Frans Heesen 1940 - 2025

It is with deep sorrow that Heesen Yachts announces the passing of its esteemed founder, Frans Heesen. Frans passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025, aged 85 years old in his hometown of Oss, and is survived by beloved wife Petra, his children, and grandchildren.  A mechanical engineer Frans founded Heesen in 1978, when he purchased the Dutch subsidiary of US Striker boats.  With the purchase of Striker Boats, Frans sees the potential of building aluminium boats rather then the Dutch standard of steel, and will enhance the material even further and into larger sizes over the years.  Proof of this comes in 1979, a year later to the Heesen founding as its launches its first 20 meter yacht as designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder and build of aluminium.  This first build will be proof of Frans spirit of innovation and what will be the defining of Heesen’s future, which is followed again when he decides to embark on the challenge of building the ground-breaking fifty knots or  nothing top speed 38 meter hull #7038 as commissioned by American millionaire John Staluppi, with naval architecture by Frank Mulder, and Gerhard Gilgenast and Cor D. Rover taking care of design.  High risks involved this building as Staluppi will include penalty clauses if the yacht will not reach fifty knots, $100,000 for each knot below the targeted speed, and a right of refusal if does not do 48 knots.   Frans will take the order for what will be called m/y Octupussy, risking the shipyard’s demise, but ultimately hull #7038 is a triumph for Heesen that will propel the Dutch name to global status among yacht connoisseurs, as it will indeed be the fastest yacht above thirty meters in the eighties reaching a top speed of 53 knots during sea trials.  Frans Heesen will again show his spirit of innovation in 1996 when he will build a new record breaking yacht, as he delivers the 38 meter hull #10137, m/y Obsessions, which will be the largest sportfish yacht of the time.  Courage, exceptional ability, and visionary leadership and instinct to identify and nurture talent have been fundamental to Frans success, which has made over the years Heesen Yachts a story of growth. Frans dedicated his entire life to Heesen, fostering an environment that felt more like a family rather than a business.  Frans will sell Heesen in 2008, although he will stay in the board till 2012, guiding and solidifying the Dutch semi-custom and custom super yacht builder to solidify its success into the future.  Frans’ contributions have left an indelible mark on the motor and super yachting industry and everyone who had the honour of working with him.  Frans presence will be profoundly missed, with his spirit and vision being the backbone and the guiding force of Heesen Yachts today and into the future.

Eddie Jordan OBE 1948 - 2025

Serial yacht owner, previous Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan has died at the age of 76, in Cape Town South Africa, on Thursday twentieth March at his home in Cape Town.  Eddie Jordan was born on thirtieth March 1948 in Dublin, Ireland.  The past December 2024, Eddie Jordan announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate and bladder cancer earlier in the year.  Before starting his motorsports career at the age of 22, Eddie worked at the Bank of Ireland.  At the age of 23 Eddie won the Irish Kart Championship in 1971. Three years later, he would move to Formula Ford to make his mark, winning the Irish Formula Atlantic Championship in 1978, racing in the British Formula Three and Formula Two and even doing a small amount of testing for McLaren.  Jordan founded his first team, Eddie Jordan Racing, in 1979, competing in the British Formula Three, and Formula 3000 winning  the former championship in 1987  with Johnny Herbert.  In 1991 Eddie entered Formula One with Jordan Grand Prix, the team which debuted Michael Schumacher into Formula One in what was the team's debut season in that year.  Jordan Grand Prix lasted till January 2005 having its best race result in 1998 when drivers Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher finished first and second at the Belgian Grand Prix, and in 1999 when Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured two wins for the team throughout the season, eventually finishing third overall in the drivers' championship.  Jordan Grand Prix was sold in early 2005 bought by the Midland Group, financed by Canadian businessman Alex Shnaider.  Jordan's wealth of experience and keen racing acumen resulted in a stint as chief analyst for Formula One coverage on the BBC, and later Channel Four from 2009 up till his death in 2025. Jordan passion for sports would continue far beyond his motor racing days, with Jordan becoming a shareholder in the Celtic Football Club and the co-owner of the historic London Irish Rugby Club, the later owned today by his son Kyle.  Eddie Jordan was a boating lover, born by the sea on the east coast of Ireland not far from Dublin, boats have always been in his blood, spending the early part of his formative teenage years competing on board the International 420 Class Dinghy.  Following his entry into motor racing, yachting will be side lined, only for him to return as a multiple boat and yacht owner over the years.  He started as a repeat Sunseeker owner, having owned ten builds from the boat builder of Poole and often ordering the biggest yacht from 1986 to 2017.  He was eventually given the title as Sunseeker ambassador, and from 2018 to 2021 also served on Oyster yachts board of directors and again as brand ambassador.  Some of Eddie Jordan boats and yachts over the years include the following; Sunseeker Portofino 21 XPS 1986, Sunseeker 121 Yacht 2007 to 2012, Elan 450 2008 to 2010, Oyster 655 2011 to 2012, Oyster 885GT from 2012 to 2014, Sunseeker 155 Yacht 2014 to 2017, Oyster 495 2022 to 2023.  Eddie Jordan's latest yacht from 2018 up till the past December 2024 was a 2007 hull two of four of the Perini Navi 45M semi-custom build to order series.  Eddie Jordan is survived by his wife Marie McCarthy, and his four children; Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle.

