Thank you to all who voted in this year’s classic boat awards. Thanks to all the sponsors and the RTYC for hosting the event. I wish I could be there to join everyone and hear the stories of this year’s projects. After many years in the southern hemisphere, Cambria returned to the spotlight back in 2001 at the America’s Cup jubilee. Since then, she has been building her reputation as the preeminent original large classic racing yacht on the European classic scene. With her new ownership in 2004, her restoration started. Not your average restoration of being locked up in a shed for two to three years and being completely rebuilt. Cambria’s restoration has taken place over the last 22 years, large jobs being planned and completed in between seasons; importantly racing and cruising through the summer months. Firstly, the new mast in 2006, then the systems refit and hull survey in 2008/9, followed by the hull refit in 2014/15. This Restoration of the Year award is for the last of these planned jobs, the deck refit. This was the last of the jobs planned back in 2008, Cambria’s restoration is now complete, and she is in wonderful shape looking ahead. These works have been carried out by dedicated and passionate crew, boatbuilders, historians, designers and suppliers. The last works being completed at the Robbe & Berking yard in Flensburg, Germany. Thank you to Dave Hambly, who has been my right-hand man at each of these Cambria projects from 2005. Dave’s support and hands-on work were key in driving this last project. Special thanks to Oliver Berking, Johannes Hillerkuss and the team for their love and hard work producing an incredible job seamlessly blending into Cambria’s original structure and soul. Though she looks the same as always (incredibly beautiful!!) she is now solid and as strong as she was back in 1928, she’s back to powering through seas, transferring all those forces from the wind and sea into moving forward; the aim of all yachts. Cambria is now linked to Flensburg; it would be wonderful to return one day to sail the Fjord and share the water with the like-minded locals who love their traditional boats. Cambria has an amazing extended family who continue to dedicate their time to race and support her in all her adventures, sharing in a greater family of Cambrians who have been involved over the last 98 years. Everyone will be stoked to share in this award. It shows how many people have been touched by her in some way. None of this is possible without the love and support from an owner. Thank you and much love to Dietrich, Annabel, Alex, Theresa, Leo and Margaretha for the last 23 years. Cambria is such a special yacht, a piece of 1928 elegance in 2026. Her story continues. – Chris Barkham » « 33 Fotos: Jöran Bubke, ZVG Robbe & Berking read more
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