John Freeman 1917 - 2013

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Mr John Freeman one of the pioneers of the modern marine industry. He passed away peacefully at home in Devon on Friday 26th July 2013, two days before his 96th birthday.  Mr Freeman who led an interesting life and sparkled with energy and enthusiasm was one of the paramount leisure craft manufacturers from the 1950's to the 1980's. He manufactured over 6500 cruisers from 22ft to 41ft with a range of 27 models. Mr Freeman was born into a farming family in 1917; he was very keen on woodwork and by the age of 12 was making poultry houses to help sustain his family. At 17 he built his first caravan - it had a wooden frame and 'deck chair' canvas for the sides! He spent the war years in the RAF continuing the caravan construction while on leave and after his de-mob in 1946.  At this time polyester resin was an unknown quantity but he experimented with it during the development of his caravans. GRP caravans were very heavy and not so successful however the idea of a boat led to the first GRP production line for family cruisers with the 'birth' of the iconic Freeman 22 in 1957. The introduction of the Freeman brand was at Olympia during the London Motor Show. Mr Freeman, at this time, revolutionised the industry by producing a ready to go, all the comforts of home, user friendly boat you could just order. There was no longer any need to commission an architect to design or a boat-builder to construct your individual vessel. The highest quality craftsmanship and materials were used in production to the degree of buying a tree and using the same grained veneer throughout each cruiser. As there were very few wholesalers at this time Mr Freeman designed and manufactured his own fittings. The continued success of the Freeman brand is owing to the fact that we are able to continue to supply virtually all of the original fittings and through the Freeman Owners Club we expect to be able to secure their future.  Mr Freeman will be greatly missed but his inspiration will live on.

Marco Pezzini 1933 - 2012

The yachting world of Viareggio say its last farewell to one of its greats, Marco Pezzini one of the founding fathers of Versilcraft. Marco Pazzini passed away on the night of 2 May after a long illness, at 79 years.  Marco was a great pioneer in the World yachting capital of Viareggio: one of the founding members of the shipyard Versilcraft, created in 1964, and to which he devoted his entire life until the health allowed him. Pezzini had the strength to face in the course of his career, also a dramatic fire in 1990 devastating the establishment building site of the famous yacht builder. Marco Pezzini was a stubborn man, able to work until the last, even when the health forces was abandoning him. Pezzini leaves his wife Silvia and his son Andrea.

Alex Chueh 1930 - 2011

It is with great sadness that the management and staff of Ocean Alexander regret to announce the death of Alex Chueh, founder of Ocean Alexander. Alex Chueh passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 3rd, after a long battle with terminal illness. Born on October 19, 1933, in Fujian, China, Alex pursued a career with the military early in his life. He graduated from Taiwan Military Academy and enlisted in the Army until he retired from full service in 1970.  Alex started Ocean Alexander in 1978, with the 50 Mark I as the first vessel. In just over 5 years from start-up, his yard built Nighthawk, a 70’ motor yacht, one of the largest yachts ever produced by an Asian yard in 1985. Alex will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the Asian yacht industry, successfully establishing a market in the US for his boats. During his lifetime, over 1,500 Ocean Alexander boats were completed and over 40 new models introduced as the company grew with his vision and the continued vision of his son, John Chueh.

Salvatore Basile 1952 - 2011

Ferretti Group CEO Salvatore Basile suddenly passed away on 27 March after suffering a heart attack. He was 58.  The entire Ferretti Group team, Chairman Norberto Ferretti, the Board of Directors and the Executive committee, deeply shaken by his premature death, share the sorrow that Mrs Basile and family bear. He will always be remembered for the great love he had for his work, his strategic vision and strong, sensitive personality, qualities he managed to convey instantly to all Group employees, with enthusiasm, motivation and strength.  Salvatore Basile began his career in the late 70s working for CM-Carlo Miazzo, and going on to cover roles of increasing responsibility in the groups ZF, Saeco, Demm SpA, De Longhi and Baxi SpA. Lastly, in 2009 he was appointed CEO at Ferretti Group, where he superbly managed its reorganization and relaunch project.

