george sakellaris yacht

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Bucking the tide on land and sea: Energy pioneer George Sakellaris

George Sakellaris takes Ameresco Public on July 2010. The Management Team along with George’s children, Christina and Peter and his wife Caterina Sakellaris ringing the bell at the opening of the NYSE Exchange.

Talk about climate change.

George Sakellaris had packed his bags and left his family behind in Vassara, Sparta (“Where you get snow once every ten years”) to come to America and attend the University of Maine (“Where you’re freezing”) and the shock, he says, “Was a very big surprise! I said to myself, what am I doing here?”

But he stuck it out, living with his relatives the Brountas’ in Bangor and working on the side in a variety store and in the family restaurant as a short order cook—in the summer working sixteen hour days, seven days a week—in between studying power engineering and engineering economics.

“The first six months I seriously considered going back home,” he admits. “But then I said, no, I came here to get my education—and I stuck it out.”

George Sakellaris

Good thing, because the 67-year-old Sakellaris went on to revolutionize the energy industry and his company, Ameresco, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, is now the largest company in North America making a business of overhauling both private and public facilities (from college campuses to power plants to the U. S. Capitol) to make them more energy efficient–by an average of 25%–which can mean millions in savings and untold benefits to the environment.

Photo of George with his siblings and parents in Vassara Greece (1956) before they immigrated to the United States. Back row from left, Helen, Areti, Panos and Pota Sakellaris. Front, Arthur and George Sakellaris

“Clients don’t believe it sometimes,” he admits. “They don’t believe that they are wasting that much energy. But the technologies have improved so much that the payback on the investment that you make is very quick.” With nearly 70 offices throughout North America and almost 1000 employees, Ameresco works on several hundred projects at a time not only to retrofit aging facilities with energy-efficient hardware such as lighting and windows and heating and cooling systems, but also to build facilities for renewables such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and others, and even to advise clients on energy pricing, invoicing and trading on the energy marketplace.

“We provide a complete package,” says Sakellaris. “There is tremendous potential in energy efficiency.”

In Boston, Ameresco recently completed a $66.7 million overhaul of 13 public housing properties that was the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

“This project is truly what partnerships are all about,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “It took a comprehensive approach to saving taxpayer money, improving our city’s public housing, and improving people’s lives all at the same time through meaningful career training and subsequent employment.”

The project upgraded 13 public housing developments and over 4,300 housing units, some of them over 60 years old and in dire need of energy efficiency. The company used a mix of 17 different energy and water efficiency improvements from water conservation, new lighting installation, de-centralization of heating and hot water systems, replacement of apartment temperature controls, among other measures, estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 13,000 tons per year.

Boston Housing Authority estimated the upgrades would save the city nearly $5 million a year in water and energy costs and over $100 million over the 20-year life of the contract—without costing taxpayers a penny. “We’ve proven that public housing can also be energy-efficient housing,” said BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle. “We’re excited to be moving forward with green technology and upgrading our residents at the same time.”

In fact, the project includes a resident education, training and employment program that will affect lives as well as energy efficiency.

“I love the challenge of what I’m doing,” says Sakellaris, “and seeing the changes in the industry and the technology. Every time you think you know everything, somebody comes up with new technology and it surprises you. We started in 1979 hoping to achieve about 10-15% savings through energy efficiency, and right now we are achieving 25% because of all the new technological advances that are being produced all the time. And there is still room for improvement.”

And he fell into the business of energy efficiency almost by chance. “You know sometimes you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time?” he says.

He was a young engineer working for New England Electric when he got the assignment to recruit a team and decide if it made more sense for the utility to promote energy conversation or to build a few more plants.

“And about a week later we made the presentation to the board of directors and one of the directors said, if you guys can show how you can do with less electricity why don’t you go into the business and make some money? So a few days later I was told to go out and set up a company.”

That was 1979, and he did, it was eventually called NORESCO, and it provided groundbreaking energy conservation alternatives for everything from schools to hospitals to government offices and in the process pioneered many of the energy conservation industry standards and practices still in use today.

For example, who would pay for all this?

Sakellaris’ brainstorm was to make clients an offer they couldn’t refuse.

“I used to go to clients and say I’m going to save you this much money,” he recalls. “And they’d look at me and say you’re crazy: you’re never going to be able to do it. So I’d tell them, look, we’ll put up the money, and if it doesn’t work, you keep the new boilers, you keep the new equipment, you keep everything and we go home. If it does work, we’ll take our fee afterwards out of the savings. Of course, it worked.”

This was called an Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC) and it is the tool by which the industry was transformed, and even the government was impressed.

“We went to talk to Speaker Boehner about the job of making the U.S. Capitol more efficient and he said to us, who’s going to put up the $30-40 million it would take? And we said it’s going to be paid out of the savings. And he looked at us and said: Oh, I like that concept. When it comes to energy efficiency we find unanimous support.”

Sakellaris visits the work sites himself, but not as much as when he first started the company, when he routinely logged more than a quarter of a million miles a year. “I have more frequent flyer miles than anybody,” he laughs.

Sakellaris Family: George, Christina, Caterina & Peter

He now enjoys more time home with the family: wife Cathy, daughter Christina, 16, and son Peter, 13.

“The kids are my greatest motivation,” he says. “Both of them love science and both of them love engineering. Christina says she will start her own company and crush mine. And I say, good!”

Cathy Papoulias-Sakellaris was a high-powered executive in her own right as sales and brand manager for Procter & Gamble, director of sales and marketing for ITT, and vice president for global accounts at Dun and Bradstreet.

