Vincenzo Catarsi 1932 - 2018

Vincenzo Catarsi died on 14 June at the hospital in Livorno in the palliative care department, assisted by his daughter Federica who worked to the last moment. All the citizens of Vada, Province of Livorno in Italy but also many other people who knew him mourn his death because Vincenzo was a well known character for the various entrepreneurial activities, for the talent and for the good nature and ironic character at the same time. From June 5 last year he fought against a disease that did not escape him.  Catarsi had gained great popularity especially for two events that marked his life. The first was dated in the fifties when he created and began to conduct the "La Barcaccina" dancing restaurant on the beach of Vada. Together with his father Romolo and his uncles, Autilio and Bruno, all expert fishermen, contributed to the great success of this place. The restaurant was booming. After 10 pm the environment was transformed into a ballroom. The famous "Les Optimistes" group from Livorno came up on the podium and there were frequent evenings where the best jazz musicians could be heard, as Chet Baker with his fantastic trumpet, the duo Gianni Basso (saxophone) and Oscar Valdambrini (trumpet), the pianist Romano Mussolini and the trumpet player Nini Rosso, known for his virtuosity. The performances of artists such as the singers Nicola Arigliano, Achille Togliani, Tony Renis, Joe Sentieri and the unsurpassed imitator Alighiero Noschese are also very applauded.  In those years "La Barcaccina" was able to compete even with the great clubs of the Versilia. Many customers who attended the meeting were really famous as Bice Valori and Paolo Panelli often accompanied by Flora Carabella and Marcello Mastroianni.  There was also a young Ermanno Olmi destined to become one of the greatest directors of Italian cinema. But since Vincenzo had not forgotten his family's maritime origins, the second major event of his life was linked to the creation, planning and construction of the "Calafuria" which was born in 1971. This seven meter long boat, presented at the Genoa Boat Show, conquered an important place in the difficult world of the national shipbuilding industry and beyond. In fact, the "Calafuria" became a historical mark in the rise of the important nautical names of the period. To this first hull followed many others different for the length and for the use to which they were destined. Some were "Calafuria" open, other cabins and even semi-cabins. Vincenzo, born in 1932, after the high school he enrolled at the faculty of engineering.  Catarsi had ceased his activity by retiring in 2010. Vincenzo Catarsi leaves his daughter Federica, and his wife Carla. 

Giovanni Jannetti 1930 - 2018

Giovanni Jannetti left for the better World in 31st January 2018 at the age of 87 years at Versilia Hospital in Viareggio.  Born in 1930 Giovanni Jannetti originally from Abruzzo, becomes a Viareggio resident and an important name for motor yachting and the Italian pleasure boating industry when in 1972 he takes over Sanlorenzo of Viareggio, founded by Gianfranco Cecchi and Giuliano Pecchia in 1958.  As soon as Jannetti takes over Sanlorenzo he starts to renew the line and expands its size up to 22 meters.  In 1985 Jannetti makes an important change for Sanlorenzo with the first 57 build in fiberglass, which will start a transition to switch all the models in this building method, and in 1988 launches the first 80, which will mark the builders entry into super yachts.  In 1999 Jannetti moves Sanlorenzo to Ameglia near La Spezia, in order to improve production and expand size.  In 14 April 2005 Giovanni Jannetti sells Sanlorenzo to Massimo Perotti, marking his retirement.  A conservative type, Sanlorenzo under Jannetti was a custom to order yacht builder building about ten to twenty yachts a year most of which on order, speculation builds where rarely made.  Giovanni Jannetti was a yachting entrepreneur of the old style remembered as a gentleman of the Italian pleasure boating industry.