George Nicholson 1937 - 2025

 

It is with great sadness that Camper and Nicholsons announce the passing of George Nicholson at the age of 87 on the 27 February.  Born 23 April 1937 into a family and name which is part of yachting history, fourth generation Nicholson George was the man responsible for adding the brokerage arm of the then famous and exclusive Camper and Nicholsons yacht builder.  He will be the chairman of Camper and Nicholson International, the brokerage firm till 2007.  George Nicholson started the brokerage adventure in 1959, opening its first sales offices in Cannes, then Antibes, Monaco, London, Palma, and then the United States, what today is thirteen World scattered offices in all the important yacht places of the globe.  George Nicholson also made headlines over the years, as when for example he sold motor yacht Albecaro, the 1963 Dutch build Kerstholt 40 meters from the hands of Monaco’s Prince Rainier to Abu Dhabi’s Sheik Shakbut, the first brokered yacht exceeding one million US$ in value.  Another headline for George Nicholson will come when he represented the owner for the new build CRN 47 meter m/y Awal which was the first yacht with a touch and go helipad.  George Nicholson contributions to the yacht industry are part of yachting, in brokerage as in yacht building, as Camper and Nicholsons looks to the future, now carried forward by next generation Fernando Nicholson.

Karim Aga Khan IV 1936 - 2025

Prince Karim Al-Husseini better know as the Aga Khan IV or Karim Aga Khan has left for the better World in Lisbon, Portugal, on 4 February 2025, at the age of 88.  The billionaire philanthropist and spiritual was reported to have passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, his charity the Aga Khan Development Network announced.  Aga Khan IV was the 49th imam of Isma'ilism from 1957 until his death in 2025.  He held the position of imam and the title of Aga Khan after succeeding to the position at the age of twenty upon the death of his grandfather, Aga Khan III.  Aga Khan IV was also known by the religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his Isma'ili followers.  Beside being a multiple yacht owner, Aga Khan yachting feats are his Blue Ribbin record, sponsoring Italy's first America's Cup challenge, and creating one of the most beautiful important Mediterranean yacht marinas with Porto Cervo in Sardinia.  Aga Khan debuted Italy in the Americas Cup when he challenged for the Old Cup in the 25th edition of 1983, co-sponsoring the challenge with Giovanni Agnelli and under the tutelage of his 1967 founded Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.  With Azzurra boat number I-4 the Italian debuted will take fourth position in the Louis Cup, and start the love of Italy and Italians for the Americas Cup.   Azzurra challenged again for the cup in 1987, with Azzurra III boat I-10 and Azurra IV boat I-11, arriving seventh in the round robin stage.  His Americas Cup Challenge will be the inspiration to further Italian Americas Cup challenges, but most important three Italian Americas Cup finalists in 1991, 2000, and 2021.  Aga Khan also created and founded Porto Cervo, with five other partners, considered since the sixties as one of most luxurious and natural settled marinas in the World.  Porto Cervo started its construction in 1962 and in 1964 was completed in its first phase, and was followed by other important investments from Aga Khan IV in Sardinia, from the re-opening of the old Venafiorita airport then renamed to Costa Smeralda, to the founding of Alisarda airline in 1963 which will become Meridiana in 1991 and then Air Italy in 2018.  For us motor boaters though Aga Khan biggest feat is Destriero which was specifically build to beat the Atlantic Ocean record of three days and secure the Blue Riband.  In 1992 Destriero crossed the Atlantic, without refuelling, twice, first westbound and then east-bound.  Her eastbound voyage from the Ambrose Light to Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, a distance of 3,106 nautical miles which Destriero will do at an average speed of 53.09 knots, will be held in the record time of 58 hours, 34 minutes and 5 seconds.  Despite this Destriero was denied the Hales Trophy, because she was classed as a private yacht and not a "commercial passenger vessel". Destriero did, however receive the Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy, awarded by former record-holder Richard Branson for the fastest crossing by any vessel, and the Columbus Atlantic Trophy sponsored by the Costa Smeralda and New York Yacht Club for the fastest trans-Atlantic round-trip.  Destriero still holds the fastest Atlantic crossing record till today.  Unfortunately the faith of the Fincantieri build Donald L. Blount designed 68.19 meters triple 20,000hp gas turbine engines powered super ship will get lonely as she was laid up in HMNB Devonport dockyard, Plymouth, England for ten years, and then removed in February 2009, taken to Lürssen ship yard and then unfortunately scrapped on second May 2023.  Aga Khan IV owned various yachts over the years, with these having one thing in common, being fast and named for his horses, the rest was different with his yachting ownership starting with three Baglietto's and then going into various Donald L. Blount designs.  One of his first yachts was a 1963 Baglietto Majorca 22-meter titled m/y Amaloun and this being the fastest of three Majorca's made which was unfortunately lost to a yard fire.  Following this Aga Khan will commission two other Baglietto's a Minorca 20m in 1964, and 14m in 1967 titled m/y Silver Shark what was the first Italian pleasure boat commissioned with turbine jets.  Current Aga Khan yachts include the 1983 Lurrsen 46.6 meter m/y Shergar, the 2010 Hodgdon 26 meter m/y Zarkava as designed by Donald L. Blount, her slightly smaller 25 meter 2013 build sister-ship titled m/y Valyra, and his latest build the m/y Alamshar the 2014 delivered Devonport 49.9 meter as designed by Pininfarina and naval architecture by Donald L. Blount and Associates.

