the result of months of work. I would particularly like to thank Stefan and ‘Little’ Pete for there advice, help and excellent shipwright skills, all of which contributed to the way she looks now. When I left the yard today I took a final look at Halcyon as she lay in the dry dock, it will be some time before I see her like that again. Over the weekend she will be lying in a semi filled dry dock to allow her timbers to ‘take up’ before she is fully floated next week. The 12 month restoration project is almost coming to a close. Captain Robert Hickman

Summit at HQ & Halcyon Memories

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 20 October It’s been busy both on and off site this week. The Crew, Andrew and our Marketing Consultant all headed down to Falmouth for our inaugural Team Meeting. Discussion topics included Halcyon’s first bookings for charters next season, Classic Sailing’s impressive new brochure featuring Halcyon as the new addition to their fleet, websites, Halcyons itinerary etc. Meanwhile back at the shipyard, the transducer, log, depth sounder and the forward looking sonar have all been mounted onto the hull ready for her re-floating. A new self stowing bow roller for the 64Kg anchor has been fabricated in the metalwork shop and will be fitted soon. The hydraulic windlass is being serviced ready to be lifted onto the deck when the crane arrives for the mast stepping on November 1st. And of course work continues apace on the interior as usual. On another note I have had some interesting contacts from a posting on the Classic Boat section of the Yachting World website, www.ybw.com/forums. I was asking for feedback and stories from anyone that remembers sailing on Halcyon whether it be from her sail training days or her private ownership days. Thank you to those that have responded with your stories and experiences, I will be posting these in the coming weeks on the Halcyon Memories section of the website. If you have any stories or memories that you would like to contribute and share then please feel free to drop me a line at captain@halcyonyachtcharter.com Captain Robert Hickman

Attention To Detail

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 13th October While work continues inside and outside of Halcyon, the crew are busy sorting out some of the finer details to the interior equipment. When Annette hasn’t had a varnish or paint brush in her hand she has had a laptop on her lap planning and finalising the embroidery designs for the napkins and towels. The dinner service and cutlery are also being investigated to suit the level of fine dining expected by our charter guests. I have also been similarly busy in and out of the yard finalising and ordering the equipment required to comply with MCA certification, a lengthy and sometimes complicated process. The lists are long and it’s astonishing how much equipment is required when its comes down to the finer details. Meanwhile, the Clinker dinghy is due to be lifted from the barge so she can have a new rig and set of sails measured up to fully restore her to her former glory. Captain Robert Hickman

A Swan Emerges

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 6 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 6th October Despite a sudden change in weather to a more normal Autumnal feel, Halcyon’s hull was painted as planned this week, complete with a gold ‘go faster’ stripe (which I am reliably informed will give her an extra 2 or 3 knots of speed!). A Swan has emerged and she looks stunning. Work on the interior and exterior of the yacht continues relentlessly. The Miele cooker is in, as is the washing machine and tumble dryer. The aft cabins are being varnished as we speak. Whilst the work goes on, on board Halcyon, the final preparations for the restoration of the 12ft Clinker dinghy are also underway. The crew are putting the final top coat on the dinghy hull and the final coat of varnish is going on the mast, boom, rudder, seats etc. She is a heart breaker and will be perfect for exploring the little remote anchorages that Halcyon will be visiting. Meanwhile preparations have began for a civilised get together of the crew, shipwrights with the owner to celebrate the re-stepping of the mast. Tradition denotes that the owner places a gold sovereign under the mast as it is stepped. Captain Robert Hickman

Scarlett O'Hara

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 29th September Last week was a busy week for all, with the launch of the new website, showing our faces at the Southampton Boat Show, and lots more progress at T.Nielsen's. The restoration project continues at an alarming rate. Halcyon is looking more and more like the stunning classic yacht she was back in 1929. She has also recently been referred to as the ‘Scarlett O’Hara of craft’ by a visitor. On the exterior work front, all the deck varnishing is now complete and next week see’s the hull painted. Down below, the galley is taking shape, the saloon seats are going in as we speak and the starboard aft cabin is complete and ready for varnishing. Navigational equipment and the ships entertainment systems have also arrived with the essentials being fitted soon for when she is refloated and the mast is re-stepped. Captain Robert Hickman