“And then we had the children and she gave that all up,” he says. “But she is very creative and more organized than me and when we go sailing she is the one who runs things.”

Caterina and George Sakellaris holding the gavel at the NYSE Exchange

Both Cathy and her husband are members of Leadership 100, where she serves on the Board of Trustees, and they are founding members of Faith, an endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism. They are also primary benefactors of St. Catherine’s Church in Braintree.

Besides saving energy, sailing is the other passion of Sakellaris’ life which, in typical fashion, has become more than a sport. He runs marathons to keep in shape for it and his sailing yacht Shockwave recently won the grueling 600-mile regatta for the RORC Caribbean Trophy over 60 other yachts and will compete in June to defend its crown in the Newport-Bermuda Race.

Shockwave World Championship 2013 Sardinia, Italy. Finished 3rd Overall

“I have a great crew and the (RORC regatta) was an excellent race,” he says. “At the end of the day, winning yacht races is all about the team performance more than anything else.”

With his family he sails his other boat, the Axia, which he’s taken to Greece a number of times.

Greece itself might be on the horizon when Ameresco further expands into Europe (it’s already gained a foothold in the UK).

“The climate for energy conservation in Greece is very good,” he says. “I spoke to the Prime Minister. I’m sure in the future we’ll be doing some work there. They just have to change some of the rules and regulations to make it easier for companies like ours to work there.”

Meanwhile, while Sakellaris doesn’t travel as much as he once did (except on water), he has no plans to retire.

“No, no, no, no, no,” he says. “And I see myself doing a lot more sailing.”

George Sakellaris @ the helm of Shockwave

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 Newport to Bermuda Race

The Newport Bermuda Race is a 635-mile ocean race, much of it out of sight of land, usually lasting three to six days. It crosses a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean known for challenging weather, especially in the Gulf Stream, where there are strong currents.

Every two years in mid-June, more than 150 boats start from the historic seaport of Newport, Rhode Island. The fleet has five divisions to allow seaworthy boats of many sizes and types to be raced fairly and aggressively for an array of trophies awarded in Bermuda at an elegant ceremony at Government House, the residence of the governor of this tropical island.

Team Shockwave, First Place Finish at 2012 Newport, Bermuda Race, setting new record

In keeping with the 100-year traditions of amateur sailors and strong family spirit, most of the boats tend to have amateur crews comprised of friends and family members. The race maintains its international prestige through competitive fairness, an exemplary safety record, and a responsive race organization handled by the volunteer members of the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Sailors everywhere dream of adding the Newport Bermuda Race to their life list of adventures.

George Sakellaris has won the following awards:

The North Rock Beacon Trophy Best Corrected Time (IRC) in St. David’s & Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Divisions * Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophy Best Corrected time (IRC) in Gibbs Hill Division * Class 10 Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Medallion 1st Place IRC * Class 10 Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Medallion 1st Place OOR * George W. Mixer Trophy Gibbs Hill Navigator

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About Dimitri C. Michalakis

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The Boston Billionaires Club

A billion dollars sure is a lot of money. How 24 of the deepest pockets in town are shaping the city—and our lives.

Get a compelling long read and must-have lifestyle tips in your inbox every Sunday morning — great with coffee!

Card Design by Benjamen Purvis

S tunning wealth is nothing new to Boston. In fact, it’s been part of the city’s fabric for centuries. The Cabots and the Lowells preceded Fidelity’s Johnson clan, and the Patriots-owning Kraft dynasty has nothing on surnames such as Saltonstall, Forbes, Gardner, Wigglesworth, Amory, and Perkins. What is new is the growth of individual riches in this city, and how the folks who have money got it.

Today’s local billionaires, in fact, are the farthest thing from your Brahmin ancestor’s merchant magnates. Most didn’t have the benefit of family wealth. Several are immigrants or first-generation Americans. And the number of members in the city’s most exclusive club has only increased over the past few years, in lockstep with global trends: The world’s population of three-comma-net-worth individuals expanded during the pandemic, with the U.S. alone closing in on 1,000 of them, according to Wealth-X, an Altrata company, which maintains a proprietary collection of research on the well-to-do. To come up with the roster of 24 names you’ll find on this list, we partnered with Wealth-X to identify those they consider billionaires and we consider Bostonians.

Twenty-four billionaires in a city of nearly 700,000 might not seem like that many. But the ever-increasing concentration of money—roughly $85 billion at press time—among the Hub’s wealthiest is a striking trend, particularly as the skyrocketing cost of living shines a spotlight on our ever-widening wealth gap. Consider that Boston ranks among the top 10 cities for income inequality in the nation, with our highest-earning households earning a whopping 15 times more than the lowest-earning households in 2016.

At least the city isn’t yet home to any “super billionaires”: the 20 individuals who have a net worth of at least $50 billion and collectively hold a stunning 17 percent of all billionaire wealth. In fact, Fidelity CEO Abigail Johnson, with some $20 billion, and Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, with $10.6 billion, are the only Bostonians to top $10 billion, or to even come close to that 11th digit.

Just a word about wealth estimates: They fluctuate. Wealth-X did not provide them, and it’s worth using caution when considering figures from Forbes , Bloomberg, and others. That’s because the recent wild fluctuations of the stock market, real estate, and even cryptocurrency quickly render any dollar figure placed on assets obsolete. Moderna’s Stéphane Bancel, for instance, was reported last autumn to be worth more than $12 billion; this spring, the figure cited was $4 billion. Jim Koch, the founder of Boston Beer Company, debuted on the Forbes 400 list in 2020, thanks to the soaring value of shares in his company. The value of those shares has since plummeted, and Wealth-X does not consider him a billionaire.