Margaret Whittaker OBE 1949 - 2025

It is with deep sadness that Pearl Yachts announces the passing of its esteemed owner, Margaret Whittaker OBE, who passed away on second February in Palma de Mallorca at the age of 76.  A remarkable entrepreneur, Margaret founded Slimming World in 1969 and became the owner of Pearl Yachts in 2003. Since 2007, she owned and revitalised Son Amar, one of Mallorca’s most iconic cultural venues. Her visionary leadership shaped each of these ventures, leaving a lasting legacy of success and innovation.  Margaret’s journey with Pearl Yachts began when she and her husband, Tony Whittaker, invested in the company, bringing their vast experience and passion for motor cruising. Margaret’s values and pioneering spirit were a great source of inspiration in the growth and success of Pearl. Under her influence, the company evolved into a renowned boutique yacht builder, producing a range of high-quality yachts admired worldwide.  In 2022, Margaret was honoured with The Norns Award for Business Woman in the Yachting Industry of the year, recognising her unwavering belief, vision, and passion.  Margaret leaves Pearl in an enviable position as one of the most respected brands in the industry, her legacy will endure in every yacht bearing the Pearl name, and her example and values will continue to inspire the Pearl Yachts family.  Pearl Yachts Managing Director Iain Smallridge, together with the Board of Directors and all employees, extends the company’s deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Rich Lazzara 1973 - 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rich Lazzara, who passed away the fourteen January at the age of 51.  Born May eighteen 1973 Rich Lazzara was a third generation boat builder, who spent more over twenty years in the boat building industry. He grew up working in his grandfather’s Gulfstar, learning first hand knowledge of yacht engineering, processes, and construction. Ultimately the Lazzara family will sell its stakes in Gulfstar in 1989 and create Lazzara in 1990, as Rich will be given the responsibility for developing the sales team and international dealer network that eventually grew his family’s Lazzara Yacht business to a one hundred million US$ yacht building company in 2008. His knowledge about the most modern sales tools, such as social networking, websites, direct mail, email, and mobile, has allowed him to utilize them effectively and precisely to meet the needs of clients around the world. Ultimately Rich ended his yachting career as yacht broker with HMY Yacht which he joined in August 2015, were his yacht-building pedigree, combined with leading-edge marketing technology, have afforded him a high level of sales success. From lamination to listings, there isn’t a facet of the yachting industry Rich was not involved and understood.  Rich is survived by his parents, Richard and Debbie Lazzara, his stepmother Tracey Lazzara, his wife Melissa Lazzara, his children Haley, Avery, Zariah, Santana, Damarcus, Trey, Quinn Lazzara, Lorin and Logan Hutchinson and his brothers, Joey, Tony Lazzara and Billy McKnight.