A Hive Of Activity

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Captains Log Week Ending 15 September The last few months have been a hive of activity at T. Nielsen's shipyard in Gloucester where Halcyon is lying at the moment. It is a real pleasure being part of this project and working as part of the team; the enthusiasm and vigour with which T. Nielsen's shipwrights approach each task is a delight to behold. Work that has been undertaken includes; re-coppering of the hull, re-caulking the deck, all deck fittings re-galvanised, masts stripped and re-treated, installation of a new engine and prop shaft, new generator and watermaker, new electrics and plumbing, complete stripping and re-varnishing of all interior and exterior, new interior saloon, galley and guest cabin layout. The list goes on, but over the coming weeks we will be posting regular updates on Halcyons progress, so please do watch this space. Captain Robert Hickman

Halcyon to be in London January 2007

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Following completion of her impressive restoration program and sea trials, Halcyon will be available for viewing at St Katharine's Dock in the heart of London during the London International Boat Show. She will be available for viewing and corporate entertaining between the 5th and 14th January 2007. If you are interested in a yacht charter holiday on Halcyon and would like to have a look around the yacht, the crew will be more than happy to show you around. If you are visiting the London Boat Show, St Katharine's is a short trip from Excel on the Docklands Light Railway. Take the DLR from Custom House (Excel) to Tower Gateway and St Katharine's is a short walk from there. Alternatively, if you are considering an evening of entertaining clients then Halcyon could provide the perfect platform for private and exclusive dining alongside London's historic Tower Bridge. Halcyon has central heating and also benefits from a cosy wood burning stove for those fresh January evenings. She can accommodate 8 guests for exclusive dining or up to 12 guests for drinks reception functions. You can use your own caterers or chose to have Halcyon's professional Chef arrange a menu that is specific for you and your party. For further details contact:- enquiries@halcyonyachtcharter.com or halcyon@classic-sailing.co.uk

The Ever Resourceful Captain Stewart - Robert Niblett

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

'I was a cadet in 1958 and well remember Captain Stewart spending hours on the foreshore wading across the mud (on the Hamble side, opposite the school pier) sometimes in sea boots, sometimes on snow shoe like contraptions strapped to his feet. He spent several full days probing down into the mud with a very long boathook/pole, making notes as he went and then sinking a series of markers into the mud. Then at high water springs one day, Halcyon was taken out as far as the fairway buoy, turned round, then driven at full speed on her auxillary engine up the Hamble River and at the precise point, turned hard to port and driven straight into the muddy shore. Some shoring was erected in case she listed,but she was stuck fast ,thereby exposing her stern tube and propellor for urgent repacking work at low water.....and no dry dock fees to pay. My 3 day stint on Halcyon consisted of:- Drifting down to Newport (IoW) on one tide. Drifting back to Cowes on the following day.Then back on the appropriate tide to Warsash. Thank God for the auxillary engine.'

More Memories Of A Cadet - 'Jaybee', Classic Boat Forum Posting

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

'As one of two senior leading cadets I was privileged to bunk in the lazarette, which was basically a stores space with no headroom, right aft near the mizzen. The rest of the cadet crew lived in the foc'sle, - pretty spartan, just pipe cots and a table for meals. Every crew member was assigned a station for "on the wind" and "off the wind". During a gybe ("off the wind") my job was to change over the running backstays on their huge highfield levers. Coming up from the heads in a rush I once managed to let go the old weather backstay prematurely, a mistake that had contributed on an earlier occasion to a dismasting - not me on that occasion! I don't think these incidents improved Captain Stewart's stomach problems. Halcyon carried two boats in conventional davits - a pulling/sailing boat to starboard and a small launch with a Stuart Turner petrol engine (1-2 hp) on the port side. Approaching our mooring on the Hamble my job was to get the launch over the side and run lines to the buoy. All great fun. Apart from general seamanship, the main role for the ship was navigation training and this included sextant work and sight reduction using 5 figure logarithms and the Marc St Hilaire method, which was standard in the MN of that time. It's great to know that Halcyon is living on, in a world that would be unrecognisable to those who built and first sailed in her.'

