M/Y Alicia

Alicia was the first major vessel restored by Calshot and remains one of the defining projects of the yard. The work began in 2015 and brought together a team shaped by the owner’s belief in quality over convenience and in the potential of overlooked materials. The restoration of Alicia marked the point where the Calshot approach took form.

The Brief

The owner’s vision was clear. Alicia must be restored, not rebuilt. She should retain her character and lines while being improved in function and finish. The aim was to take the original design and enhance it without disturbing the integrity of the vessel. Every decision from structure to joinery followed that principle.

The Interior

The interior was designed for practical use with a quiet respect for her history. All furniture was removable, allowing flexibility and ease of maintenance. Genuine 1930s pieces were combined with custom-built furniture made from repurposed materials. No new wood was used. The team sourced timber from old warehouses in Liverpool and ancient buildings in India. More than sixty craftsmen spent over three thousand hours restoring the wood before it was fitted. The walnut staircase, shaped so its joins follow the natural grain, remains a signature feature of the project.

The Rebuild

The project took three years and required Alicia to be fully researched, documented, deconstructed and rebuilt. Her midship was lengthened by seven metres. Eighty percent of the steel structure was replaced. The clipper bow was reshaped to match her original 1930s plumb profile. One of the hallmarks of the project is how invisible these changes are in the final result. The work disappears into the lines of the vessel as if it had always been there.

The Legacy

Alicia remains a vessel of rare beauty and precision. Her exterior stays true to the 1930s design, while the interior has been quietly adapted for modern use. The project shaped the way Calshot works today, bringing together engineering, fabrication and joinery under one roof, with a focus on craft, materials and restraint.