Paolo Vitelli 1947 - 2024

Paolo Vitelli the founder of Azimut Yachts and Azimut-Benetti Group has died aged 77 in his home in Ayas, Aosta on the afternoon of 31 December 2024.  Vitelli died in a tragic accident as he was reported trying to open a shutter door when he fell and hit his head.  Born 4 October 1947 Paolo Vitelli is one of the most important yachting entrepreneur and industrialist of the past fifty years, a man who shaped the yacht industry in Italy and beyond.  Paolo Vitelli will start Azimut as a boat charter company in March 1969, from the savings he made from his student jobs and selling his share in the Temposei Night Club in Turin.  A year later in June 1970 he will get a degree in Economics and Business and in 1971 he will become the Italian dealer of the Norwegian made Amerglass.  In 1975 Azimut Yachts becomes a yacht builder as it builds the first 43 Bali model as designed by Bernard Olesinski and interiors by Terence Disdale. The first Azimut shows the designer inspired direction and is the start to an unstoppable industrial expansion and growth which continues till today.  In just seven years Azimut shows the important super yacht player it will become when it launches the 105 Failaka, which is also the largest fiberglass build yacht of the time and will be delivered in four units in a four year production run.  Vitelli will not stop and in 1985 he will start to make Group as he purchases the bankrupt Fratelli Benetti shipyard.  Paolo Vitelli will restore Benetti leadership in custom and semi-custom Super Yacht production and in 1998 also debuts the shipyard into the fiberglass semi-production market with the Classic 115, which will sell 27 units in an eight year production run and is followed by smaller and larger GRP builds and will put Azimut-Benetti as the leader with the most build Super Yachts from 1999 till today.  Azimut-Benetti Group will also purchase Gobbi shipyard in the fall of 2001 rebranded as Atlantis some years later, and becoming the sport cruiser and sport yacht line up of Azimut Yachts from 2012.  Azimut-Benetti also enters into marina ownership debuting with Varazze in 2005, and then followed with Viareggio and Livorno in Italy, and Valletta in Malta, and on Lake Chimki, Moscow in Russia. Paolo Vitelli also created the small Hotels de Charme chain that restore old buildings in Chamonix in France and Champoluc and Mascognaz in the Italian region of Valle d’Aosta, which conferred on him the title of Amis de la Vallée d’Aoste.  Paolo Vitelli also lead the Italian Boat Builders UCINA Association President from 1998 to 2006, a period of record growth for the Italian Nautical Industry which is still unprecedented.  Paolo Vitelli was also an honorary consul of Norway from 1974 to 2018 and from March 2013 to September 2015, he was a member of the Italian parliament, elected in the Civic Choice list with Monti for Italy. He was a member of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic and the Transport and Finance Commissions.  Paolo Vitelli also received the following honours; 1996 Cavaliere del lavoro Order of Merit for Labour; 2004 Honorary degree in mechanical engineering from Politecnico di Torino; 2006 Confindustria “Champions of Growth” award as best Italian business in the five-year period 2001-2006 in terms of growth, innovation and internationalisation; 2011 Amis de la Vallée d’Aoste for his contribution to the development of tourism in various locations by creating quality hotels in old rural buildings; 2017 Carlo Riva Award for entrepreneur of the year; and in 2022 he was named the Torinese of the Year.  Paolo Vitelli will give leadership to Azimut-Benetti Group to his daughter Giovanna in 2022.

Giuseppe Balducci 1937 - 2024

Overmarine Group announces the passing of its founder and President Giuseppe Balducci on Monday tenth June. Born in Limite sull'Arno in 1937, Giuseppe took his first steps in the yachting industry as a very young man. After moving to Viareggio early in his childhood, in 1953, aged only sixteen he began his adventure as an electrician at the historic Picchiotti shipyard, where he worked for many years, until 1971, when the Viareggio-based boat builder declared bankruptcy. In the same year, Giuseppe decided to set up his own business, Elettromare, which manufactures marine electrical systems to this day. Even at that time, Elettromare was already a pioneering company that made electrical panels and systems for boats using cutting-edge equipment. As part of his business activity, Giuseppe Balducci travelled extensively around Italy and the United States, and it was just during those trips that he realised how boat building was evolving, moving from the use of wood to that of fiberglass. This inspired him to open a factory in Massarosa, Lucca called Effebi in 1983 for the construction of fiberglass hulls and parts. This Balducci's vision proved to be far-sighted, with many boat builders starting entrusting him with the construction of their hulls. Shortly afterwards, Overmarine was established, debuting with the 42 and 65 Open models in 1986 specializing in the construction of fast maxi-open yachts with an unmistakable, timeless style, with the company rapidly became a world leader in the construction of vessels in this segment. As many as 85 units of the first super sport yacht model, the Mangusta 80 which debuted in 1992 and was produced till 2018. Today's Overmarine Group is the result of the unfaltering enthusiasm of a man who believed in a great dream. Giuseppe Balducci was convinced of Viareggio's potential and was one of the founding partners of two companies actively operating in the port of Viareggio, Udina and ArPeCa. Active until the end, Giuseppe personally oversaw the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Pisa, which will be officially opened over the next few days. Giuseppe will always be remembered as a reserved man, with a subtle sense of humor and a great love for his wife Bruna, his children Maurizio and Katia, his beloved granddaughters, and all his employees, who, together with him, have built vessels and yachts that have become icons in the marine industry. The Overmarine team, the boating and yachting World want to remember him, as they express their profound gratitude to Giuseppe and extend their thoughts and condolences to the Balducci family at this difficult time.