Andrea Spreafico 1921 - 2018

On 15 January 2018 at 96 years of age Andrea Spreafico left for the better World.  Born on 4th December 1921 in Vimercate in the province of Milan, Andrea Spreafico known to his friends as Gino is said to have made his fortunes in investing in the city of Milan after World War II and owning by the fifties around one thousand apartments in the World Fashion Capital.  He is also known to be the first Italian to buy the first Ferrari car, this passion of sport cars something which he never abandoned.  In the sixties he founds the Cielo Terra Mare CTM luxury good store in Milan, focusing among other things in selling yachts and representing the Versilcraft brand, something which he will do till the nineties.  In the early eighties Andrea invests in the Eastern Ligurian coasts and acquires along with some partners the famous Castles of Sestri Levante luxury hotel which will sole own from 2002.  In 1988 Andrea Spreafico founds the Falcon Yachts; at first the idea is to offer a range of fifteen to 24 meters in size, but in 1992 with the purchase of another shed in Viareggio the brand becomes totally independent moving away over time from the Versilcraft association.  Falcon Yachts will become a success and one of the top sellers in the 24 to 35 meters super yacht segment in the late nineties and the first decades of the new millennium, with the 82, 86 and 100 models all having successful sales. 

Paola Galeazzi 1947 - 2017

It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Architect Paola Galeazzi, co-founder of the world-renowned yacht design studio Zuccon International Project. Paola had met her future husband and business partner Gianni Zuccon in 1972 while studying architecture at La Sapienza University in Rome.  In 1976, the young couple took part to a call for proposals organised by Cantieri Posillipo with an 18-metre fibreglass yacht project. Paola and Gianni won the design competition and unveiled the Posillipo Technema 65 at the 1978 Genoa boat show. This would be the first model of the famous Technema range, which the Zuccons designed and developed for more than twenty years.  Paola Galeazzi, who had been at the helm of Zuccon International Project since its inception as administrator, was also a pioneer in 3D modelling for yacht design. In forty years of collaboration, the genial couple designed several award-winning yachts for some of the most iconic shipyards, such as Ferretti, Ferretti Custom Line, Bertram, Mochi, Apreamare, Baglietto, and Posillipo. Paola is survived by her husband Gianni, and her children Martina and Bernardo Zuccon, both talented architects who will keep the legacy of her work alive.

Charles A. Carter 1915 - 2017

Charles A. Carter, 102, died peacefully on Saturday August 26, 2017, at Aurora Medical Center with family by his side. He was born on June 11, 1915, son of the late Charles and Fern Carter in Indiana. Charles graduated from Mentone Indiana High School. He also graduated from Chicago Aero Nautical University. Charles then moved to Buffalo, New York and worked at Bell Aircraft during the war years. He worked as a supervisor at Allison Airplane Corp.  His love for boat racing brought him to Green Bay, WI, where he owned and operated Green Bay Marine Mart. Charles and his partner, George Ver Hagen opened Carver Boat in Milwaukee. They later moved to Pulaski in 1999. The company is still in operation as Marquis and Carver Boats. In 1959, he married Betty Lou Esslinger. After selling Carver Boat Corporation, he went back to his first love, airplanes. They opened up Pulaski Airport and remained there for five years. He and his wife, Betty, moved to Florida, where they lived for the next 40 years. They soon started an Aircraft Corp. in Sebring, FL. They owned and operated it until they moved back to Oshkosh in 2005. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church of Oshkosh.  Charles is survived by his wife, Betty Lou (Esslinger); sons: Charles (Patricia) JR. of Escondido, CA and Gary (Karen) of Krakow, WI; granddaughters: Frankie (Allen Babe) Carter of Caledonia, WI, "Chuckie" Carter of Escondido, CA and Marnie (Jack Stubbs) Carter of Escondido, CA; grandson, Brad (Joann) Carter of Burnsville, MN; sister in law, June Backus of Oshkosh, WI; and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; and special nephew, Mark Backus.  He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter, Toni Gayle Apelando; the mother of his two sons, Ethel Fisher; brothers and sisters-in-law: Alvin (Jane) Fauk, Henry Backus, William (Germaine) McGraw; father and mother-in-law, William and Elsa Esslinger.

