Boats for sale

Halcyon, a luxurious, classic 95’ Bermudan ketch built in 1929 and worth almost $2 million is about to get back to life. She will take her first passengers on a VIP cruise starting at Milford Haven, Wales.

This vintage yacht seems an incarnation of the distant past. But its classic teak interior is crammed with modern hi-tech equipment: a DVD library, an ice machine, computers etc. The boat refit took 11 months and it seems that over the years the yacht has kept intact it’s 1920’s interior. Now it is at full disposal of those who want to enjoy the 1920 entourage at sea. It was possible to restore the Halcyon’s interior thanks to the historical photographs from the National Maritime Museum. One of the most challenging tasks was the total replacement of the yacht’s copper bottom which required removing of 60 000 fixing nails, filling of the holes and consequent hammering in 50 000 nails to hold the new hull copper sheathing.

The lucky passengers will be able to travel to Ireland, Scotland and Norway while enjoying delicious exquisite meals prepared by Andre Daniels, the boat chef. Chartering Halcyon is quite expensive: a day’s sailing for 12 people costs about $6 000 (£3 000). The first clients are to sail out of Milford Haven at Easter. The owners of the venture are hoping to attract those who are into yachting or extravagant leisure activities as well as the companies that would charter the ketch for corporate events. Recently Halcyon made an appearance at the London Boat Show in order to promote Welsh tourism.

Apart from enjoying the traditional classic sailing in the atmosphere of the 1920’s and gourmet dishes the guests can also try a real hands-on sailing (guided by the crew), waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing Halcyon’s 12’ dinghy, snorkeling and even fishing.


Throughout the decades of her life Halcyon has been a private yacht, a flagship of the Greek minesweeper flotilla during the World War II and a training vessel in the British Merchant Cadet Training School. She also participated in various races: in 1979 Fastnet ocean yacht race, in Hamilton, Bermuda, Halifax, Nova Scotia races.

The yacht’s accommodations are beyond refined: she has a 17ft wide teak paneled salon sitting in which one can enjoy meals created by Halcyon’s chef, private double mostly en suite cabins and a wood burning stove. The ‘Grand Lady of the Seas’ fully deserves her name: she is charming, aristocratically noble and majestic.