Paolo Pininfarina 1958 - 2024

Renowned designer and chairman of the Pininfarina Group, Paolo Pininfarina left for the better World on ninth April 2024 at the age of 65, surrounded by his family and loved ones in Turin.  Following the death of his brother Andrea in 2008, Paolo took chairman duties of the Pininfarina Group, the design firm which was founded by his grand father Battista "Pinin" Farina in 1930 after leaving his brothers coach building Stabilmenti Farina firm in 1928.  Pininfarina is recognized as one of the most influential automotive designers, designing endless iconic cars for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Maserati, Lancia, in Italy and Daewoo, Hyundai, and Peugeot beyond the shoe shaped peninsula.  At the height of its business in 2006 which also included automotive production, Pininfarina employed 2,768 employees in its Turin head quarters and its other offices in Europe, USA, and Morocco.  Pininfarina entered yacht design in the end 1970's first with Magnum, then the designing of both the two Italian Blue Ribbon Challengers; Azimut Atlantic Challenger and Destriero, Beneteau in both sailing and motor boats, some works for Azimut in the early nineties, to then join Bruno Abate in redesigning all the Primatist G and B series sport cruisers and yachts in between 2006 to 2012.  In 2017 Pininfarina joined forces with Princess Yachts first with the R35, a collaboration which then extended to all the newer and larger models which followed from Plymouth.  Pininfarina also designed one off super yachts for Abeking and Rasmussen, Oceanco, and Rossinavi, with collaborations also made with renowned yacht designer Fulvio de Simoni.

Herbert Dahm 1929 - 2024

Herbert Dahm left for the better World on Sunday eighteen February, just a few weeks shy of his 95th birthday in his home-town of Dusseldorf. Herbert Dahm began his storied yachting career by accident. Following World War II Herbert Dahm started by selling electronics, including radios, and later developed financial software. Sailing was a passion during his free time, however, and by the sixties, he yearned to cruise the world, and set out to find a suitable sail-yacht in 1967, choosing the Dutch shipyard Jongert. Although he didn’t end up sailing the globe, Dahm found something else, spending the next three decades as the builder’s marketing and sales representative. It simultaneously led to him building five Jongerts for his own use. The most famous of his Jongert's was s/y Inspiration from 1985, which then became Jongert's successful 2200s semi-series, and which he ultimately owned till 2020.  Designed by Ron Holland the first 2200s had a few revolutions from a transom garage with a hydraulically lowering hatch that became a swim platform, and a custom bilge tunnel stowing her racing sails, preserving the interior while permitting quick access to them when wanted. Arguably, Inspiration was the first cruiser-racer in her size range, a novel concept at the time. Even as a sailor, though, Dahm loved motoryachts, too, taking delivery of Benetti's Classic 115 My Way in 2000. The international yachting community became accustomed to seeing Dahm attend yacht shows with his Benetti and her unusual tender, True Love. True Love was a Jongert, stowing on the sundeck. Dahm further had a four-decade run as the owner of Dahm International. Under his leadership, the company expanded beyond Germany into Monaco and Spain. Additionally, it added services such as yacht management and refit management to its roster. Although he sold the business in the late 1990s, he stepped back into it in 2006 to better serve clients, selling it again in 2014, at age 85, staying on as honorary president. He finally retired for good just last year, making the announcement during the Düsseldorf boat show in 2023, a show he co-founded in 1969.  In his last parts of his life Herbart Dahm primarily took care of the “Momentum Spa”, a wellness facility in Golzheim, Dusseldorf.

