Carlo Bassi 1961 - 2015

Carlo Bassi was hit by a stroke on the night of April 26, he left his wife and four children at the age of 54 years. Carlo Bassi was a manager of long experience, since September of 2010 had become a shareholder of Borile motorcycles. Carlo Bassi was in his past a producer of news programs for Mediaset and Odeon TV in 1983, he occupied himself in advertising, public relations and has been managing director of Carat Vision, FilmItalia, Fiera Milano Expo Cts and Class Rome, Class Editors. In 2008 he became a shareholder of Sartoria Milan Acquadimare, then the medical center Ambrosiano of Borile, and Sciallino yacht which he was also president. In 2012 he founded BackToWotk24, Gruppo 24 Ore, and last year was elected to general director of the Foundation of the Anthonys Father. A funeral was held yesterday Tuesday, April 28 at 10 am in the parish of San Giuliano, in Cologno Monzese. 

Micheal Fiore 1970 - 2014

A boating accident Saturday during the Shootout competition has taken the life of Michael Fiore, 44, who died the Tuesday evening of 26 August at University Hospital in Columbia after developing complications from surgery. Fiore was the throttle-man in the 42-foot catamaran Outerlimits that flipped multiple times during a run down the mile-long course about 10:30 a.m. Saturday near Captain Ron’s. He was owner of the Bristol, R.I.-based Outerlimits Offshore Powerboat Company.  Fiore and Joel Begin, the boat’s driver, were extricated from the badly damaged boat by emergency crews. Fiore was airlifted to Columbia, and Begin was taken by Lake Regional Hospital and later released.  Initial reports listed Fiore as in critical but responsive condition after the accident.  A report from the Missouri Highway Patrol after the accident says the crash was caused when the boat lost control at high speeds due to wind interference.  Frank Sciacca, general counsel of Outerlimits, released a statement saying the entire Outerlimits family is devastated by the loss of its friend and leader of the company. Fiore founded Outerlimits in 1993.

Andrea Pezzini 1969 - 2014

Andre Pezzini fought against a disease that has proved stronger than him, and finally he surrendered, leaving his wife and two daughters on the 30 April 2014. Along with all those who knew him. Andrea Pezzini from Viareggio, was since 2012 owner of a company specialized in the installation of sound systems. Son of Marco Pezzini who disappeared in 2012 and was founder and owner of Versilcraft since 1964.  Andrea Pezzini had since 2000 taken the helm of Versilcraft, one of the famous yacht builders from the Viareggio area. Then given the crisis of the yachting sector, he decided to completely change the field and devoted himself to the installation of sound systems and founded in 2012 together with Alessandro Breschi, the Power Sound, headquartered at the Ghivizzani in Massarosa. An activity, this, in which he was quickly established, that led him to collaborate with many in the Viareggio Carnival, providing the equipment of audio and lights for wagons. Andrea Pezzini led a very active professional life to which he was able to match an equally happy family living. Andrea was in fact married to Serena Pieracci, with whom he had two beautiful daughters: Lisa, the largest; and Virginia, the smallest.  Until just a year ago Andrea Pezzini was diagnosed with a tumor that has upset his existence, which he tried in every way to fight, and finally he had to surrender. 

Paolo Caliari 1932 - 2014

Remembering Paolo Caliari also known as the father of Mediterranean yacht design who left for the better World on Sunday 13 April 2014.  Born in 1932 Paolo Caliari becomes a World renowned yacht designer who contributed not only to the birth of the so called Italian Mediterranean style of yachting, but is considered as one of the fathers of contemporary style.  He played a pioneer role in shaping yacht design as is known today, understood as a combination of knowledge, skills and processes, which are organized around technological research.  Paolo Caliari is the designer of many legandary boats mostly characterizing a combination of both aggressive forms and clear, elegant straight lines.  In his career Paolo has worked for a whose who list in the global yachting industry from the sixties till the nineties for such names as Alalunga, Arno, Baglietto, Denison, Donzi, Esterel, Intermarine, Mochi, Picchioti Proteksan, Roscioli, Sanlorenzo, Tecnomarine, Wellcraft, and Vosper.  One of his longest standing collaboration came with Cantieri Navali dell Arno and its Leopard range which started in the seventies and continued till near the end of his career.  Arno Leopard made a special hit with the mid eighties started important 20m model, at that time the largest open sport yacht which made school and over the years morphed in a series of models including the popular 27.  Paolo Caliari best selling design was the Tecnomarine C42 which started production in 1973 and lasted till 1986 and sold over one hundred units.  Caliari at some points in his career also had a brand of his own with the Caliari Yacht offshoot produced in collaboration with Mochi in the late eighties and early nineties. Worth to note that some of the famous Italian Yacht designers and naval architects who will make hit over the years also started as assistants in his studio; Aldo Cichero, Andrea Basicalupo, Anna and Franco Dellarolle, and last but not least his son Pier Luigi Caliari who with assistance from father Paolo and collaborators Carlo Donati and Carola Gentilini founded the Caliari Architects Yacht Design in 2010.