Regardless of individual net worth, the one thing this group of deep-pocketed Bostonians does have in common with the Brahmins of yore is their commitment to carrying on the community-oriented examples of the barons who gave us the MFA, Mass General, and WGBH. Today’s billionaires are not only supporting many of those same institutions but are also transforming the region with new buildings and developments, making medical breakthroughs, and backing more contemporary efforts to promote equity and racial justice.

In other words, they affect the quality of our lives in ways big and small every day. We’ve relied on them to put together a good Pats team, create a new neighborhood and rail station in Brighton, and preserve our hometown newspaper and baseball team. And that certainly makes it worth knowing a little about them.

Illustration by Joe McKendry

Abigail Johnson

Chairman and CEO, Fidelity

Lives In: Milton

How She Made It: It’s the classic story of a multigenerational family business: Grandpa started the company, Dad grew it into a big success, and Abby spent years learning and working her way up through its ranks. It so happens that the family business is one of the world’s largest financial service firms, and Abby owns a quarter of the stock.

How She’s an Ordinary Person: By all accounts, Johnson just likes to stay home with her husband, healthcare entrepreneur Christopher McKown.

How She’s Not an Ordinary Person: She lost an estimated $10 billion of personal wealth over the course of four months this past winter, according to Bloomberg. She’s already recovered most of that, and that publication believes Johnson is currently worth roughly $20 billion.

She Uses Her Money for Good When She: Supports arts, education, and youth development. The Johnson family has a reputation for very generous philanthropy, which Abby is said to continue. She is, of course, a director of the mammoth Fidelity Foundation, which has well over a billion dollars in assets and hands out some $50 million a year in grants.

Signature Look: Those iconic heavy-rimmed glasses, although she has said that she goes unrecognized on the sidewalks of Boston.

Fun Things She Owns: A five-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot seaside cottage on Nantucket’s Brant Point, bought for $9 million and currently assessed at more than $16 million.

Her Politics: Johnson has made campaign contributions to candidates on both sides of the aisle, often to moderates. Not usually a major giver (for her wealth bracket), she did open her wallet to give $220,000 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election campaign after her preferred candidate, Jeb Bush, dropped out.

Why She Flies Under the Radar: Johnson maintains—and even exceeds—her father and grandfather’s tradition of excessive privacy, especially regarding the news media. (Although she has started to grant some industry interviews over the past couple of years.)

Robert Kraft

Chairman and CEO, Kraft Group

Age: 81 Lives In: Brookline

How He Made It: First, he married well. Then, after expanding his in-laws’ packaging business, he parlayed that into ownership of a football stadium, which he used as leverage to eventually buy the team playing there. He then turned the New England Patriots into one of the world’s most valuable sports franchises: Forbes estimates the team is worth $5 billion of Kraft’s overall $10.6 billion net worth.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Just watch him in the owner’s box—he goes through every emotion you do during a Pats game.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Kraft gets his pal Elton John to play at his private parties—and attends John’s parties in Hollywood.

Superstar Moment: Early in the COVID crisis, with personal protective equipment in short supply, Kraft used the Patriots team plane to fly in 1.2 million N95 masks from China.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Supports community health—and a host of other causes and institutions—through the Kraft Family Foundation.

Signature Look: Blue jacket, red tie, sneakers.

Fun Things He Owns: The New England Revolution and six Lombardi trophies.

His Politics: His close connection with Donald Trump has been the headlining story, but Kraft actually tends to give more of his money to Democrats than Republicans.

Owner and chairman, New Balance

Age: 79 Lives In: Newton

How He Made It: Manufacturing shoes and athletic apparel. He was still in his twenties when he purchased the 66-year-old New Balance shoe company for $100,000 on the day of the Boston Marathon in 1972. Just in time for the running craze of the mid-1970s, Davis introduced new styles and increased capacity, and the rest, as they say, is history. Although he stepped down as CEO in 2007, he has kept the company private, and he and his wife, Anne, remain chairman and vice chair.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He couldn’t cut it as a pre-med student. Davis studied biology at Middlebury College until he was told that perhaps his talents lay elsewhere.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Davis, who Forbes estimates is a four-times-over billionaire, has been dubbed “The richest Greek on the planet.”

His Fingerprints on the City: Davis almost single-handedly created a new Boston neighborhood, Boston Landing, around the headquarters he opened there in 2015. It has the Celtics’ training facility, an ice rink, a concert hall, a commuter-rail station, office and lab space, and very little of the desolate landscape many of us remember.

Fun Things He Owns: A growing real estate empire in Gloucester, including his $3 million Bay View summer home and the $25 million Beauport Hotel.

His Politics: Davis is a GOP bankroller, having supported both Mitt Romney and Donald Trump. In last year’s nonpartisan Boston mayoral election, he spent more than a million dollars trying to get Annissa Essaibi George elected.

Founder and principal owner, Fenway Sports Group

Age: 73 Lives In: Brookline

How He Made It: Commodities trading, then hedge fund management, and now sports ownership has allowed Henry to amass what Forbes says is a $4 billion fortune.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: As a teenager, Henry played guitar in a prog-rock band.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Henry and his wife— Boston Globe CEO Linda Pizzuti Henry—host an elaborate, themed summer solstice party at their Brookline home for the locally rich and fabulous every year.

Good Luck Charm: Did Henry break the Curse of the Bambino? One could certainly make the argument, given that the Red Sox won the World Series just two years after he bought the team.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Gives to healthcare and educational charities through his family foundation, including BostonSight, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, the Meadowbrook School in Weston, and the Fessenden School in West Newton.

Signature Look: Everybody in Red Sox Nation knows Henry’s dark-rimmed, rectangular glasses.

Fun Things He Owns: The Boston Globe and a Daytona 500–winning racing group. Also, a fabulous 35,000-square-foot home in Brookline—on the previous site of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt’s much smaller place, which Henry tore down after buying the property in 2007.

His Politics: He has mostly steered clear of politics, with the exception of supporting the 2004 presidential candidacy of Red Sox devotee John Kerry.

Amos Hostetter Jr.

Chairman, Pilot House Associates

Age: 85 Lives In: Beacon Hill

How He Made It: Hostetter established a company in 1963 with his college buddy Irv Grousbeck—now co-owner of the Boston Celtics with his son, Wyc—on the belief that TV viewers wanted more options. Over time, Continental Cablevision became the third-largest cable-television provider in the country, eventually selling in 1996 for more than $5 billion. He is currently worth a little more than $3 billion, according to Forbes .

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He’s constantly trying to protect his properties from New England’s unforgiving climate—although, in his case, that has meant spending millions trying to forestall the collapse of his Nantucket home on Sconset Bluff.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Hostetter lives in the Beacon Hill house built in 1800 by then-U.S. Representative Harrison Gray Otis, one of the wealthiest Bostonians of the time.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Supports education, arts, and, most recently, climate initiatives through the Barr Foundation, chaired by his wife, Barbara, and assessed to have a stunning $2 billion in assets.

His Politics: Hostetter and Barbara are longtime high-dollar Democratic donors, contributing millions in the 2020 election cycle alone.

Former executive vice president, Dexter Shoes

Age: 78 Lives In: Weston

How He Made It: Through the worst deal Warren Buffett ever made—according to Buffett himself. Ted’s father, Harold Alfond, built a successful shoe business in an old Maine wool mill. In 1993, when Ted was an executive with the company, Harold sold it to an overeager Warren Buffett for 25,000 shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock—worth $439 million then and around $10 billion in 2022. Alfond is worth an estimated $2.3 billion today, according to Forbes .

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He enjoys spending his summers on a Maine lake.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: With his wife, Barbara, Alfond is considered one of the country’s premier art collectors. They maintain a major contemporary collection at their alma mater, Rollins College, in Winter Park, Florida. Closer to home, you can visit the Alford Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Promotes education, healthcare, and youth development, mostly through the Harold Alfond Foundation.

Fun Things He Owns: The oldest house in Weston, dating to the 17th century. Also, a slice of the Boston Red Sox.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: The Dexter Shoes brand, the origin of his fortune, ceased production 20 years ago.

Frank Laukien

President, Chairman, and CEO, Bruker

Age: 62 Lives In: The Back Bay

How He Made It: By growing his father’s scientific instruments company, along with his three siblings. The company’s high-tech equipment does everything from magnetic field research to greenhouse gas measurement. Laukien’s share of Bruker is a major part of his wealth, estimated at more than $2 billion.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Laukien’s interest in anti-cancer research is especially meaningful, as his pioneering physicist father, Günther Laukien, died of cancer in 1997.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: He once paid his own brother nearly $20 million for a million shares of his stock in Bruker.

Innovations: Laukien is cofounding a new endeavor, the Galileo Project, to hunt for extraterrestrial technologies traveling or floating through space.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Leads major anti-cancer efforts, including the American Association for Cancer Research’s Cancer Evolution Working Group.

His Politics: Not historically a huge political donor, Laukien has contributed to Republican Governor Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Republican Party in general.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: Born in Stuttgart, Germany, and educated at MIT and Harvard, Laukien mostly keeps his head down, working on cutting-edge scientific initiatives rather than running up impressive wine tabs at the city’s finest restaurants.

Robert Langer

Institute Professor, Langer Lab, MIT

Age: 73 Lives In: Newton

How He Made It: Over the course of an extraordinary career in scientific research. Having founded or invested in many companies, including Moderna, Langer has been called “the Edison of biomedical engineering.” He came to prefer startups because he found Big Pharma companies frustratingly slow in developing his ideas.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He is fascinated by magic and does tricks for classes and presentations (see: the TikTok of him pulling a very, very long series of colored papers from his mouth).

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: In addition to an estimated net worth of nearly $2 billion, he has more than 1,400 patents issued or pending.

Innovations: Where to start? His research has led to advances in treating brain cancer, reversing paralysis, and much more.

Fun Things He Owns: A prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, for which Langer and his wife, Laura, got to hang out with the late royal and her family.

Why You May Not Have Heard of Him: He spends his time hunkered down at his beloved MIT with his students and his research.

Herb Chambers

Owner, Herb Chambers Companies

Age: 80 Lives In: The Back Bay

How He Made It: Selling more than $2 billion worth of cars a year—which is, coincidentally, his estimated net worth, according to Forbes .

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He grew up in a two-family house in Dorchester.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Chambers builds cutting-edge luxury yachts (all named Excellence ), which he then sells before starting on the next one.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Supports well-known Boston-area nonprofits—including Mass Eye and Ear, the Boston Foundation, and Camp Harbor View—through his charitable foundation.

Signature Look: Tortoiseshell glasses and slicked-back hair, at work or out and about with his longtime girlfriend, Melissa Lees.

His Politics: Although Chambers has frequently supported local Democrats—including Ed Markey and Lori Trahan—he used to write his biggest checks to the national and Massachusetts Republican Party committees. That changed in 2020, when he funded Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee.