Donovan Shead 1936 - 2024

Donovan 'Don' Shead left for the better World on Saturday third February, peacefully passing away at the age of 87, surrounded by his family.  Don Shead was born May six 1936, in Birmingham, Britain's most far away city to the sea.  His father Henry Shead, a mechanical engineer with passion for boats both sail and power, will pass his passions to Don at a young age, taking him to sail dinghy racing first on the lake and then at twelve years of age to Cowes, what will become his adoptive town into the years.  Both places will play an important role to Don Shead; Birmingham the UK motor city will give the passion for engines, while Cowes expands the love for the water.  Don raced his first powerboat race in 1961 with a loaned boat, and a year later purchases his own race boat.  In 1967 coming from his racing experience, and a natural design and engineering talent, Don architects his first boat, a six meter speed boat which with him on the helm will come second in the Paris six hours race.  This boat will be produced as the Avenger 21, and is followed by the Avenger 34 which will win the Round Britain race of the same year. With this Don Shead launches his career as naval architect and fast hull specialist, receiving two request for two Class Three hulls, and a Camper and Nicholson 27 meter super yacht on his first year in business.  The year of change for Don Shead comes in 1968 when his designed 25 foot single engine wood build Telstar with Tony Sopwith on the helm wins the Cowes race in rough sea conditions.  A year later in 1969 Don will present himself to Cowes with the first Miss Enfield, built of alumimium and just completed before the race starts.  Unfortunately for Miss Enfield after seventy nautical miles in first place she will retire due to engine problems.  A year later the one meter longer Miss Enfield II will win the Cowes race with Tony Sopwith again on the helm.  With Tony retiring from racing, Don will return to race helming Miss Enfield II himself, winning Cowes again, Naples and Viareggio, while a sister-boat driven by Franco Castoldi also takes line honors in Santa Margherita in 1974.  Don Shead will retire from racing in 1974 when an accident during a race will injure his back, making a one surprise come back in 1981 at Viareggio, where he places second.  Don's Italian race success in the early seventies get's the admiration of Italians Attilio Petroni and Francesco Cosentino, who will commission him a full racing boat.  This will be the 38 foot mono-hull to be build in alumimium by CUV; Cantieri Uniti Viareggio, an alloy subcontractor, and finished by long standing yacht building family Picchiotti. Fifteen of the CUV Picchiotti's are reported build, six 41's, and nine 38.  With the CUV 38 Consentino will win the Class One World Championship held in Argentina in 1978, a feat the CUV Shead hull will do two other times in 1982 and 84.  The Don Shead designed Italian build CUV was the first to break the US hulls dominion of the Class One World Championship after fourteen years from the debut of the racing formula in 1964. Unknown to many is that Don Shead also designed some sail yachts, and a windsurf which set a speed record in the mid eighties.  Miss Enfield II was also revolutionary for its signature wrap around windscreen which gave crew better safety and protection, a design feature Don Shead introduced on the Halmatic DS110 which launched in 1968 and was produced till 72 in 28 hulls.  In 1978 Don Shead will join Sunseeker debuting with the 28 Offshore model, and from their on doing all the designs from five up to 37 meters and till 2007 when he will sell his business to the Poole builder bosses Robert and John Braithwaite, remaining as a consultant until stepping down due to ill health.  Out of tens of models for Sunseeker's a note is deserved on the 34 XPS Portofino which debuted in 1983, and the Tomahawk 37 from 1987, both of these being based on the legendary CUV 38 hull, with the former winning the Round Britain 1984 in the CX Class, and placing fifth overall.  Apart Sunseeker and the mentioned Avenger's, CUV, and Halmatic, Don Shead designed boats and yachts for Australian Motor Yachts, Broooke, Cammenga, Camper and Nicholson, Devonport, Feadship, Lavagna Admiral, Mefasa, Palmer Johnson, Picchiotti, Souter, Tecnomarine, and Viudes.

Jerry Husted 1928 - 2024

Jerry Husted the Nordic Tugs founder died at 96 years old on second January 2024.  A pioneer of cruising tugs, Jerry Husted introduced the 26-foot Nordic Tug at the 1980 Seattle Boat Show, the origin boat of the cruising tugboat genre. During the energy crisis of the 1970s Husted concluded that powerboaters needed a vessel that wouldn’t cost a fortune to buy and operate, what was the company introductory statement. He built a 26-foot boat with a traditional workboat profile and introduced it as the Nordic Tug at the 1980 Seattle Boat Show. Powered by a 3-cylinder, 36-hp Volvo diesel, the boat had a range of 600 miles at 6.5 knots. The price was $29,900.  By the end of the 10-day show, Husted had sold 33 boats; by the end of the month following the event, he had orders for a total of 54 even though the price had increased to $39,900 after the show.  Nordic Tugs has since built more than 900 boats from 26 to 54 feet. Husted gave up the helm of Nordic Tugs in December 2007, although he remained with the company until three days before his eightieth birthday, in 2012. Known as a hands-on executive, he sea-trialed all but a handful of Nordic Tug models.

Frits de Voogt 1927 - 2023

Former Feadship director Frits de Voogt has left for the better World at 96 years of age in native town of Haarlem on Wednesday 20 December.  Real name Frederik, Frits was born in Haarlem on 21 August 1927.  Frits took over De Voogt naval architecture from his father Henri after he suffered a stroke in 1958, and then went on to lead the firm and Feadship for decades, and together with his team, shaping that present and the future of the renowned yacht and super yacht Dutch builder. Frits designs were unique and are still the basis of today's Feadship yachts. Even after his retirement in 1995, Frits remained involved and interested in yacht building, always astute and modest. Frits was a mentor of the current leaders of Feadship, and went on to take the Lifetime Achievement Award from Showboats International in 2016.  Frits de Voogt also competed in the four rowing disciple without a helmsman and went to represent Holland in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.  Frits was married to Luuk de Voogt-Groot, who passed away in 2011.