Guy Couach 1926 - 2014

Guy Couach, who founded the Couach shipyard in France in 1962 to manufacture boats in composite materials, died January 6, 2014. He was 88.  Couach was the grandson of Albert Couach, who founded Couach marine engines in 1897. Guy Couach joined the family business as a young man and was among the first people to consider the mass production of motorboats, with work he began in 1946. In 1962 he founded Guy Couach shipyard, which built boats in composite. One of his earliest developments was the Aramat, a yacht built in 1970 from a Kevlar-based material.  Several hundred high-performance yachts have followed in the decades since. Nepteam, a regional investment group, bought the Couach yard in 2011. The facility continues to turn out composite boats from 65 to 164 feet LOA, including patrol and rescue boats for navy and coast guard operations.

Martin Broom MDE 1934 - 2013

Martin Broom, MBE, a champion of the Norfolk Broads and a pioneer and leader in the boat-building industry, has sadly passed away at 79 years old. Martin contributed thirty years service to the Broads Authority; sixty years creating the wonderful marque, Broom Boats, and years of dedication to the national marine industry. A boatbuilding champion in the heart of Broadland for half a century and a race-winning sailor, Martin took up the challenge to use a revolutionary material, fibreglass, which transformed the long-established family company at Brundall. It was three years ago that the third-generation boatbuilder sold Broom's Boats, founded by his grandfather in 1898, to new investors. A member of the Broads Authority for thirty years, he had a passion for boats and sailing which was infectious. In the 1991 new year's honours, he was made MBE for his service to the marine industry and Broadland. Martin took over from his father at the age of thirty, having spent just a year working in the business, he faced a much more immediate challenge. His father had a heart attack, his uncle died, and his cousin decided to go into the church, leaving him in charge of a boatyard employing 25 men. But fibreglass was to revolutionise boatbuilding. Broom's started in 1965, building hulls made by Aquafibre's entrepreneurs John Linford and Ian Macintosh, who had set up the business with a consortium of boatyards including his family company. Broom's gained overall control of Aquafibre, then based in Rackheath, near Norwich, in 1971. It developed a range of sea-going and Broads fibreglass craft, which were sold to national and international buyers. Born at Brundall in June 1934, he went to Norwich School and then became a boat-building apprentice with Herbert Woods at Potter Heigham. He did National Service as a boat repairer in the air-sea rescue service at Plymouth. The family's boating business had been established by his grandfather, Charles John Broom, at Brundall. In those days, it maintained privately-owned wooden yachts and built craft to order. In the 1920s, it started hiring sailing boats and by 1939 had built up a small fleet of motor cruisers. He joined his father, Basil, who had taken on the firm, which during the war built lifeboats and destroyer tenders for the Admiralty. At the same time, he promoted the Broads as a holiday destination for private owners and the hire sector. He became vice-chairman of Blakes Holidays, which enjoyed conspicuous success from the late 1960s onwards. Introducing post-war Britain to the novelty of boats also featured strongly with dealings with the Beaverbrook empire led by Max Aitken and the Daily Express's sponsorship of the London Boat Show. He was a leader with the British Marine Federation, which included a two-year term as chairman for the International Boat Shows. He was also a board member of the Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners, long-serving member of the Broads Society. With other organisations, he had worked from the 1950s to bring about the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act, which set up the Broads Authority in 1989. He was the first chairman of the authority's navigation committee since its inception in 1988. When he retired almost two years ago, he was presented with a half model of his 14ft Norfolk One-Design Dinghy, number 59, Tideway. He was vice-chairman of the Broads Authority from 2002 to 2005. Mr Broom, who lived at Strumpshaw, has served on the authority's planning committee since it was formed in 1983. A committee member of Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association and several Broads sailing clubs, he was commodore of the River Cruiser Class. Sailing in a Norfolk dinghy, he was still competing until last year and won more than 150 trophies with his favourite craft during his career. He was also a multiple winner over the years in September's Yare Navigation race from Coldham to Breydon Water. His record as one of the county's best helmsmen set him apart whether racing at the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club or elsewhere. He relaxed by sailing his 38ft river cruiser, Rausena, built by Herbert Woods in 1932, and his other boats included the Yare and Bure half decker one design, Apollo. He once said that he had only taken up sailing in 1948, then aged fourteen because Tideway had been built for his older brother, Graham. When he went into the Merchant Navy, he didn't want to waste her. By 1972, when he had enjoyed triple success in the Diamond Jubilee Gold Challenge Cup, he was dubbed 'Martin King of Norfolk Dinghies'. He dominated the traditional clinker class, also White Boats and then Enterprises, sailing Maidamistake. And in 21 years, he won the Frostbites 18 times. One of the proudest moments of his long career was taking the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh down river on the Broom-built 45ft motor cruiser Albert of Blofield. Later this year, he was to have been presented by the Princess Royal, president of the Royal Yachting Association, with a life-time achievement award. Martin Broom leaves a widow, Jennifer, and two daughters, Mandy and Emma.

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.