Built in 1888 at the yards of George Wanhill in Poole, Doorset, Thalia, a seductive Gaff Cutter is GYC Centenarian of the Year winner of the 2021 Classic Boat Awards edition.
With her age, Thalia has a long history of captivating the hearts of true sailing devotees, such the one of her actual owner David Aisher since 2010. He has embraced the task of performing extensive work restauration since then, and for all it matters, it was well worth as she has been his companion for the last decade and both have travelled together broadly and blissfully.
Thalia was sailed by the Royal Cork Yacht Club back in the 1890’s later returning to the South Coast of England. Before she became property of Mr. David Aisher she had a brief incursion in the Caribbean. With her owner at the helm, Thalia still emanates all her determination, beauty and avidness to partake in selected regattas.
The Classic boat Awards is a major well-regarded nautical celebration within the classic boating and sailing industries, already noted in the agendas of sailors, boat owners and sailing aficionados from around the world. Due to public health concerns related with the widespread of the new coronavirus, this year’s award ceremony event was broadcasted online providing the opportunity to all the enthusiasts to follow it.
The lifetime achievement award, one of the highlights of the ceremony, was a posthumous recognition to Mr. Robert Fisher for his contribution to sailing. Mr. Fisher was a competitive sailor, renowned journalist and a writer with over 30 books published of his own.
The Gstaad Yacht Club is proud of partnering for the Centenarian of the Year award throughout these past five years.
Thalia made it to be the winning yacht out of a shortlist of six centenarian yachts. The GYC’s Thanks go to the jury, who selected the yachts, to the public for voting on their favourite vessels and to Robbe & Berking Silversmiths for their support on the silver Trophy, to be handed over exceptionally, 30th September 2021 during the 10th anniversary of the GYC Centenary Trophy regatta and evening Ceremony in Saint-Tropez.
The Classic Boat Awards winners 2021:
Restoration of the Year (over 40ft)
Cynara, 95ft (29m) built by Charles E Nicholson, restored by Restored by a team led by Paul Harvey and Ben Hobbs
Restoration of the Year (under 40ft)
Bel’Rose, 30ft 6in (9.3m) Built by Albert Andersson, restored by Nyhamns Såg & Båtbygerri.
Traditional new build
Scarabee, 55ft 8in (17m) Rig Bermudan yawl, Built by Pieter van der Aa,
Spirit of Tradition under 40ft
The Longshore, 14ft (4.3m) rig standing lug, built by Sam Doman,
New Powered vessel
Ittir kaktir, 33ft (10m) Built by RMK Marine, design Devlin Boat
Restored Powered vessel
Makaira 47ft (14.3m) Built by British Powerboat Company, restored by Michael Dennett Boatbuilders
Classic Boater of the Year
Luke Powell
Gstaad Yacht Club/Classic Boat Centenarian of the Year
Thalia, 45ft (13,7m) 1888 Gaff Cutter
Editor’s Notes
The Gstaad Yacht Club was founded in 1998 by a group of sailor enthusiasts with the vision to "create a unique global yacht club away from the waters, instead of another local club by the waters". Based in the Swiss mountains and in the beginning, very often acknowledged with surprise, the GYC developed to a club with 400 members from over 30 different countries and to a place where members and their guests love to meet.
The GYC supports sailing projects on all levels from juniors to professional sailors and it has become a solid force on the Swiss sailing scene and especially among Olympic sailing and the classic yachts.
The Classic Boat is the magazine for the world’s most beautiful boats. Packed with stunning images, we have the inside stories of the great classic yachts and motorboats afloat today, as well as fascinating tales from yesteryear and the latest from the wooden boat building scene around the world.