Olaf Harken: 1939-2019
A hard-working, innovative leader in the sailing world died October 21, 2019, in his longtime home of Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Olaf Harken was 80. With older brother Peter the two began… Read more »
People/Profiles
One Good Zurn Deserves Another
So might say Bob Johnstone, who in 2002/2003 commissioned the first of five stylish MJM motoryachts from Marblehead, Massachusetts, designer Doug Zurn; so might singer/songwriter Billy Joel, who catapulted Zurn… Read more »
Over the Bar: Lowell North, Sailmaker
Lowell North, a sailing and industry icon, died last June at his home in San Diego, California. He was 89. For years, the Star class of one-design sailboats was considered… Read more »
Mark Lindsay, a Life in Boatbuilding
In Professional BoatBuilder No.182, Paul Lazarus noted the September 6 passing of Mark Lindsay, and included a personal appreciation of his work and influence in the boatbuilding industry and on… Read more »
Irwin Jacobs departs
The boating industry lost one of its most flamboyant members April 10, when Irwin Jacobs shot himself after shooting his wife of 57 years, Alexandria, in their Orono, Minnesota, home…. Read more »
The writings of Tom Fexas
Autobiographies and biographies of yacht designers are entertaining and occasionally instructive. The recent publication of Dick Carter’s and Ron Holland’s self-written stories (Dick Carter—Yacht Designer in the Golden Age of… Read more »
Fabio Buzzi: Legend Dies in Boat Crash
Live by the sword, die by the sword. The legendary offshore powerboat racer and boatbuilder, Fabio Buzzi, died September 17 off Venice, Italy, while attempting to break another speed record… Read more »
Rowing Across the Pacific
One of the more intriguing Design Briefs we’ve published is on the 28‘ (8.5m) rowboat designed by University of Michigan–educated naval architect Eric Sponberg (see “Ocean Rowboat,” PBB No. 161)…. Read more »
Rob Valdes, a Life in Boats
Not long ago I was speaking with Rob Valdes, service manager at Sailor’s Wharf boatyard in St. Petersburg, Florida, and asked if he was the same Rob Valdes who co-founded… Read more »
Catching up with Chris White
It was 36 years ago, in 1983, that multihull designer Chris White hung the proverbial designer’s shingle, Chris White Designs, outside his Massachusetts home. He now boasts more than 80… Read more »
