EDITOR’S NOTE: Days after we originally published this article, we received the news that Paolo Vitelli, the founder of the Azimut-Benetti Group, died suddenly at one of his residences. He had a profound impact on the superyacht industry as well as the larger recreational-marine industry. Not only did Vitelli pioneer the use of fiberglass in recreational yachting in Europe, but also he grew the Group to record sales in every major global yachting market. An in memorium article is linked above.
As much as this time of year is about looking forward, it’s simultaneously important to reflect on the past. The year 2024 has been one of remarkable yacht launches and deliveries. It’s also, though, been one in which the yachting community lost superyacht industry titans. In fact, these people were responsible for some of the most high-profile yachts and partnerships in the world.
Herbert Dahm, Dahm International Founder
Just a few weeks prior to his 95th birthday, the German-born Herbert Dahm (above, center) passed away. He established Dahm International as a yacht brokerage and charter firm. Dahm further added services such as yacht management and refit management over four decades of ownership. And to think, if he hadn’t gone out one day in 1967 in search of a sailboat to cruise the world, he might never have become the respected business figure he was. During his search, Damn was impressed with the Dutch shipyard Jongert. He wasn’t, though, impressed with its marketing. So, instead of globetrotting, he spent 35 years as Jongert’s marketing and sales representative. He did eventually buy a sailboat—five in total, all from Jongert. Equally remarkable, Dahmn finally retired from the yachting business at the ripe age of 93.
Peter Evans, Kingdom 5KR Captain
Peter Evans was a superyacht industry titan in a few significant ways. Most recently, he was the captain of the well-known yacht Kingdom 5KR from 2022 to 2012. Prior to that, he co-founded the Professional Yachting Association (PYA). At the time of its founding in 1991, it bore the name Professional Yachtsman’s Association. It’s still around today, a non-profit organization representing yacht crew globally. With his fellow co-founders, Evans helped establish yacht-specific training and qualifications for deck officers. For 19 years, the PYA was the only organization permitted to validate sea service on behalf of the MCA. It retains that permission today, one of only two worldwide. A Welshman who settled in France, Evans died in September at the age of 73.
Don Shead, Yacht Designer
British-born Don Shead (top) seemed destined to enter yachting, since his father was passionate about sailboats, motoryachts, and bluewater cruising. Speed, however, really captivated Shead. Therefore, in his teen years, he turned his attention to hydroplane racing. It was fortuitous. Shead became in British racing what the late Don Aronow of Cigarette became in American racing. Simultaneously, dissatisfied with general racing designs, he penned his own modifications. Despite lacking naval-architecture training then, Shead found racing drivers, boatbuilders, and private clients soon beating down his door. Even bigger contributions came starting in the late 1970s, however, as the chief naval architect and designer for Sunseeker. Robert Braithwaite (above) and his brother, owners of Sunseeker, bought his design business in 2007. Shead was 87 years old when he died this past February.
Centuries-old maritime tradition calls for a ship’s bell to ring eight times at the end of a crewmember’s watch duty. It therefore also recognizes the symbolic end of watch duty when a sailor dies. Join us in ringing eight bells for these figures.
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