Full house: Classic Yacht Symposium attracts enthusiasts from 20 nations to Helsinki

The event, which was held at the "Musiikkitalo" concert hall in the Finnish capital, is considered one of the most important meetings of the international classic yacht scene. Last weekend, classic yacht enthusiasts, designers, historians and maritime experts discussed current developments, historical backgrounds and boatbuilding news. The tried-and-tested format combines 25-minute presentations by renowned speakers with lively short contributions. In addition to the presentations, the Classic Yacht Symposium offers an established platform for networking within the scene.

From Star Class to Sydney Hobart Race

Paul Cayard, both current World Champion and President of the International Star Association, dedicated his presentation to the traditional keelboat class. "A great honour to come to Finland and address such a passionate audience at this wonderful symposium," said Cayard.

In an interview with YACHT, William Collier, yacht historian, owner of the design firm G.L. Watson Ltd and member of the Classic Yacht Symposium Committee, said: "Cayard is a good example of how these traditional boats still make modern sailing possible."

The entire symposium - watch now:

Another keynote speaker on stage was Australian ocean sailor Peter Shipway from Sydney. The veteran of 31 Hobart Races traced the development from early 18-foot skiffs to the challenging Sydney Hobart Race. "The symposium was a real highlight for me," said Shipway afterwards. It was impressive to see the special place that classic yachts hold in the hearts of so many people.

Read more:

• Classic: Classic Yacht Symposium inspires international sailing scene
• Sailing training ship "Greif": Back in the water after three years
• "Spatz IV": 20-metre dinghy cruiser is not a racing boat and therefore exotic

Singoalla Award for yacht restorations

In addition to the presentations, outstanding contributions to the preservation of classic yachts were honoured. The international Singoalla Award went to Ed Kastelein from the Netherlands for his decades of work in recreating historic yachts. His projects include the 50 metre long "Westward" and the 71 metre long "Atlantic". According to the organisers, his work sets new standards for authenticity and scale.

A Nordic Singoalla Award was also presented this year. This went to Joakim Håkans from Finland for his role in the restoration of the historic Åbo Båtvarf in Turku. Under his leadership, the location has developed into a leading Nordic centre for the restoration of classic yachts, according to the organisers.