Noubar Afeyan

Founder and CEO, Flagship Pioneering

Age: 60 Lives In: Lexington

How He Made It: Born in Lebanon and educated in Canada, Afeyan has helped found dozens of life sciences companies since getting his Ph.D. from MIT in 1987 for biochemical engineering. One of them is Moderna, which struck gold with a COVID-19 vaccine in 2020, pushing his net worth to an estimated $2 billion, according to Forbes .

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Afeyan is a die-hard Boston Celtics fan.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: George Clooney is on the selection committee for an award program Afeyan cofounded, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Works to support Armenia, from which his family hails. That includes donating a large sum toward a building for the St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown and co-founding the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology.

Signature Look: He’s seldom seen without a dark blazer; rarely, however, with a tie.

His Politics: Not a big political donor, Afeyan has given almost exclusively to Democrats.

Chairman and CEO, Suffolk Construction Co.

How He Made It: Fish joined his father’s construction business after college and built it into a multibillion-dollar national behemoth. Encore Boston Harbor? He built that. Millennium Tower, the BU “stack of books” computing center, Four Seasons One Dalton Street…yeah, he built those, too. He is worth just over $1 billion, primarily from the estimated value of his company.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Fish is known to be unfailingly gracious: He sends prompt thank-you notes and often ends phone calls by asking, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: For PR maven George Regan’s Cape Cod wedding this summer, Fish graciously provided his refurbished tugboat, the SS Lollipop , to ferry the bride, Elizabeth Akeley, to her groom and officiant Charlie Baker.

Taking the Lead: There hardly seems to be a significant board in Boston that Fish hasn’t served on, if not chaired: Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Brigham Health, Boston College, and the list goes on.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Donates to Brigham and Women’s Hospital: John and his wife, Cynthia, have given nearly $20 million to the institution over the years, including $2.5 million to start a COVID-19 caregivers’ initiative.

Signature Look: He’s never seen without a tie on, even at the ridiculously early hour he is said to start working.

Seth Klarman

CEO, Baupost Group

Age: 65 Lives In: Chestnut Hill

How He Made It: At age 25, one of Klarman’s Harvard Business School professors invited him to join a new investment management firm, Baupost Group. He was soon bringing 20 percent annual returns to wealthy clients, amassing a personal fortune now estimated at $1.5 billion in the process.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Klarman met his wife, Beth, on a Boston Harbor cruise. He coached his daughters’ soccer teams.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Legendary football coach Bill Parcells once cited Klarman’s Margin of Safety as the last book he’d read.

Giving from the Heart: After his daughter suffered from an eating disorder, Klarman wrote a $2.5 million check for a treatment center at McLean Hospital, in addition to providing grants for scientific research on anorexia nervosa. This was through the Klarman Family Foundation, which has more than half a billion dollars in assets. The Klarmans are also supporters of Israel and Jewish philanthropies.

Signature Look: Klarman is recognizable in his glasses and trimmed beard.

Fun Things He Owns: Two Preakness-winning horses.

His Politics: He’s a longtime Republican, described as fiscally conservative and socially liberal—but so anti-Trump that he has shifted from a major GOP donor to an even bigger Democratic one in recent years, including giving thousands to Democratic state parties from Arizona to Florida.

Arthur Winn

Founder, WinnCompanies

Age: 83 Lives In: Brookline

How He Made It: Steered toward real estate by a Harvard Business School professor, in 1971 Winn stepped into the emerging field of government-subsidized affordable housing and grew one of the biggest companies in the business. His legacy of buildings—mostly for low-income residents—maintain their daily presence in Boston, throughout the region, and in 23 states across the country.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: According to friends, Winn can recite extensive scenes from his favorite films: The Godfather trilogy.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: As a student at the University of Massachusetts, he launched a business selling formal wear for fraternity functions—which he soon expanded to include corsage sales. fingerprints on the city: Winn’s company transformed Boston’s Mission Main property into a national model for low-cost public housing. He has earned praise throughout his career for developing affordable housing that becomes a part of the community, rather than cookie-cutter barracks-style structures.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Gives to Jewish organizations and causes, among other philanthropic activities.

Fun Things He Owns: Red Sox season tickets behind home plate.

His Politics: Winn has been a Republican supporter for decades, but has mostly donated to Democrats in recent election cycles.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: His friend and fellow philanthropist Lenny Zakim got a bridge named for him; he didn’t.

Stéphane Bancel

CEO, Moderna

Age: 50 Lives In: Beacon Hill

How He Made It: In 2011, not yet 40 years old, the France native was hired to run an ambitious Cambridge startup that was trying to use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to produce new types of medicine. When that company brought forward a successful COVID-19 vaccine, Bancel’s already valuable shares in the company soared; he’s now worth $4.6 billion, according to Forbes .

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Bancel credits his success to being raised and taught by Jesuits.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Earlier this year, he was made a chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur—a knight, essentially, and France’s highest meritorious honor.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Funds Boston-area community-focused charities through the Bancel Foundation. His wife, Brenda, who studied at Harvard’s Divinity School, recently launched a second foundation called Champions of Love. And that’s all before the couple announced this year that they will exercise hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of stock options—and sell them all, giving the money to charity.

Signature Look: Bancel is usually seen in rimless glasses, tailored suits, and a buzz cut.

Why You May Not Have Heard of Him: For years, Bancel toiled quietly—secretively, some say—to turn the promise of mRNA vaccines into a real, tested product. Clearly, it was a success.