Memories Of A Cadet - 'Jaybee', Classic Boat Forum Posting

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

This was a reply to a post placed on the Classic boat Forum, asking for peoples memories and stories of Yacht Halcyon: 'As a cadet at Warsash in 1960 I sailed on Halcyon. She was a replacement for the larger ketch Moyana, which sank in the Western approaches after winning the first Tall Ships race to Lisbon. The officers and cadet crew were safely rescued, with their trophy, by the cargo liner Clan Maclean. During my time Halcyon was skippered by the fearsome Captain Stewart, Captain Superintendent of Warsash School of Navigation. He suffered from a stomach ulcer and lived on jars of Heinz Orange Rice for Older Babies. I remember Bosun Pitt-Pitts and the mechanic, "Fingers" Ferris. Characters all. I recognised the boat in Milford Haven Marina when I was there in my boat during the year of the eclipse (August 1999?). She was undergoing a refit then and the owner invited me to look around. He was of the opinion that the skills employed by her builders would soon be difficult to match in any major refit. Incidentally, the cutlery on board was engraved with the name "L'Alcyone" and I was under the impression that she was originally built for a French owner.'

Mirror Dinghy Mishaps - Ben Curtis, Classic Boat Forum Posting

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

This was a reply to a post placed on the Classic boat Forum, asking for peoples memories and stories of Yacht Halcyon: 'I remember her well, infact I think I got the rig of my mirror dinghy tangled up with her more than once...she was at one time skippered by a chap called John Williams who was instructor at the College, he's still about the Hamble area, I saw him in Tesco a while back!'

Halcyon Days - Classic Boat Magasine

Halcyon Yacht Charters — Sun, 1 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT

At T. Nielsen's in Gloucester Docks, work is nearing completion on a splendid 80ft (24.4m) ketch, the 1929 Thornycroft-built Halcyon. Her well-documented history includes a 32-year spell with the University of Southampton School of Navigation, as a "temporary" replacement for the ketch Moyana, which won the first international Tall Ships' Race back in 1956 but was lost in heavy weather on her way back from the Baltic. Her present owner, Andrew Armour, found Halcyon at Nielsen's, Western Scotland earlier this year, via Peter Gregson of Wooden Ships. An extensive refit includes having the interior (Burma teak) restored in keeping with her original style, working from 1929 photographs. She has already had her bottom recoppered. Once finished, she will be available for charter, based at Milford Haven, but with plans to cruise as far afield as western Scotland even the Baltic. Classic Boat May 2005

Malcolm & Ann Thoms & Friends

Halcyon Yacht Charters

We have had a wonderful time - thanks to the superb crew. "Speed Bonnie Boat like a bird on the wing"

Andrew Beckett & Charlotte Balfry

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thanks guys, your hospitality has been second to none. We've had a wonderful, relaxing trip, just what we needed, thanks again

Geoff & Barbara Cooper

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Too many delights to list delivered by Halcyon and with seemingly effortless hard work by Rob and his crew. If your heart isnt lifted by a trip on Halcyon, you are probably dead already

Paul Whitehead

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What an amazing experience - sailing though the Scottish Islands, sun shining, sipping cool white wine, eating locally grown mussels, truly magical

Martin & Chris Niels

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Our week on Halcyon was a truly memorable experience. The sailing, the scenery and the hospitality combined to make a superb holiday. Our thanks to Andrew and all the crew for making it happen

Andrew & Olimpia

Halcyon Yacht Charters

When John Ruskin (a fellow architect) wrote that 'A sailing boat is the most beautiful thing that 'man' as a gregarious animal has ever made', he expressed exactly the feeling I have had on board Halcyon. A boat however needs to be put in life by its crew and that is why you need the ever smiling confidence of Robert, the organised calm of Annette, the culinary expertise of Kerri and the sturdy adventurousness of Olli. SUPERB - WE WILL BE BACK!

