LONDON, ENGLAND — Anna, the 65′ cold-molded sailing yacht built by Lyman-Morse in 2018, won the prestigious Spirit of Tradition Classic Boat Award at an exclusive event held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge on April 2.
Designed by Stephens Waring Yacht Design with interiors designed in collaboration with Martha Coolidge, Anna was the only American build in the Spirit of Tradition category. Other nominees in the category included:
- Aquarius, a 184′ yacht designed by Dykstra Naval Architects Design and built by Royal Huisman
- Gwenhyfar, a 63′ yawl designed and built by Spirit Yachts
- Sultana, a 67′ designed by Hoek Design and built by Performance Classic Yachts
Drew Lyman, president of Lyman-Morse, attended the ceremony along with Robert Stephens and Paul Waring, principals of Stephens Waring Yacht Design; Martha Coolidge, owner of Martha Coolidge Design, and the yacht’s owners.
Celebrity guests included Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and renowned folk singer Jim Radford, who sang for the 130 guests, among them major figures from the global marine industry. Those present had traveled from across Europe, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada. Yachting historian and G.L. Watson scholar Martin Black was the guest speaker. Chelsea Magazines group editor Rob Peake presented the evening. Royal Thames Yacht Club Vice Commodore George Ehlers was present as well as Gstaad Yacht Club Commodore Manrichio Iachia, who presented the Centenarian of the Year trophy.
Now in its 13th year, the Classic Boat Awards is a widely respected celebration of all that the magazine stands for, with the year’s best modern classic launches and restorations voted for by the readers.
“The Classic Boat Awards celebrates outstanding craftsmanship and design, be that on a clinker rowing boat or a new J-Class yacht,” Peake said. “This year we had a record 18,000 votes cast, which we see as a reflection of the growing interest in classic boats and testament to the quality of the work in the projects shortlisted.”
The other winners of the 2019 Classic Boat Awards include:
Restored Sailing Vessel (over 40′)
Carlotta, 50′ protection cutter built in 1899, restored by Abernethy and Gaudin in Canada and the Elephant Boatyard in England
Restored Sailing Vessel (under 40′)
Margaux, 39’4″ Skerry Cruiser-class yacht, restored by Ventis Shipyard in the Netherlands
Traditional New Build
Nyala, 56’8″ S&S yawl built by Ventis Shipyard in the Netherlands
Restored Power Vessel (over 40′)
Countess of Light, 44′ Herbert Woods Broads hire cruiser, restored by owner Paul Rainbird
Restored Power Vessel (under 40′)
Bluebird K7, 26’5″ hydroplane restored by Bill Smith and the Bluebird Project
Classic Boater of the Year, in association with the Boat Building Academy
Jane Coombs, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta
Gstaad Yacht Club/Classic Boat Centennarian of the Year
Carlotta, 1899 protection cutter
Classic Boat Lifetime Achievement Award
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston