Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology

For Immediate Release

Contact: Caroline Chetelat at ABYC

(410) 990-4460, x22

L. Francis Herreshoff, Legendary Designer Inducted Into

Boat Designers Hall of Fame

Westlawn Also Announces Two Norman Nudelman Awards

February 22, 2007, Annapolis, MD: The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology recently announced the 2007 North American Boat Designers (NABD) Hall of Fame inductee at the ABYC Annual Meeting in Miami, FL. Sponsored by Westlawn, The Landing School, Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea and ABYC, the NABD Hall of Fame was created to permanently recognize achievement in the field of boat design. Each year, typically one 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Seaport where a crystal engraved plate will be on display to commemorate each inductee along with photos, drawings and historical reference material.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 the 2007 inductee:

L. Francis Herreshoff - One of the most influential and successful yacht designers of the twentieth century, Lewis Francis Herreshoff, worked for: his father, Capt. Nat Herreshoff; the U.S. Navy in World War I; and for Starling Burgess, before going out on his own. L. Francis was also a prolific writer and—in addition to numerous articles—he authored The Common Sense of Yacht Design, The Compleat Cruiser, Sensible Cruising Designs, An L. Francis Herreshoff Reader, and a biography of his father, Capt. Nat Herreshoff: The Wizard of Bristol. Herreshoff’s writing influenced generations of designers and builders, and—among other innovations—L. Francis pioneered the concept of the canting keel, which is now so dominant in ultra-high-speed ocean racers such as those that recently competed in the 2006 Volvo round-the-world race.

L.F. Herreshoff designed cruising yachts canoes, kayaks and other small craft. Racing designs included the 1930 America’s Cup J-boat, Whirlwind, the incredible Istalena, and the remarkable and innovative R-class sloops Yankee and Live Yankee. His graceful cruising boats such as the ketches Bounty, Tioga, the Araminta, and the schooner Joan are still considered the pinnacle of perfection in form and proportion in boat design. Other famous designs (many intended for home builders) included the Neria, Marco Polo, and the ultra-shoal Meadow Lark, and Golden Ball to name just a few.

Based in his home, “The Castle,” in Marblehead, MA, Herreshoff was known locally by his nickname, “the Skipper.” Famous not only for his design work but for his strongly held and strongly expressed opinions, Herreshoff worked on design right up to his death in 1972, at the age of 82.

L. Francis Herreshoff is the sixth designer inducted into the Hall of Fame. Past recipients include: John Alden, Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, C. Raymond Hunt , Philip L. Rhodes, and Olin Stephens.

Dave Gerr, director of Westlawn said, “Of all the designers in history, L. Francis had the most influence on me personally. His books, The Common Sense of Boat Design and Sensible Cruising Designs, sat on my drawing table for almost daily reference. He drew the only U.S. 30-square meter boat, Oriole. It was stored next to my boat for a few years, and sighting down her lean, graceful hull would take one’s breath away. It is a particular pleasure to welcome L.F. Herreshoff to the Hall of Fame.”

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.

In addition to honoring L. Francis Herreshoff, Westlawn also honored Edward S. “Ted” Brewer and Bob Wallstrom with the Norman Nudelman Marine Education Award, in recognition of a lifetime of excellence and achievement in marine education. Ted Brewer is one of the co-founders of the Yacht Design Institute (YDI) and former YDI president Bob Wallstrom recently came aboard as adjunct Westlawn instructors to further enrich the Westlawn faculty. Westlawn also recently acquired the rights to the course material of the former YDI schools.

Norm served Westlawn as an instructor in yacht design, supervisor of instruction, and vice president of education, and president before retiring in 1997. Norm is currently Westlawn’s Provost and still very active with the school.

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 and 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.