Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology

For Immediate Release 06-08

Contact: Caroline Chetelat at ABYC

(410) 990-4460, x22

Legendary Designers Inducted Into Boat Designers Hall of Fame

March 14, 2006, Annapolis, MD: The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology recently announced the 2006 North American Boat Designers (NABD) Hall of Fame inductees. Dana C. Hewson, Vice President for Watercraft Preservation and Programs at the Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea, accepted the awards on behalf of the inductees.

Sponsored by Westlawn, The Landing School, Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), the NABD Hall of Fame was created to permanently recognize achievement in the field of boat design. Each year, typically two or more leading designers who have demonstrated exceptional long-term and important contributions to the art and science of boat design are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The hall will be housed at Mystic Seaport where a crystal engraved plate will be on display to commemorate each inductee along with photos, drawings and historical reference material. Below is a list of the 2006 inductees:

John Alden – John Alden designed almost every type of boat imaginable over a 52-year career. His office produced over 900 yacht designs plus numerous workboats. Of these designs approximately 150 were schooners. In fact, Alden’s cruising schooners were so widely admired and so handsome that such vessels were often called generically “Alden schooners.” The most famous of these was the Malabar series capped by Malabar X.

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff – Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, also known as “Capt. Nat” is probably the single most dominant figure in U.S. boat design history. Except for Olin Stephens, Nat designed more winning America’s Cup boats than anyone else. He was also a pioneer and innovator in everything from steam engines and early torpedo boats, to construction methods and catamarans.

C. Raymond Hunt – C. Raymond Hunt is generally credited with the development of the deep-vee hull form, which revolutionized offshore planning boat design and powerboat races. At the same time he developed the deep-vee hull form, Hunt was also designing beautiful sailboats, cruisers and racers, and motoryachts of every type. His international 110s are still found sailing all over the world.

Between last year, with the induction of Phil Rhodes and Olin Stephens, and this year, five designers have been inducted into the recently established Hall of Fame.

Dave Gerr, Director of Westlawn said, “It is truly an honor for us to induct these significant designers into the North American Boat Designers Hall of Fame. The creation of the Hall of Fame last year has provided us with a vehicle to not only highlight the accomplishments of some of the world’s most excellent designers, but to also educate people on the importance of this field and how the visions of our inductees have greatly contributed to our maritime heritage.”

The North American Boat Designers Hall of Fame nominating committee, composed of magazine editors, lifelong designers and educators, as well as leaders at various design/boatbuilding schools and museums, selects nominees each year. Judges then vote for their recommended candidates in order of preference, which is combined with the number of mentions among the judges to produce the winners.

Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea – is the nation’s leading maritime museum presenting the American experience from a maritime perspective. Located along the banks of the historic Mystic River in Mystic, Connecticut, the Museum houses extensive collections representing the material culture of maritime America and offers educational programs from preschool to post-graduate. For more information, call (888) 973-2767 or visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Founded in 1930, the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is the only nationally accredited and state certified distance-learning school of small-craft design in the United States. As the not-for-profit educational affiliate of the American Boat and Yacht Council, The mission of the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is threefold:

■ To provide our students with the skills knowledge required to build a rewarding career in the profession of yacht and small-craft naval architecture.

■ To support continued growth of the recreational and small-craft marine community through the development of well-trained, safety oriented, boat designers developing better products for the benefit of the boating public.

■ To provide continuing education to marine industry professionals.

To learn more about Westlawn, please call (860) 572-7900 or visit the Westlawn website at www.westlawn.edu.