Bruce Gibson

Halcyon Yacht Charters

The Halcyon experience just gets better, my second time, and like returning to an old friend. Fabulous boat and crew. Great hospitality. Thank you to Andrew for making it possible!

Buddy Griffin

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Superb day. What a crew! What a boat! Very much look forward to joining you again. Many, many thanks. A memorable experience

Guy Venables

Halcyon Yacht Charters

'Never in the field of human dining has so much been made by so many for so few!' Solid gold all the way through. Many thanks.

Mustafa Zabibo

Halcyon Yacht Charters

I would call the trip exciting, friendly, hospitable and educating. The crew and host were wonderful, I wish them all the best.

Sue Pelling

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you for the amazing three days here in Crosshaven, Cork. First class in every way. Fabulous sail (9.5kts upwind) in 20kts wind and a sumptuous meal in Oyster Haven

David Green

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Food amazing. Crew all pro's. Sailing exhilarating, matching Andrews 10.2kts a triumph. Murphy's deadly, Jamesons worse...a magic trip all round!

John McAllister

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Fabulous day, amazing sailing, excellent crew. Just an overall brilliant day, thanks!!

Andy King

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Simply wonderful - splendid company, fine dining, superb hospitality, magnificent scenery. My thanks once again to Andrew and all the crew for an enjoyable and memorable week

Rebecca, Darrell & Tom

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What we thought would be a nice day out of the office on a pretty boat, turned out to be so much more! Halcyon is a stunner, the crew were outstanding and so professional, the host was charming and thoughtful and the entire experience was a blissful privilege - THANK YOU!

Trevor & Maureen James

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Even more beautiful than she was 40 years ago when I learnt to sail on her as a cadet at Warsash. Trevor, you werent even allowed in the saloon then! She is even more beautiful than you described, cant wait to sail on her

Joe Gray

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A massive thank you for an epic voyage! Nothing can better the friendship, catering and expertise of the crew. It is totally unbelievable that Annette has never catered for a charter before; truly exceptional. Everything she cooked was magical! Many many thanks

Mark Elliott

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Many thanks for a fantastic and memorable day. The memories of past days came flooding back. A big thanks also to the Chef!

David Desborough

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Stunning day Andrew, and a big thank you to your team for looking after us so well. It was a day to remember

Peter Longden

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thanks for a great days sailing

David Dearsley

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Memorable, nostalgic and full of fun. Many thanks Andrew for a great day

Pete Johnson

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Many thanks to all for a great day. Special thanks to Andrew for keeping Halcyon alive. Kind regards and happy sailing

The Vale Health Care - South Wales

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A corporate awayday. The crew, the yacht, the sailing, the food all equals awesome. Thank you

Brian Ball

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What a day - could not be bettered, a happy team event! Many thanks

Ron

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A wonderful nostalgic day! Thank you for your hospitality

Roger Hart

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you Andrew for a fantastic day full of memories as a Warsash cadet. Good sailing, good friend and good food!

Hannah Cotterell

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you to all the crew for an amazing week and an even more amazing sail on the final day. Today reminded me why sailing is so very special. Thank you for supplying food, hospitality and friendship

Matt Hartup

Halcyon Yacht Charters

My first ever sailing experience and what a fantastic one. Thanks to everyone for a great week, with great fun, food and sailing. Rob, Annette, Katie and Olly - thanks!

Jamie Cotterell

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Having arrived totally stressed - house building, hurricanes et al, every Halcyon day was a Sunday, totally relaxing, pampered chill! Amazing food and surfing to Dartmouth, topped off with the Red Arrows. Many many thanks its been wonderful to have had such a special time with my kids and to have met you all. Nevis awaits you anytime!