Roger Hewson 1933 - 2023

The founder of Sabre Yachts, Roger Douglas Hewson, of Highland Green, Topsham, passed away peacefully on Dec. 2, 2023.  Roger was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on March 2, 1933, son of Irene Elderkin and Joseph Selden Hewson.  Roger attended Westmount High School and graduated from McGill University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1955. He married Charlotte Gulick Hewson “Charlie” in 1955 and they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in 2023.  Roger followed his father’s footsteps in Hewson Construction where they built industrial buildings in Montreal, including four pavilions for the 1976 World’s Fair.  The Hewsons moved to Maine in 1970 where Roger founded Sabre Yachts. Over the years Sabre built over 1600 sailboats from 28 feet to 45 feet, and later began building power boats, which Sabre continues to build today. Roger was a very competitive sailor and raced in the International 14-foot Dinghy, Dragon and Cruising Classes. He also learned to fly and had many years at the controls of his Cessna airplane.  Roger and Charlie met through skiing and they enjoyed many years skiing as a family in the Laurentians, at Pleasant Mountain, and later at Sugarloaf where he skied until his mid-80s.  Roger served on boards of several non-profit organizations including the National Sailing Association, National Marine Manufacturing Association, Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve of Boston, and Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce. Most recently he served as a volunteer at Maine Maritime Museum.  The Hewsons lived on Raymond Cape on Sebago Lake for fifty years in a home which Roger designed and built in 1971. In 2010 they moved to Cundy’s Harbor, and later to Highland Green in Topsham. Roger was predeceased by his sister, Joanne Hewson Rees, of Montreal, by one day.  Roger is survived by his wife, Charlie; his daughters Deborah Merrill and Evelyn King and her husband Bruce; his son, Halsey; grandchildren Seth King, Abbie Garcia-Tunon and her husband Javi, Lee King, Parker Merrill and Dana Merrill; and great-grandchildren, Javi, Lucy, and Luke Garcia-Tunon.

Salvatore Pollio 1934 - 2023

Salvatore Pollio, the entrepreneur from Sorrento and co-founder of Apreamare, passed away on Monday April 24, 2023, aged 89.  Beloved by all who knew him, Salvatore Pollio was for many years the heart and soul of the production and work organisation side of Apreamare, the boatyard he founded with Cataldo Aprea in 1988 and a benchmark brand today for classic Sorrento gozzo boats revisited from a modern perspective. A pragmatic and reserved man with a wealth of boatbuilding experience, Salvatore Pollio was a key figure in the company and a second father to all the craftsmen he personally supervised for many years. At work, he was straight-talking and gifted in his ability to pass on his expertise with grace, kindness and irony. When he retired from active duty in the company, he handed over the baton to his daughter Rita, today CEO, and son Tonino, yard director, but never stopped taking an interest in Apreamare and was always excited by the excellent results the company has achieved in recent years. Business partners, but above all friends, Cataldo Aprea and Salvatore Pollio had complementary personalities – the former volcanic and the latter more reserved – and treated each other with great respect and fondness, but most importantly they designed together the first ever planning Gozzo with a fibreglass hull, Smeraldo 7, the first revolutionary example of this hugely successful type of boat for which Apreamare is today known worldwide. “I like to remember Salvatore as the other half of Apreamare’s heart and soul, a reserved person who preferred to keep a low profile but who was always present and passionate about the business. Without him, our brand wouldn’t be what it is today,” said Cataldo Aprea, Apreamare chairman.

Giuseppe Taranto 1969 - 2023

Giuseppe Taranto, Vice President of The Italian Sea Group, has died after a long illness, and left for the better World on Tuesday 28 February at 53 years of age.  Giovianni Costantino CEO of the Italian Sea Group in a press release remembered Giuseppe Taranto with great affection having collaborated and worked with him for the last thirty years. Giuseppe Taranto who is from the Italian region of Apulia, was resident in Lido di Camaiore in Tuscany.  He joined Tecnomar in 2009 as a general manager, and in 2016 was appointed as Vice Chairman and a board director member of the Italian Sea Group. Giuseppe Taranto is remembered with great affection by his wife Lucia, and his two children Ludovica and Valentino, family and friends.

Jan-Eric Nyfelt - 2023

On Saturday, 28 January Baltic Yachts family member, and one of the original founders, Jan-Erik “Janne” Nyfelt had passed away.  Baltic Yachts lost a person that have contributed greatly to what Baltic is today. “Jannes“ career as a boatbuilder started from a very young childhood working in his father small boatbuilding shop. Undoubtedly one of the best ways of learning the practical side of the trade. In addition to his practical yacht building skills, he also wanted to learn more about design, calculations, making line drawings and the theoretical side of creating a boat. He worked, some time, for a local ships engineer and got good insight also into the theoretical side. Janne was involved in the start of Nautor, not as owner but as boatbuilding specialist. He was also one of the five persons starting Baltic Yachts and was a very active member in management and the development of our company until his retirement. Janne legacy to the Finnish boatbuilding industry is invaluable. Janne was a person that had a never-ending energy always intensively involved in many things. Very keen on developing new materials and methods everything that could improve the product. Whatever he got himself involved in he was in with full energy. Janne was a respected member of the Baltic Yachts family over seeing for example the return of hull #one the 46 last Summer he was back at the dock.  Jan-Eric is also closely remembered by the Nyfelt’s family, including those that still work at Baltic which include his son, Kenneth Nyfelt, the sales director.

