Anna, a 65-foot cold-molded sailing yacht designed by Stephens Waring Yacht Design of Belfast and built by Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding Inc. of Thomaston, won a top international award that’s made yearly to “classic” boat constructions and restorations by Classic Boat magazine.
The magazine is part of Chelsea Magazine Co. in London.
The yacht’s interior was designed by Martha Coolidge Design of Rockland. Anna, launched in April 2018, was the only American-built yacht in the competition’s Spirit of Tradition category. Other nominees in the category were from the Netherlands, Sweden and England.
“Spirit of Tradition” is defined as a yacht, built in any material, but echoing “an earlier, more graceful period of naval architecture.” “Cold-molded” is defined as a technique that involves laminating together layers of wood veneers or very thin planks to create a hull that is strong and lightweight.
Drew Lyman, president of Lyman-Morse, along with Stephens, Waring, Coolidge and the yacht’s owners attended the ceremony, held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge on April 2, according to a news release.
“Creating power and sailing yachts in the arena of Spirit-of-Tradition design is very near and dear to our Maine-based firm and it’s a pleasure to witness the genre become accepted more and more as a serious vernacular globally,” Paul Waring, a principal at Stephens Waring Yacht Design, said in a news release. According to the release, it’s conservatively estimated that the project created 30 high-paying jobs and roughly $15.2 million in economic benefit to the Maine region.
The award is in its 13th year.
“The Classic Boat Awards celebrates outstanding craftsmanship and design, be that on a clinker rowing boat or a new J-Class yacht,” Chelsea Magazines group editor Rob Peake said in the release. “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.”
Other categories included restored sailing and power vessels and traditional new construction.
The 65-foot sailboat was for a first-time customer.
Drew Lyman, a 2016 Mainebiz Next honoree, has been president of the company since 2012.