Carson Buddy Davis Jnr 1949 - 2011

Carson R. "Buddy" Davis Jr., who designed and built Carolina-style sportfishing boats from 28 to 78 feet, died Monday at his home on Monday January 17 in Marathon, Fla., after a lengthy illness, at age 62. A native of Manteo, N.C., Davis was the son of Carson Ralph Davis and "Nonnie" Etheridge Davis, and the sister of Anne Davis Creef. Davis' boats were designed and built mainly under two companies: Davis Boat Works, which he founded in 1973, and Davis Yachts, which he formed in the mid 1980s. During his 45 year boating career, Davis built some 400 yachts. Master at capturing the Carolina look, Davis designed and built boats togather with Donald Blount that were known for their sharp entries and dramatic bow flare. His hull designs were all about function, but Davis also brought a level of luxury to the sportfishing boat that had not been seen before. Davis leaves his hife Barbara; daughter the Hon. Amber Davis, his son Carson Wade Davis who works at Spencer Yachts; his former wife, Elaina Davis; and two stepsons, Tres Midgett, and Matthew Midgett.

Graham Beck 1930 - 2010

Graham Beck, former owner of UK boat builder Princess Yachts, has passed away at the age of 80 on 27 July. The South African tycoon bought Princess as part of the Renwick Group in 1981, selling it to French billionaire Bernard Arnault in 2008. He also owned one of the largest wine producers in South Africa and had interests in mining and racehorse breeding. Entrepreneur, coal magnate and esteemed South African wine farmer, Graham Beck, died in London of cancer. Born in Cape Town and a graduate of the University of Cape Town, Beck pursued several business interests, but it was his love of horses that led him to Robertson which is located about two hours inland from Cape Town. Princess chairman David King told the Plymouth Herald that Beck was the the best owner Princess ever could have wished for. Beck, whose body was yesterday being flown to Israel for burial, is survived by his wife Rhona and son Antony.

Fred Hudson 1929 - 2010

Fred Lennox Hudson Jr., 80, of Miami, Fla., died Saturday, May 8, 2010, from cancer. Born in Hartford, Conn on May 24, 1929, to Fred Lennox Hudson and Sybil Geer Brewer Hudson, he was a 1947 graduate of the Loomis School in Windsor, Conn., and Cornell University's College of Architecture School of Fine Arts, 1951.  He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Phi Kappa Psi from 1948. An article outlining his life and career was published in a recent issue of Phi Kappa Psi magazine.  Some sketches for the Packard Motor Company began a design career that spanned five decades, and included work at Chris Craft, American Motors, Chrysler, Hatteras Yachts, the Whitcraft Division of North American Rockwell, Bertram, and Uniesse Yachts of Italy.  A member of the Industrial Design Society of America, he was Founder and President of Fred L. Hudson Industrial Design.  He leaves his sister Janice May Hudson Davies; brother Howard Geer Hudson; sons Fred Lennox Hudson III (Angela) of Haverford, Pa., David Durant Hudson (Katherine) of Falmouth, Mass., and Eric Colwell Hudson (Kathleen) of Acton, Mass.; six grandsons and his former wife, Joan Kelley Hudson Kopperl of West Stockbridge.

C.N. Ray 1925 - 2009

Cornelius Nathaniel Ray III, who founded Sea Ray Boats in 1959, died on November 12 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 84 years old. Ray opened the first Sea Ray boat factory in Oxford, Michigan, in 1959. He grew the company into an icon, leading it through the industry's peaks and valleys, including the inflationary periods and oil embargoes of the 1970s. He sold it to Brunswick in 1986 for US$350m. The book, Commanding the Waterways: The Story of Sea Ray, describes how Ray was one of the early adopters of fiberglass, and instilled a culture of innovation into what has become the world's largest production boat builder. Sea Ray now builds boats from 17 to 60 feet. Besides building boats, Ray's other passion was racehorses. He began his first thoroughbred operation in 1983 after acquiring Evergreen Farm in Paris, Kentucky. He won his first stakes race in 1985 and other stakes winners soon followed. Ray was also a frequent participant in the Breeders' Cup program, and won the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in 1996 and 1997. Ray is survived by five sons, a daughter, and his wife Carol. There will be a remembrance ceremony at the St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California, on Saturday.