Doug Peterson 1945 - 2017

Doug Peterson, noted fast sailing yacht designer, passed away on June 26, 2017 in San Diego, California after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 71.  Douglas Blair Peterson born July 25, 1945 was an American yacht designer specialized in fast racing sailing hulls. Beginning with the One Tonner Ganbare in 1973, Peterson's designs have pioneered many innovations in racing and cruising yachts.  In the mid-1970s, Peterson's designs dominated offshore racing events, with a string of winning high-profile IOR boats such as Ganbare, Gumboots, Kindred Spirit, Vendetta, Racy, Great Pumpkin, High Noon, Anabelle Lee, High Roler, Country Girl, Louisiana Crude, Stinger, Checkmate, Eclipse, Yena, Rubin, Ragamuffin', and Moonshine. He also designed several other stock racers such as the Contessa 35, the NY 40, Baltic DP Series, Serendipity 43 production runs from the Louisiana Crude lines, and the Australian built Seaway 25 quarter ton trailer yacht. Doug Peterson was not implicated in the scandal involving the Seymour Sinnett/Dennis Connor expulsion from yachting during the SORC in the early eighties, where one of Sinnett's Williwaw yachts, designed by Peterson, was found to have been measured out of trim, in violation of the IOR Rule and the IYRU rule for fair sailing and sportsmanship.  Designed for Jack Kelly Yachts, the Peterson 44 debuted in 1976. This boat was a pioneer in performance cruising yacht design and one can still see many of the over 200 built in ports around the world. The design was followed by the Kelly Peterson 46 of which 30 were built, hull number 30, the last one built, is currently circumnavigating the globe. Also the Liberty 458 and the Delta 46 were based on this design.  The Formosa 46 is an enlarged copy of the Kelly Peterson 44, and is referred to as a Cheaterson by the yachting community because Doug Peterson did not get any royalties for the design.  In the early 1980s Hans Christian Yachts commissioned him to design their 48 and 52 Christina models.  Doug Peterson also designed boats for European builders, most notably the top selling Comet 375 in 1987, Grand Soleil 50 in 1992, models for Jeanneau, Jonger 21S in 1981, and also started up the Bavaria match series with three models in 2003. Peterson later entered the America's Cup circle as a key design member of the winning 1992 America3 and 1995 NZL 32 Black Magic Team New Zealand design teams. In 2000, Peterson designed the winning Louis Vuitton Cup boat for the Luna Rossa Prada Challenge.

Sam Newington 1935 - 2017

Sam Newington the man who made Fairline become one of Britain's most iconic boat builders died peacefully at home, on 20th June 2017, at the age of 82 surrounded by his family. Sam was a husband, a father, a grandfather, an entrepreneur, a fighter pilot, an intrepid navigator, a keen amateur historian, a wonderful present giver and unfailingly generous to family and friends.  Sam Newington managed Fairline, the company his father Jack Newington founded in 1963, from 1971 till 1996. Since taking over Fairline, Sam took the Oundle based firm to new heights first by working with naval architect John Bennett who will design its most ever sold models, the 23 Holiday and 32 Phantom, both selling 600 plus units in a twelve and thirteen year production run respectively.  In the eighties San Newington gave Fairline the next step by handing over design to Bernard Olesinski, first model being the 36 Turbo.  Another Sam Newington clever intuition and one which came from influence with holidays on the French Riviera aboard the 26 Sun Fury, was the Targa series creation in 1984, with the 33 Targa which will sell 350 plus units in a seven year production run till 1991. This will be followed by that of the Squadron series launched in 1990 with the then flagship 62 model.  Both Targa and Squadron series are today an important back bone of the Fairline name.  Sam Newington had a very hands on approach on managing Fairline having owned eighteen of his vessels, and always getting very deeply involved in the design practicality aspect of each model, and also by testing and cruising many hull number one himself in the South of France and the Mediterranean sea.  Under Sam Newington Fairline will win Queen's Award for Enterprise and International Trade in 1986.  After 26 years Sam Newington will sell Fairline in 1996 to South African businessman Graham Beck who at the time also owned Princess yachts.

