The Mystery 39 designed by Robert Clark is one of the most iconic pre-war British designed and built yachts. Sought after for their beautiful lines and exemplary sailing characteristics.
"Astrophel" was purchased in 2018 and underwent 4 year complete restoration by her knowledgeable owner, who is also a highly regarded marine surveyor. Launched for successful sea trials summer 2023.
History
Commissioned by Itchenor Sailing Club member Maxwell F.A. Keen, ASTROPHEL was built, like all twelve Mystery Class yachts, by Sussex Yacht Works, Shoreham-by-Sea; an innovative yard that built many Clark designs, including the well-known pre-war ocean racers JOHN DORY and ERIVALE, both launched the year before.
ASTROPHEL has had very few owners, the key to her authenticity, and perhaps confirmation that designer and builder got her right first time.
She enjoyed a particularly happy time in the 1950s, cruising Ireland in the hands of the country’s then UK Ambassador Gurth Kimber, from whom she was purchased her in 1964. She had one further owner up till the point she was purchased by the current owner in 2019.
The current owner knowing her pedigree felt it his duty to restore her to her former glory.
Dimensions & general info.
- LOA - 12.08m
- LOD - 12.08m
- LWL - 8.69m
- Beam - 2.64m
- Draft - 1.75m
- Displacement 7,138kg
- Ballast - 2,744kg (Lead ballasted full keel).
- Designer - Robert Clark.
- Builder - Sussex Yacht Works, Shoreham.
Hull, deck & superstructure
- Pitch Pine below the waterline and Mahogany topsides planking on Oak and Elm frames.
- Fibreglass sheathed Pine deck and coach house roof.
- Teak coach house vertical timbers, comings and toerail.
- Steel ring frames accepting the rig loading.
- Full traditional keel (lead ballasted) with keel hung rudder.
- Tiller steering.
The restoration involved removing the complete interior, renewing frames, and structures where required and refitting. The interior has been refitted as she was with the addition of a new galley, a little more storage.
Externally the hull was completely stripped, re-planked where necessary, re-caulked, faired, epoxy sheathed and repainted.
Interior & accommodation
5 berths and a separate heads.
- The interior is is richly timbered and varnished, giving a beautiful period feel.
- The addition of new white vinyl cushions by Struan Marine gives a light airy feel and a few blue led lights some tasteful modernity.
- 6ft + headroom.
Chart table & quarter berth
- Aft to starboard is a chart table and quarter berth.
- Access to the batteries below.
Galley & quarter berth
- The galley is opposite to port and has the option of converting to a quarter berth.
- Dometic combined sink and two burner stove with hinged glass splashbacks which fold down to cover the unit when it is converted for sleeping.
- Storage outboard, a dedicated crockery locker and separate cutlery locker.
Saloon
- Port and starboard settee berths with white vinyl cushions and seat backs. The seat backs fold down to offer storage behind for bedding.
- There are shelves outboard.
- A traditional wing style opening skylight brings in plenty of light and ventilation.
Heads
- To port midships is the heads with a shaped bi-fold door.
- Jabsco manual marine toilet.
- Stainless steel sink with manual cold water supply.
Forward
- Lovely open storage area forward for sails. The hull sides are lined with batons atop the frames for hanging rope and running gear.
- To port is an occasional berth and there are open storage bins to port and starboard with an additional storage box with lid aft to port.
- Deck hatch with a sliding lid for deck access and ventilation.
Deck & deck equipment
The side decks are wide and flat with a raised timber bulwark with Iroko capping, secured with twin guard wires running via stanchion posts from the pulpit to the cockpit.
The cockpit is a great size with storage lockers running the full length under the seats.
- Teak cockpit grate.
- White vinyl cockpit cushions by Struan Marine.
Deck gear
- Twin bow roller.
- Foredeck Samson post.
- Bow fairleads.
- Stern fairleads and cleats.
- Lofrans electric anchor windlass with wired remote control accessed via foredeck hatch.
- Stainless steel 35Lb CQR anchor mounted in deck chocks.
- approx. 100m 8mm galvanised chain.
- Spinnaker pole deck chocks.
- Boom crutch.
- Wooden boathook with ships name and coachroof chocks.
- Teak cockpit grate.
- Fenders and mooring warps.
Rig, rigging & sails
- Masthead cutter twin spreader spruce mast.
- Spruce boom.
- Spruce spinnaker pole.
- Spruce jockey pole.
- All immaculately varnished/
Rigging
- Standing rigging is in good condition and inspected by an independent surveyor.
- All new braid on braid running rigging.
Sails
- McWilliam Mainsail.
- McWilliam staysail.
- McWilliam No.1 Yankee.
- McWilliam No.2 Yankee.
- Spinnaker.
Engine
- Lombardini LDW 1003, 34hp marine diesel. Aluminium block.
- Engine hours - Approx. 140.
- Shaft drive to a 3 blade fixed Bronze prop.
Electronics & navigation equipment
- Garmin cockpit mounted chart plotter.
- Clipper speed / log.
- Ritchie coachroof mounted compass.
- Simrad TP22 tiller pilot.
- Icom IC-M23 floating handheld VHF.
Electrical
- 240v shore power.
- 12v ships electrics. Full rewire excluding the engine loom which is very recent.
- 2 x YUSA 100amp sealed batteries, one for domestic electrics and one for the engine.
- Batteries charged by engine alternator, charger or solar panel..
- Halfords intelligent battery charger powered by 240v shore power.
- Wired solar panel, for trickle charging batteries.
Tankage & systems
- Stainless steel fuel tank - Approx. 40L.
- Stainless steel water tank - Approx. 100L.
- Gas system for the hob with a single gas bottle mounted in a bespoke, self draining, aft deck locker.
Canvas work
- Full heavy duty canvas winter cover.
- White mainsail cover by MC Sails.
- White sprayhood by MC Sails.
- Skylight cover with windows by MC Sails.
- Foredeck hatch cover by MC Sails.
Safety gear & equipment
- Manual bilge pump.
- Electric bilge pump with float switch.
- Horseshoe life buoy.
- First aid kit.
- 1 automatic and 2 manual fire extinguishers.
- Pilot gas alarm.
- Tri colour and all round white masthead light.
- Original coachroof mounted Port and Starboard lights and portable stern white.
Paperwork
- Full provenance and title.
- Survey from May 2023 available.