BYSTANDER OF MAN

The yacht BYSTANDER was designed by Charles Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholson in 1934. The client was W. Stephenson, then chairman of Woolworth and owner of the world famous J-class racing yacht VELSHEDA. She was to serve as the original tender for the VELSHEDA, support the racing program and provide accommodation for guests.

An exceptionally beautiful yacht, a remarkably genuine survivor from another age, exuding authenticity and atmosphere.

She offers everything you would expect from a motor yacht of her length, which, depending on experience, requires very little crew, furthermore she offers a impressive comfort for six guests in four cabins.

The yacht need an exterior refit and cosmetics works. 

History

Due to the slump in shipbuilding fuelled by the global economic crisis, BYSTANDER began her life as a “stock boat”, which was speculatively keel-hauled at Camper & Nicholson’s Gosport’s shipyard in order to keep the highly qualified workforce employed. 

Stock boats from famous shipyards with famous in-house designers are among the purest – because the architect is able to design and build what he thinks is right, without the input of the customer. 

Stephenson had first seen them at an advanced stage of construction and obviously liked what he saw. Soon all accommodation behind the engine room was removed to make room for VELSHEDA’s equipment.

BYSTANDER was launched at Gosport, UK on April 14, 1934. The launch was shown in photos and newsreel films.

1937 Stephenson sold the BYSTANDER.

Its new owner, Wallace D. Roome, was for a long time managing director of the Daily Mirror newspaper and Rear Commodore of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club. But the beginning of the Second World War made this a short-lived affair, as BYSTANDER was requisitioned by the government for military service at the British Admiralty’s anti-mine base, HMS Vernon.

It is a little known fact that the BYSTANDER saved 99 souls in May 1940. These were the crew and evacuees of the bombed and sunk Isle of Man steam packet ferry KING ORRY as well as soldiers from the shore.

Decommissioning was followed by a post-war series of short ownerships in UK waters, including Wing Commander J Shepherd, who was stationed in the north of Scotland, with her port of registry changing to Inverness, followed by retired naval commander HB Crane CBE.

She then enjoyed a brief period of use as the floating studio of American born sculptor and yachtswoman Mrs Pauline Boumphrey and her artist friends, including time in Paris and on the Seine.

At some point in the early 1960s she headed south to the Mediterranean and her ownership history, hidden behind company names, becomes harder to trace, though one known owner in the early 1970s was French operetta composer Francis Lopez.

ACCOMMODATION

• Master with Kingsize bed and en suite bathroom,
• his and her’s wash basins, jacuzzi tub with shower,
• VIP with Queen size bed, adjoining head & shower,
• Two Singles sharing a head & shower,
• Crew for three in two cabins.

GALLEY & LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT

• washing machine
• dish washer
• sink
• cooking range with one electric & three gas rings
• two fridges

FULL SPECIFICATIONS  AND DETAILS ON REQUEST