Jim Cress 1946 - 2008

Nordic Tugs is mourning the passing of president and CEO Jim Cress, who died October eight from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident.  Born May 13, 1946 in Chicago, Cress joined Nordic Tugs of Burlington, Wash., as a sales manager in 1989. He left the company in 1993 to start SkipperCress Yacht Sales, an Anacortes, Wash., dealer for Nordic Tugs. In 1996, Cress and a small group of investors purchased Nordic Tugs and Cress has served as the company’s president and CEO for a majority of the last twelve years.  Cress is survived by his wife, Stephanie, three sons, Jeff, Allen and Steven, along with three grandchildren, and many friends and co-workers.

Bruno Abbate 1951 - 2008

PowerYacht gives the blessings to World renowned boat builder Bruno Abbate who yesterday 16th July in a Milan hospital left us for the better World. Bruno Abbate 57 year old was son of Guido Abbate a renowned wooden boat builder from lake Como Italy. The Abbate boat building tradition goes back to 1873 when Giuseppe Abbate, grand father to Bruno started building fishing and carrier boats on Lake Como. In 1930 Guido Abbate, the father of Bruno mounted the first engine on a flat bottom boat, which started the Abbate fame for fast boats. Bruno Abbate founded his own yard in 1978, which started the change in the family to fiberglass construction. In 1987 with the CUV Primatist powered with triple Isotta Fraschini of 900 hp each, Bruno won the European Class 1 Championship, along with this the mono hull carried on winning the Italian and Mediterranean titles for the same year.

Sergio Carpentieri 1956 - 2007

As is often the case at such times, we all realise that we have lost someone very special and important to us. Sergio Carpentieri has left us in a collision on the start of the first round of the German Grand Prix of the Sea in  , a talented powerboat racer. Always a huge sports fan, Sergio Carpentieri, born in his beloved Naples on 20 October 1956, embarked on his sports career at a very early age. Rowing was his first love, a sport to which he was very much committed and in which he achieved outstanding results, winning two Italian junior championships and taking part in two world championships. With his indomitable spirit, at the age of sixteen he became captivated by water polo. Again the results revealed the champion in him and he immediately won an Italian junior championship. He was however attracted by speed and at eighteen threw himself into the world of rally driving, although as a true Neapolitan and fanatic of the sea, he soon moved on to offshore and powerboat racing. The first inshore races were in the shadow of that great champion Antonio Gioffredi and in 1975 came the first participation in the Class 3C trophy competition at Naples. From then onwards he concentrated on water sports and in an incomparable career spanning over 30 years he won four Italian offshore titles in the 3 litre, 4 litre and 6 litre categories. He also won three European offshore titles in the 6 litre class and was ranked third three times in the world offshore 6 litre class and in Class 2. In 1985 he won the Bastia-Viareggio-Bastia event. He took part five times in the Venice-Monte Carlo event and won it once alongside Michael Reagan (son of Ronald). In 2006 he finished fourth in the P1 SuperSport class on the FB Design Sunracer 38 boat. He was competing this season as constructor of the Shipworks Carpenter 38 boat with two Yanmar 480 engines, a boat made to a design by the engineer Angelo D'Ettore. He died suddenly yesterday, leaving an enormous void for all those who appreciated his smile, joie de vivre, cheerfulness and the sunny nature that is the birthright of the place where he was proud to live, Bacoli, the small town facing Pozzuoli. The world of Italian powerboat racing has lost one of its greatest representatives. A great man.