Carlo Riva 1922 - 2017

The Riva shipyards, the Ferretti Group and the entire world of yachting are grieving over the loss of an unrivaled creator of boats, a master of style and elegance. An extraordinary man who turned his family name into a legend and a brand into a synonym of yachting itself.  Farewell Mr. Riva, and enjoy the sea in your last voyage towards the horizon. The world of yachting throughout the world bids an emotional farewell to Mr. Carlo Riva, who passed away today in his home town of Sarnico at the age of 95.  Just four letters epitomize the history, the legend, the technology and the appeal of Italian made yachts. The history of a family and of an extraordinary man, the legend of a whole era that saw the launching of Italian design onto the world stage, from the days of “La Dolce Vita” through to the present day.  An ongoing technological evolution which has always been the hallmark of the boats crafted in the Riva boatyards: from the timeless charm of traditional wood to state-of-the-art fiberglass and steel. Masterpieces conceived, designed, built and inspired by the genius and style of a unique man who has become a legend.

Renato Sonny Levi 1926 - 2016

Certainly one of the pioneering boat designers ever to exist Renato "Sonny" Levi has died on Saturday 12 November 2016 at his home in the Isle of Wight.  Born in 1926 in Karachi, India, it is hard to find the right way to describe Renato Sonny Levi: designer, brilliant mind, certainly the father of modern fast boats. During the course of his long and prolific career, he has developed a wide range of innovations for the world of nautical engineering and naval architecture.  Among the most important are his planning deep Vee hulls, the "Delta" variable Vee hulls, surface drive propulsion, and tunnel for the propellers.  From the point of view of design, his boats are recognised as a functional elegance, innovation and sophistication. Levi is in this sense a figure able to manage the project as a whole, from its engineering aspects to the stylistic and aesthetic.  After more than sixty years since his early work, his contribution is a reference point from which all the boating industry continually draws inspiration for innovation and design. Important is also the publication of his two books; Dhows To Deltas and Milestones In My Design, and through numerous articles that have appeared in the most important industry publications.  The University of Genoa had recently awarded Renato Sonny Levi the Honorary Degree in Yacht Design Class LM34.  His known works are still as at today considered as a reference points in nautical design for comfort and rough sea conditions handling at high speeds. Among his production boats is the Italcraft where he developed a lot of his most extreme innovations in production and semi-production as the Drago series, Riva and the 2000 model which is possibly the most innovative model every made by the Sarnico boat builder where he developed the propulsion, the Alfamarine 40 Bronte what is a co-development with his friend Franco Harrauer, and a lot of the models for the boat builders of Fiumicino in Rome; Delta, and Canav.  His latest work is the Levi Boat 30'6 Corsair Classic, for the newly founded company of his son Martin Levi and Antonello Villa.  Obviously there is a long list of competing winning boats in Renato Levi's career and also some special custom projects for special clients as the Count of Agusta, Giovanni Agnelli, Roberto Olivetti, and last but not least the Virgin Atlantic Challenger for Richard Branson. 

Franco Harrauer 1927 - 2016

Franco Harrauer born Milan in 1927 has left the World to a better place on 9 July 2016.  Franco was a character from another time, one of those that leave you a sign, a smile. Even just thinking of him as a man, cartoonist, aerodynamics expert and an endless passion for the sea applying his expertise for hydrodynamic design into motor pleasure craft, and sailing.  An expert all arounded, architect and eclectic narrator, has delighted over the years his attentive readers with lots of stories and even fictional anecdotes of the onslaught in the First and Second World War.  Interesting are the materials applications used for his hulls, special care for trawler catamarans, the meeting with his friend and designer Renato "Sonny" Levi has led to some unique achievements in hull design. These include a unique and exciting World first sailing boat with planing hull: Exocetus Volants. Franco Harrauer holds numerous awards such as the Gold Keel and also patents that even today are a reference point.  His most known collaboration with a still an existent shipyard was with Alfamarine where he designed among other models its still to date best seller 40 Bronte launched in 1975 and in collaboration with Renato Sonny Levi, and then all alone the one off 83 launched in 1986 and then 90 model launched in 1990.  Both of which where flagships for the Fiumicino, Rome boat builder at the time of launch.  Franco Harrauer has in recent years published some interesting articles on the classic motor boat specialist blog Altromareblu of which I suggest anyone with interest in hull design and boat projects to read. 