Stephen Frith

Halcyon Yacht Charters

The sublime elegance of Halcyon only matched by the cheerful professional crew, many thanks

John Cugley

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A brilliant day on a fantastic boat. Has given me many happier memories than when I was a cadet on board in 1966! Thank you

Ian and Linsay

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What a fantastic day! We sailed from Dartmouth to Cowes and enjoyed every nautical mile! The crew catered for every need in a professional and friendly manner. A sailing experience second to none. PS Thank you for curing my fear!

Nick & Dek

Halcyon Yacht Charters

This was great cruising down the Isles with fabulous geology, dining, companions and crew. Great to come back to Halcyon - many thanks Andrew! Glad to see you keep great crew!

Ian Oatridge

Halcyon Yacht Charters

An excellent week on a beautiful boat with a lovely crew. Andre's breakfasts are not to be missed - he does a superb slice of toast! Good weather meant lots of water sports, but still very cold water. Thanks very much to all the crew, and a special thanks to Andrew the owner. Its great to see a boat with such a history in sail, but a real privilage to be involved.

Peter Rear - Lusso Luxury Magasine

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thanks for such a fantastic trip. The sailing was exhilarating, the scenery breathtaking and the hospitality five star. Ill be back without question.

Mike Bradley

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Super ship. Nice trip. Good crew.

Valerie & Douglas Burcham

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A delightful sail well up to expectations. Thanks to Robert and Co for looking after us so well and safely - have a good Summer

Catherine Ny

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Such a privilage to be aboard with such brilliant people. Thanks Rob, Annette and of course chef Andre for a relaxing break - I am so glad I came.

Marc Drake

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you Halcyon for the journey. Fair winds, and a privilage to be aboard such a 78 year old.

Janet & Andrea Henson

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What did I think this trip would be like? An adventure? Well it has been that and much more - every minute something is happening, beautiful scenes, Lochs, watching the crew getting on with their roles. Wonderful exciting trip - and the whole crew were fantastic including delicious inspiring food. Thank you very much!

Gordon Drysdale

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you for all your attention and fun. I have really enjoyed meeting you and getting to know Halcyon. Really hope next years itinerary includes more of Scotland

John & Caroline Snyder

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Our sincere thanks and highest appreciation for Skipper Rob, his lovely first mate Annette and the unsurpassable master of the galley - Andre. New friends one and all. We'll be back whenever Halcyon is in the Scottish Isles!

Jenni & Alan Hinds

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What a wonderful boat! Thenk you for looking after us so well. Pass on the congratulations to the owner for a magnificent re-birth!!

Marek & Luke Zakrzewski

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Fantastic experience! A pleasure for the soul and palet! Many thanks to Annette, Robert and Andre for making it so memorable.

Richard, Emma, Jack and Daisy Bagget

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Enjoy!

Bill & Andrea Gardner

Halcyon Yacht Charters

She is stunning and a credit to her skipper, crew and owner

Sam Harper

Halcyon Yacht Charters

I like the boat!

David Reed

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Magnificent boat, wonderful crew - all the best for the coming year, the dream has arrived!

Natalie Chiang

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you for a wonderful experience in the lap of luxury

Matthew Ramsey & Charlotte Granville-West

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you for a great weekend - the yacht is beautiful

Andrew Mottram

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What a wonderful way to spend the Easter weekend, fabulous weather, great company and a fantastic old yacht

Kavitha Ravikumar

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Thank you for a fab time! As a first timer to sailing it was probably the best introduction you could possible have.

Andy King & Jean White

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Lovely boat, fire, crew, great company, glorious scenery, tasty food - what more could one want. Many thanks!

Ray Dafter

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A fantastic experience. A wonderful boat; a super crew and a memorable voyage. Thanks for a fantastic time.

Sayer Kyle

Halcyon Yacht Charters

After a tremendous passage down from Stavanger to Cowes, 650nm in 79 hours and 50 minutes. Old Haly enjoyed powering through force 6 plus (30+ knots) and rough seas, but the sun came out as we went past the white cliffs and stayed for 3 days to the start of Cowes week. A great week, great crew, great food.

