A well-specified older sailing yacht can be more interesting than a newer production boat when the original build quality and subsequent care support serious cruising. MYSTERY enters the market with that proposition: a 19.2-metre Lyman-Morse built in 2001 around a lightweight composite structure and equipment chosen for owner-friendly sailing.
Northrop & Johnson is offering the yacht at $1.495 million through broker Brian Commette. The listing emphasises both the original construction standard and later investment intended to keep the yacht relevant more than two decades after launch.
Lightweight construction remains central to the design
MYSTERY’s hull was moulded in epoxy using SCRIMP infusion and Core-Cell, creating a stiff composite structure without unnecessary weight. A GMT carbon-fibre mast and boom extend the same thinking above deck.
Those choices matter on a cruising yacht because reduced weight can improve sailing response without forcing the owner toward an extreme race-oriented interior. The yacht was commissioned with fit and finish intended to sit closer to high-end custom construction than mainstream series production.
A centreboard broadens where the yacht can cruise
Draft reduces to 6ft 7in with the centreboard raised and increases to 13ft 7in when lowered. That gives MYSTERY access to shallower harbours while still allowing a deeper foil profile when sailing performance to windward becomes important.
Variable draft can be particularly valuable for owners who mix offshore sailing with coastal exploration. It adds mechanical complexity, but it also removes some of the itinerary compromises that come with a fixed deep keel.
Power assistance reduces crew demand
Power winches support sail handling and reduce the number of people required on deck for routine manoeuvres. Combined with the yacht’s cruising-oriented layout, the equipment makes MYSTERY more realistic for an owner who does not want to rely on a large permanent crew.
That operating model is increasingly relevant below 24 metres. Buyers often want the capability and finish of a custom yacht while keeping crew requirements, berth costs and daily logistics within a more manageable scale.
The asking price puts condition under the spotlight
At $1.495 million, MYSTERY competes not only with other custom sailing yachts of similar age but also with newer production cruisers. The decision therefore turns on survey condition, maintenance history and how much value a buyer places on the original Lyman-Morse build specification.
A yacht of this age should be assessed system by system rather than judged from cosmetics alone. If the underlying structure, rig, machinery and refit work support the presentation, MYSTERY offers a route into custom sailing ownership without entering the cost of a new bespoke build.
