Media Release April 18^th 2023 

The Herreshoff Marine Museum/America's Cup Hall of Fame Becomes First International Recipient of the Singoalla Award 

The 10^th Edition of the Helsinki Classic Yacht Symposium has given the Herreshoff Marine Museum/America's Cup Hall of Fame the first, newly instigated Singoalla Award. The award is given annually to an individual or institution who has made a major contribution to the mission of the Helsinki Symposium. The Symposium wants to strengthen the bonds between classic yacht sailors and to create a deeper understanding of the history, the present, and the future opportunities of classic yachting.  

According to the Helsinki Symposium organizers, the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol R.I. plays a pivotal role in preserving the heritage of the life and work of Nathanael and John Herreshoff. Thereby the museum has become an established landmark institution for preserving a key part of the world heritage of Classic Yachting. 

”The Helsinki Symposium expresses its admiration and gratitude for the work for more than half a century to preserve, educate, celebrate and inspire sailors around the world to enjoy and keep the legacy of the Herreshoff name and classic yachting as a whole,” says John Lammerts van Bueren, co-chair of the Symposium. 

The Helsinki Symposium recognizes that the legacy of The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company is the most significant of the North America in the 19th and 20th centuries. The original buildings hold a major collection with over 60 boats, countless tools, plans, photos and artifacts. The model collection includes 500 original design models. The Museum has an inclusive attitude to youth and research and supports the preservation of classic yachts. The Museum also organizes lectures and sailing events. 

“We're thrilled and honored to be selected as a recipient of the Singoalla Award," said Herreshoff Marine Museum President & Executive Director Bill Lynn.  "We offer our heartfelt thanks to the organizers of the Helsinki Classic Yacht Symposium for including the Herreshoff, and we congratulate them on a successful event.” 

The Museum also the hosts the  America’s Cup Hall of Fame. Initiated and founded in 1992 by Halsey Herreshoff, a four-time America’s Cup defender and grandson of legendary yacht designer Nathanael Herreshoff. Candidates eligible for consideration include members of the crew, designers, builders, syndicate leaders, supporters, chroniclers, and other individuals of merit. Each nominee is judged on the basis of outstanding ability, international recognition, character, performance, and contributions to the sport. 

The Herreshoff Marine Museum's earlier Classic Yacht Symposiums provided the inspiration for the organization of the first Helsinki Classic Yacht Symposium in 2010. 

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Further information:  

John Lammerts van Bueren, The Helsinki Cllassic Yacht Symposium: [email protected] 

Bill Lynn, Herreshoff Marine Museum/America's Cup Hall of Fame: [email protected] 

The Singoalla Award: The Helsinki Classic Yacht Symposium, instigated in 2023, will annually be given to an individual or institution, as a recognition for an outstanding contribution to the preservation and promotion of classic yachts. The award is named “The Singoalla Award” and the recipient is handed a half model of Singoalla, carved by one of Finland’s foremost shipwrights, Mr. Allan Savolainen. Singoalla was the largest 150 Sq M Skerry Cruiser ever built. She is regarded as the fastest and the most beautiful yacht ever built in Sweden. She was designed by the legendary naval architect Gustaf Estlander, famous for his winning Skerry Cruisers and Metre boats designs, but also for having designed the clubhouse of the prestigious NJK (Nyländska Jaktklubben) on the small island Blekholmen, in the South Harbour of Helsinki. The Singoalla is mythical name, deriving from a novel written by Viktor Rydberg in 1857 from which a play developed named: “Singoalla – The wind is my lover” Built in 1919, her last journey was in 1923, sailing from Kiel to Travemünde where she averaged an astonishing 14,1 knots only to be lost in a large fire shortly after. Despite the fact she was lost exactly 100 years ago, the stories and admiration of Singoalla never faded, and so, in our view there is no better name and symbol to honor those who have done so much to preserve and promote the legacy of the classic yachts we all love. 

The Herreshoff Marine Museum/America’s Cup Hall of Fame: The Herreshoff Marine Museumwas founded in 1971  to preserve and perpetuate the unique accomplishments of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Today the campus encompasses a large museum facility, the old family homestead, six former company buildings, and a large portion of the company’s waterfront. A changing number of exhibits illustrates important facets of the Herreshoff history. Besides the yachts and models, the Museum has catalogued and displayed hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia significant to the Herreshoff legacy.  

The Helsinki Classic Yacht Symposium – The symposium is an annual event organized by The Helsinki Sailing Club (HSS) together with 10 other yacht clubs and the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation. The Symposium was founded in 2010 by Esko Kilpi. The Symposium hosts several events and is attended by 300+ people from a dozen countries in Europe and the Americas. 

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Photos from the event: Click Here

1. The Singoalla half model by Allan Savolainen, Red Sky Yachts 

2. The Singoalla half model by Allan Savolainen, Red Sky Yachts 

3. The Singoalla half model by Allan Savolainen, Red Sky Yachts 

4. [John Lammerts van Bueren and Kim Weckström presenting the award to The Burre Hellman foundation CEO Charlotte Hellman (for a separate press release)] 

5. John Lammerts van Bueren and Kim Weckström presenting the award to Evelyn Ansel, curator of the Herreshoff Marine Museum/Americas cup hall of fame 

6. Singoalla, Sandhamn 1920 

7. Singoalla, Hästholmens båtvarv Sweden 1919 

8. Singoalla, Hästholmens båtvarv Sweden 1919 

9. Singoalla sailing 1920, Sandhamn, Sweden