Ron

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What an extaordinary week it has been. Fine companions, excellent skipper and cook, and a spledid boat consuming red diesel. Learned a lot about tweakers and kickers. It is a recipe for success for ULOT in the Sydney to Hobart!

Greg Lewin

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Halcyon Days. Halcyon Nights. Halcyon friends to endure The Halcyon bond we share From Stavanger to Cowes we stormed Then the 'U lot Team' was formed!

The Pope Family

Halcyon Yacht Charters

It was a week of two halves - FANTASIC and SUPERB! A team of gorgeous people looking after us. Great food, excellent sailing and the calm weather after the storm. Rob, Annette, Andre thank you SO much.

Louise May

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Many, many thanks to Rob, Annette and Andre for making us feel so welcome - we have been totally spoiled with gracious hospitality and glorious food! We feel very privileged to have spent time on such a beautiful yacht with fabulous weather!! The best this year!!! A trip we will always remember. Thank you

Rosie Pope

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Not everyone would have put up with my constant squealing requests for sails, waterskiing and green tea etc. but you were really nice. Thank you so much - I got on one ski! I think I speak for me and Cat when I say another big thank you.

Alex Pope

Halcyon Yacht Charters

I may have been the laziest guest, but actually I was admiring your superior yachting skills, thanks again!

Gary Pope

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Couldn't have scripted a better week. Plenty of experiences all very special. Rob, Annette and Andre all deserve a gold medal each.

Glenda Lewis

Halcyon Yacht Charters

I loved having the opportunity to share in this unique adventure with special friends and a wonderful host. Great compliments to Annette, Rob and Andre for their professional and personal touch - it was very much respected and appreciated.

Rhodri Armour

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Wow - the last week has been brilliant, The boat is extraordinary and the crew are incredible. Rob is quietly confident and you know you are in good hands. Annette keeps everything (and everyone) together) and Andres food is just gorgeous. Thank you to everyone.

Armour & Oatridge Families

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Words are not enough. Excellent company, superb food, fine sailing. A wonderful experience. Thank you. We have been treated like Royalty!

Neville

Halcyon Yacht Charters

I saw Halcyon many years ago in Milford docks and wanted to sail on her. Many thanks for making a dream come true. Wonderful!

Sayers Kyle

Halcyon Yacht Charters

A FINE adventure. Tough start to the North Sea crossing, but a truely marvellous arrival in Stavanger. The boat relished the trip. A great experience with a great team.

Leander McCormick-Goodhart & Family

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What a privilage to be aboard. Rain, rain and more rain did not dampen our enthusiasm. And a big thank you to Robert, Annet and Andrea kind and gracious crew. Thank you for creative moorings in remote fjords - waterfalls and good food will remain in our memories through long winter days - a beautiful boat!

Aadlard and Vabo Family

Halcyon Yacht Charters

This has been an amazing week for us, and we are going to remember it for the rest of our lives. The food was excellent and the crew was terrific. Hope to see you again next year. Thank you!

Graham Oatridge

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Echo the previous comments. Fantastic food, stunning scenery, great watersports and a special vessel. Thanks to Robert Annette and Andre for co-ercing me into the water, it really isnt as cold as it looks! Have had a great week with just the right amount of everything. Thank you!

Heather Oatridge

Halcyon Yacht Charters

What a superb week and what a great crew. I have learnt four valuable lessons 1) Always compliment the cook (sorry, Chef!) at key times 2) Trust Annette when she says gently roll forward whilst water skiing no matter how strange it seems. 3) Do not go out on the slider without heavy protection when Rob is driving 4) Never, never trust Andrew when he says the water is lovely and warm. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday, thanks to all.

Andrew & Mari-Anne Rowlands

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Absolutely tremendous week. Wonderful sailing, scenery and sports. Thank you to Rob and Annette for being a fantastic crew and to Andre for gorgeous crew. Looking forward to coming again soon!

Nick May

Halcyon Yacht Charters

Arrived as visitors - left as new friends. Fantastic. Thank you all