Mario Amati 1933 - 2016

Mario Amati, unforgettable founder of Cantieri Navali di Roma, Itama, which he established in Rome in 1969, has passed away Saturday 20th February at the age of 83.  Mario Amati was a brilliant designer, and the innovator of a unique style of iconic sport cruisers and yachts. Amati was also a technical innovator having been the inventor to launch the hull integrated underwater exhaust system in 1981. Open yachts designed by those who love the sea for those who adore it, the Itama brand name recalls the surname of the founder, read backwards in the sea.  The big fiberglass open models which started with the 38 in 1980 immediately became popular as cult objects owing to their elegance and simplicity of lines, the reliability of their technologies, their strong character and their precise stylistic imprint.  Mario Amati sold a big part of Itama to the Opera fund of Bulgari in 2001, who then sells the brand name to Ferretti Group in end 2004.

Waltman M. Walters 1926 - 2015

Walt Walters died this 29 December at the age of 89.  Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Waltman M. Walters studied aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, switched to mechanical engineering, and then got married and moved to Florida. His first job was as draftsman at Scottie Craft just as the company was shifting from wood to fiberglass construction. Next was Squall King, and then a partnership with Carl Moesly building the American Marc line for Arthur Vining Davis, head of Alcoa.  Following Dick Bertram’s historic victory in the 1960 Miami to Nassau Race, in a Ray Hunt designed deep-V named Moppie, Bertram formed Bertram Yachts and hired Walters as production engineer for the Bertram 31. Not long after, Walters and Jim Wynne teamed to design and race offshore powerboats. Their first, the 16 feet Wyn Mill, was sufficiently successful to draw the attention of Don Aronow, who commissioned Walters and Wynne to design the Formula 233, which was in continuous production for 19 years, until 1983, and is one of the most-copied hulls ever built. In the following years Walters designed boats for Donzi, Chris-Craft, Luhrs, Starcraft, Fino, Monza, Botved-Coronet, Kiekhaefer, Aquasport a landmark 22/6.7m popularized the center-console open-fisherman type), the upmarket Magnum and many more. He even designed a few sailboats for Bill Soverel.

Jim McManus 1963 - 2015

The Board of Directors and the employees of the Hinckley Company mourn the passing of their friend and Chief Executive Officer, James P. McManus.  Jim was appointed to the role in June of 2007 and was often heard to call it his dream job. He worked tirelessly to see the company through its darkest times in 2008-9, and led the company to the extraordinary heights it has reached in recent years. Never boastful or arrogant, Jim was the consummate optimist finding the best in everything and bringing out the best in all of those he touched.  Jim was instrumental in attracting new investment to Hinckley in 2010. The company developed and launched a series of five highly successful new models and acquired Hunt Yachts in 2013 under Jim’s leadership. Hinckley today is very much a part of the Jim McManus legacy.   A native from New Englandr, Jim was a graduate of Yale and Harvard Business School. He worked in corporate finance with Lehman Brothers and management consulting with McKinsey and Company. While at the Aramark Corporation, he served successively as President of three operating divisions and later served as President and CEO of the Zoots Corporation. He was an avid boater who loved to spend weekends aboard his Hinckley Talaria 44.  Jim resided in Charlestown and Hyannis, Massachusetts. He is survived by his wife, three children, his parents, sisters and a legion of friends and colleagues who cherished him. Jim passed away after a brave and unflagging battle with cancer.

Jo Nunez 1971 - 2015

Following a vision set forth by his widely respected father Pantera Boats founder Pepe Nuñez, Jo Nuñez blended decades of powerboat design, construction and racing experience with his love for motor sports competition such as motocross and NHRA Pro Stock drag racing to enrich brand recognition and carry on an esteemed family legacy. Sadly Jo, 44, passed away following complication with advance stage IV thymus cancer.  The recent backbone of the company in Hialeah, Florida, that was established in 1974 by Pepe and Linda Nuñez, Jo is survived by his mother and father; his sister, Barbara; his wife, Yvette, and their son, Jo. Throughout his career Jo built dozens of boats from 24 to 41 feet, set endurance records, won world championships and, most importantly, established a huge group of friends thanks to his deep-rooted passion for boating.

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.