Joshua Bekenstein

Cochair, Bain Capital

Age: 64 Lives In: Wayland

How He Made It: Bekenstein was one of the original people from Bain & Company chosen by founder Bill Bain and partner Mitt Romney to start Bain Capital, which became one of the most successful investment firms in the country. Much of his wealth comes from his holdings in companies that Bain Capital bought over the years, including the Bright Horizons childcare company, Waters Corp., Burlington stores, and Michaels.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Backs climate change awareness and mitigation efforts along with his wife, Anita. Bekenstein has also funded New Profit, a nonprofit that supports “breakthrough social entrepreneurs who are advancing equity and opportunity,” especially Black, indigenous, and Latinx grantees who are often overlooked by philanthropists.

All in Good Fun: As a young man, he and other Bain Capital founders goofed around during a photo shoot, taking a picture with dollar bills in their hands and mouths. Unfortunately, the photo was widely seen years later when the young man in front of Bekenstein—Mitt Romney—was a candidate for president.

Fun Things He Owns: When the Bekensteins get the itch to leave their 10,000-square-foot home in Wayland (with stables and a tennis court), they can stretch out at their $18 million house on 14 beachfront acres on Nantucket.

His Politics: The couple are huge funders of Democratic and liberal candidates and committees.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: Bekenstein has never craved attention, leaving the spotlight to his former boss, Mitt Romney, and current cochair, Steve Pagliuca.

Cofounder, Wayfair

Age: 48 Lives In: The Back Bay

How He Made It: The son of immigrants from India, Shah attended public high school in Pittsfield before meeting his future business partner, Steve Conine, at Cornell University. The two eventually went on to create the multibillion-dollar online home furniture store Wayfair. They are each worth an estimated $1.5 billion.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He furnishes his home with Wayfair purchases, of course.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Shah sat on the board of the Boston Fed, was once on Fortune magazine’s “40 under 40” list, and has been Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year.” He and his wife, Jill, have also purchased seven adjacent properties at Little Parker’s Pond in the Osterville Village section of Barnstable to develop into a family compound.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Helps fund public education and healthcare access through the Shah Family Foundation, primarily run by Jill. Although it just launched in 2017, the organization is quickly becoming an influential player in Boston.

Signature Look: Round, clear-framed glasses and a slightly graying beard.

His Politics: Shah has given extensively to Democrats nationally, including six-figure contributions to support Joe Biden in 2020.

Timothy Springer

Investor and immunologist, Harvard Medical School

Age: 74 Lives In: Newton

How He Made It: After several other investment successes—he reportedly made $100 million from an earlier drug-development startup, LeukoSite—Springer was approached by a colleague for advice on raising capital for a new company. Springer put in $5 million himself, which turned into $400 million by the time that company, Moderna, went public in 2018. Now he’s worth more than $2 billion, according to Forbes .

Other wins: Springer has helped create treatments for cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and more. He also cofounded (and funded) the Institute for Protein Innovation located at Harvard Medical School, which is designing synthetic antibodies for potential scientific research.

Signature Look: Casual. Known to bicycle to work in jeans, Springer recently conducted a Zoom interview with this magazine from his office while wearing a white T-shirt.

Fun Things He Owns: He collected several large gongshi rocks from China, one a massive 23 tons, to decorate the home he built in Newton.

His Politics: After supporting Barack Obama in 2008, Springer had no record of political giving until the 2020 election cycle, when he contributed to Jake Auchincloss in his local district’s congressional race. Auchincloss’s parents are both prominent alumni of Harvard Medical School.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: Noubar Afeyan and Stéphane Bancel have gotten most of the Moderna media attention.

Terry Ragon

Founder and CEO, InterSystems

Age: 73 Lives In: Cambridge

How He Made It: Way back in 1978, Ragon launched a company to produce data-management software for banks and hospitals. More than 40 years later, InterSystems continues to thrive as a privately held company, with Ragon as CEO and his wife, Susan, as VP.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He and Susan ran their first Boston Marathon as “bandits”—without credentials—in 1993.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: The couple just spent a reported $93 million to buy three beachfront properties—two of which were not officially on the market—to build a new Florida home.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Gives to Mass General, including $100 million for AIDS research. And that’s not all: The Ragons have taken the “Giving Pledge” to give away the majority of their money—which totals nearly $2 billion—through philanthropy.

His Politics: The Ragons have contributed more than $6.5 million over the years, almost all to Democrats or Democrat-supporting committees. This spring, Ragon gave a cool million to the committee working to keep the Democrats’ majority status in the U.S. Senate.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: InterSystems is almost obsessive about being Boston’s quietest major corporation—something that’ll become much more difficult when it moves into its new 420,000-square-foot space at the new One Congress Tower.

Steve Conine

Age: 50 Lives In: The South End

How He Made It: Partnering in entrepreneurship with Niraj Shah.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Conine can often be spotted riding his bicycle around Boston.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: He competes worldwide in mountain-bike races.

Innovations: Conine has been trying for years to create an AI-driven augmented-reality shopping experience for Wayfair customers.

He Doesn’t Need His Name in Lights: He and Shah recently gave $10 million to build a new computing and information science building at their alma mater, Cornell University—but the building will be named for Apple exec Ann Bowers, not themselves.

Fun Things He Owns: A brass-and-copper clock that he made himself, among other handcrafted pieces.

His Politics: Conine’s largest contributions have been to the national and state GOP, but he’s also given to some local Democrats—including Deval Patrick during his brief 2020 presidential campaign.

