Ziska, a yacht built by Crossfields of Arnside in 1903 has been shortlisted for two major classic boat awards:
- Classic Boat Restoration of the Year (under 40ft) and
- Gstaad Yacht Club Centenarian of the Year.
Ziska is currently based in Port Townsend on West Coast of America. In June 2019 she took part in the 750 mile Race2Alaska up the Canadian coast to Ketchikan in Alaska coming 22nd of 35 starters. The Race is designed to showcase the latest in wind and human powered boat technology.
She was launched by Crossfields in Arnside on the 28th January 1903, 11 months before the first aeroplane flight on December 17th. The Boer War had just finished. The horse and cart were the main way of making local journeys
In 1997 Ziska was brought by Ashley Butler then aged 19 years old, restored and sailed across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Ashley now runs Butler and Co, one of the country's leading wooden boat builders based at Penpol Creek near Falmouth. In 2006 Ziska was transported across America by road to Port Townsend on the West Coast of America. In 2017 Ziska was purchased by Stanford Siver. Stanford spent two years restoring the boat to a very high standard with the help of a team of craft workers.
The outcome of the awards are decided by online vote. https://awards.classicboat.co.uk/vote-now/
It would be great if as many people as possible would vote for Ziska. Winning the awards would be an amazing achievement for a boat built in Arnside in 1903 and for her owner.
You can read about Ziska's history below
History of Ziska - Gaffers Log November 2019