Kenneth Charles Stock 1938 - 2022

It is with a heavy heart that Cruisers Yachts has announced the death of its long-time owner Kenneth Charles Stock, who passed away on November 28, 2022. Born April 6, 1938 in Oconto, Wisconsin. K.C. from a young age had a knack as an entrepreneur. He quickly progressed in business to buy his first company, a contractor yard, in 1971 and renamed it Stock Lumber, growing it to 11 yards across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Following his passion for the lumber business and the entrepreneurial spirit, he bought his hometown boat company, Cruisers Yachts. Growing up in Oconto, it was important to K.C. that the town continued to thrive and that meant keeping jobs local. He invested in the company and the Oconto community to see it flourish. Mark Pedersen, President of Cruisers Yachts, said. With K.C.’s support for over 28 years, Cruisers Yachts has enjoyed tremendous growth and is now known as one of the world’s premier manufacturers of premium yachts ranging from 33 to 60 feet. Named after his father, the Cantius series was born with the launch of the 48 Cantius in 2011. Since then, ten models, including the largest in the line-up, the 60 Cantius, have been badged with his father’s name. In 2019, Cruisers Yachts unveiled the Grand Luxury Sport series, which happens to be the initials of his loving wife Georgia. The GLS series comprises of four models, ranging from 34 to 50 feet. Wanting to continue the company’s growth, KCS International, Inc., parent company of Cruisers Yachts, significantly expanded its manufacturing and production capacity with the acquisition of the nearby Pulaski, Wisconsin facility that formerly built Carver and Marquis brand yachts. Shortly after, K.C. was looking for a new successor that would keep Cruisers Yachts rooted in Wisconsin. In May of 2021, K.C. sold the company to MarineMax, Inc., the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with the promise to keep Cruisers Yachts, the employees, and the community thriving.  K.C. always believed in giving back to the community. One of his greatest achievements was starting the K.C. Stock Foundation to help those in need. He took great pride in making a positive difference in other people’s lives. His foundation made the lead gift to start the Children’s Hospital in North-eastern Wisconsin at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. He would encourage others to donate to one of his favourite charities, the HSHS St. Vincent’s Foundation that provides Christmas presents to all the children in the Paediatric Oncology Unit. K.C. loved to do this and bring families a bit of joy and happiness during the holiday season.

Juan Sastre Bernat 1937 - 2022

On Thursday 17th November 2022, Mr. Juan Sastre Bernat, founder of Menorquin Yachts and a reference in the nautical world for Menorca and the Spanish yacht building community, passed away. Coming from an auto dealership empire which he founded with his brother Jose in 1960, and at some point distributing six marques, Juan Sastre Bernat founded Astilleros Menorca and created his first range of cruisers inspired to the traditional llaüt of the island of Menorca. In 1997 Juan rebrands Astilleros Mernoca to Menorquin Yachts, a proposal that made its mark in an already consolidated market. Thanks to its success, the shipyard began its expansion in the nautical sector, becoming a competitor of major brands in the world market.  The Sastre family will sell Menorquin in 2006 to a private investment firm, with son Jose Luise founding Sasga Yachts in 2010.  Juan Sastre not only founded Menorquin Yachts, he was also a visionary who brought the traditional Menorcan fishing llaüt to the forefront and to the World nautical market. This new approach to the traditional boat, together with his sacrifice, dedication and brilliant entrepreneurship, have led to his boats being recognised in international markets, today with the Sasga Yachts brand name.  Juan Sastre Bernat was married Teresa Gardés Pons and they had three children: Basilio, José Luis and Juan Francisco.

Dick Mulder 1962 - 2022

Mulder Shipyard is mourning the loss of Dirk Robert 'Dick' Mulder, who passed away on 24 July 2022 at the age of 60 surrounded by his family.  Born on 26 February 1962, Dick Mulder served in the army before taking over his father’s Dirk Mulder Senior shipyard in Voorschoten, the Netherlands, which only had one employee at the time in 1984. From the beginning, Dick built up the business to be focused on quality above all, paying attention to every single detail of the yachts that the shipyard delivered. Since then, Mulder Shipyard has delivered over 134 iconic yachts and has also been awarded three Superyacht Awards.  Dick was distinguished by his resilience, perseverance and bravery, as evident from his bold decision to build a brand new shipyard during the financial crisis. Always looking ahead, his son, Nick Mulder, joined the business twelve years ago as the next generation and represents a safe pair of hands for the business going forward. Words cannot adequately express the sadness at Dick’s passing for the whole Mulder community, and their gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. The Mulder team will honour Dick Mulder’s memory by continuing the work he loved so much and he will be deeply missed.