Alan Trefler

CEO, Pegasystems

Age: 66 Lives In: Brookline

How He Made It: The software company he launched at age 27 (with a helpful loan from his mother) is doing more than $1 billion in annual revenue some 40 years later—with him still running it and owning about half the shares.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: Trefler enjoys an occasional game of good old-fashioned Ping-Pong.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: He achieved chess-master status and won a world chess championship while still in college.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Helps kids in underserved communities succeed by supporting STEM education and healthcare needs. He and his wife, Pam, created the Trefler Foundation in large part to tackle the inequities she observed while teaching math at Dorchester High School (they later gifted $1 million to the school).

Signature Look: He sports a well-trimmed beard that he’s worn since college and prefers a casual jeans-and-polo-shirt getup.

Elizabeth Johnson

Owner, Louisburg Farm

Age: 59 Lives In: Beacon Hill

How She Made It: Johnson owns roughly 5 percent of Fidelity, the investment management firm created by her grandfather and currently run by her sister Abigail.

How She’s an Ordinary Person: Johnson is constantly being judged in relation to her supposedly more accomplished sibling.

How She’s Not an Ordinary Person: Fidelity created a new investment firm, Volition Capital, for Johnson’s husband, Rob Ketterson, to be a founding partner of.

She Uses Her Money for Good When She: Makes considerable charitable contributions directly and via her family’s Edward C. Johnson Fund. She also donates to Boston’s Society of Arts & Crafts.

Fun Things She Owns: An equestrian training facility in Wellington, Florida, named Louisburg Farm, after the tony square where she resides in Boston. When the farm held a fundraiser for U.S. Olympic equestrian teams, Bruce Springsteen—whose daughter is an equestrian competitor—cochaired the event and played an impromptu set on a Fender guitar being auctioned off.

Why She Flies Under the Radar: Beth is the Johnson sibling least involved in the family business. She is also the least wealthy, according to Forbes, hovering above the $5 billion line this summer.

Edward Johnson IV

President, Pembroke Real Estate

Age: 57 Where He Lives: The North End

How He Made It: As the brother of Fidelity chief Abigail Johnson, Ed IV owns roughly 5 percent of the huge investment management firm—and runs a subsidiary of the empire.

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He majored in “recreational and leisure studies” at Northeastern University.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: He manages 2.2 million square feet at Seaport Place, which is owned by his real estate company, a branch of—surprise, surprise—Fidelity.

Signature Look: His cherubic red hair.

Why He Flies Under the Radar: Johnson, who is reportedly worth upward of $6 billion, is just as media-averse as his namesake father and grandfather, as well as his powerful sister Abigail. And without that top position at Fidelity, he has far fewer people trying to put him in the spotlight.

George Sakellaris

Chairman and CEO, Ameresco

Age: 76 Lives In: Milton

How He Made It: Sakellaris amassed a fortune in the 1980s and 1990s retrofitting other companies’ buildings for energy efficiency and getting paid out of their resulting savings. Now, with businesses looking for cleantech and renewable solutions, he’s making even more money—some $1.2 billion of revenue a year, with a net worth of about $1.6 billion, according to Forbes .

How He’s an Ordinary Person: He worked his way through college in restaurants and grocery stores.

How He’s Not an Ordinary Person: Sakellaris enjoys racing Maxi 72 class sailing yachts, which carry a crew of around 15.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Supports the local Greek Orthodox community along with his wife, Cathy Papoulias-Sakellaris.

Fun Things He Owns: Proteus , the 2017 International Maxi Association’s Yacht of the Year.

His Politics: George and Cathy give mostly, but not exclusively, to Democrats.

James Pallotta

Founder, Raptor Group

Age: 64 Lives In: Weston

How He Made It: After growing up in the North End, Pallotta spent years running one of the city’s most successful hedge fund businesses out of Rowes Wharf—at one point, before the 2008 crash, reportedly earning up to $200 million a year.

Fun and Games: He reportedly participated in an annual $1 million fantasy football league with nine other rich guys.

He Uses His Money for Good When He: Shares his wealth with a wide range of local institutions, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Fun Thing He Owns: A 27,000-square-foot custom-built estate once dubbed “The House That Ate Weston” by this magazine, featuring a home theater, music room, basketball court, and one entire wing just for Pallotta’s two sons.

His Politics: Pallotta has a history of giving to Republicans, nationally and in Massachusetts.

Future Billionaires

They’re not on the list yet…but give them time.

Claire Hughes Johnson Corporate officer and Adviser, Stripe

Age: 50 Lives in: Milton

Formerly the COO at Stripe, Johnson (no relation to the Fidelity Johnsons) is still one of the higher-ups at the wildly successful payment processing business, which ranks as one of the top-valued private companies of all time. This comes after a successful run with Google and an active side gig as an angel investor. An anticipated Stripe IPO might get her that 10th digit.

Carmichael Roberts Founder and managing partner, Material Impact

Age: 54 Lives in: Brookline

A company-builder with a string of successes behind him, Roberts runs his own venture capital firm and participates in Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures investment committee. You’ll also find him on a host of boards, corporate and nonprofit, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and WGBH.

Sam Slater Managing partner, Tremont Asset Management

Age: 38 Lives in: The Back Bay

Slater has a large real estate portfolio, co-owns the Seattle Kraken NHL team, produces movies, and is behind a huge new development in Quincy. It’s not clear how far he is from his first billion, but at 38 years old, he has plenty of time to make up the gap.

Nancy Zimmerman Cofounder and managing partner, Bracebridge Capital

Age: 59 Lives in: Newton

Forbes calls Zimmerman “one of the most successful female hedge fund founders in the U.S.,” and at this point, she’s just one of the most successful, period. Bracebridge manages more than $12 billion in assets, and her own net worth has been pegged at more than $700 million.

Demond Martin Partner, Adage Capital Management

Age: 48 Lives in: Newton

Martin worked in the Clinton White House and now serves on the Obama Foundation’s board of directors, but his financial success comes from 20 years managing portfolios at Adage. Politically, socially, and philanthropically connected, Martin’s potential for billionaire status is sky-high.

• Boston Red Sox
• Harvard Medical School
• New Balance
• New England Patriots

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2023 IMA Maxi Rolex Cup

Doyle-powered teams are making last minute preparations ahead of the pinnacle Grand Prix sailing event of the season, the IMA Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, in the spectacular surroundings of Porto Cervo. 

The fleet of internationally acclaimed maxi yachts are due to race from the 3rd to 9th of September for the 33rd edition of the event across a variation of courses ranging from coastal courses through the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago to windward-leeward courses.

Once again, Doyle Sails is proud to be the sailmaker of choice for the majority of the high-performance race yachts that will be on the start line this week, with more than 75 Doyle sails delivered specifically ahead of the event. For Doyle Sails, it is always the busiest event of the year with a significant number of Doyle-powered yachts and Doyle Sails people on the ground including Mike Sanderson, CEO of Doyle Sails International. This year Mike returns to sail with long-time Doyle Sails supporter and friend Hap Fauth onboard his Botin 75 Bella Mente. “It’s wonderful to be sitting on the plane after several years of “testing times” for the world. Even though last year was pretty much back to normal I was forced out due to a very disappointing skiing injury and so super excited to be back with our Bella Mente family for another crack at the big prize of the year for boats like Bella, “ said Mike, who is currently enroute to Porto Cervo. “For Doyle Sails this will be our biggest and most competitive line up of boats throughout the divisions and we look forward to working with our owners and teams over the coming two weeks with their local Doyle experts and their new sails to really maximize each team’s potential”, he continued. 

Finishing the 2022 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in third place, Bella Mente are looking to fight back and claim the top spot this season. The team will also be trialing Doyle Sails’ latest technology in the lead up so it will be all eyes on the 75ft racing machine ahead of the event. “This year we have made some pretty bold changes to the boat with twin rudders, water ballast and lots of smaller developments in hydro and aero world, so really exciting to see how those all play out over the next two weeks,” said Mike.

Farr 100 Leopard 3 will be back in action with Chris Sherlock at the helm. Sherlock, of Doyle Sails Palma, and his team have had worked hard in the lead up to the event with a successful Palma Superyacht Cup result before winning the 2023 Aegean 600. After a major refit this year, the yacht is in fighting form with a new rig, rigging and winch package, along with a new Doyle Sails inventory. 

Contention for the title in Maxi Class 1 will be tight as Leopard will be lining up against fellow Doyle-powered maxi’s Deep Blue, Galateia and Bullitt. Luke Molloy, also of Doyle Sails Palma, is sailing onboard long time customer Andrea Recordati’s Wally 93 Bullitt, who, after finishing 3 rd  at the 2022 event will be looking to climb up the podium.

David M. Leuschen’s WallyCento Galateia will once again line up alongside other maxi’s in Maxi Class 1 after a successful start to the season winning the 2023 Palma Vela regatta. Daniel Fong, professional sailor and Grand Prix sail designer for Doyle Sails, will be onboard this year supporting the team as a sailor, but also as the sail designer behind the new high-performance Stratis J1 and full suite of downwind flying sails that has recently been delivered to Galateia. 

With 10 new Doyle Stratis sails onboard for the event, it will be Dario Ferrari’s Botin 72 Cannonball, looking to continue their run of successful results in what is arguably the most intense division of the event, with eight yachts in Maxi Class 2. Doyle Grand Prix Sail Designer and professional sailor Jordi Calafat is onboard as tactician. 

David Duff of Doyle Sails International will sail with Wendy Schimdt and their tight knit crew on the Botin 85 Deep Blue and Doyle Sails Italy will support Manticore, Franz Wilhem Baruffaldi Preis’s Mylius 60 fd, which will line up in the Maxi Class 4, the largest division for the regatta.

Recently launched Cafe Racer Open Season, owned by Thomas Bscher, will be making her long awaited debut in the racing scene after spending the inital part of the summer in Palma. Open Season will showcase her brand new race inventory of Doyle Structured Luff headsails, Cableless Code Zero and staysails this week. Senior project manager and sailmaker Antoine Thullier, is onboard with the race team this week. The project has been led by Luke Molloy who has been an integral player from design phase through to commissioning – recently spending time with the yacht to complete the sea trials last week and a training block with race team ahead of their first racing event. The 68fter has spent the earlier part of the summer cruising, designed to  sail without backstays in cruising mode allowing the owner to sail simply and safely with minimal crew.

George Sakellaris’s maxi yacht Proteus returns for another year and will be looking for redemption, last year they were the winners of the Maxi European Inshore series, and posted a second overall at the Maxi European event. While luck wasn’t on their side at the Aegean 600 in July with a rigging issue pre-start, the yacht is back in mint condition ahead of the event with Richard Bouzaid onboard as primary trimmer. 

The highly anticipated 101 Y3K, the latest launch from Italian yard Wally test yacht out of the Italian Wally yard will also be making her racing debut this week, having recently completed a successful round of sea trials in Italy where a full suite of Doyle Structured Luff sails were fitted alongside Mainsails, Cableless Code sails and downwind flying sails. 

With Doyle Sails now firmly the sailmaker of choice to the world’s most high-performance race yachts, events like the 2023 Maxi Rolex Cup are a true testament to the by sailors, for sailors ethos which sees Doyle Sails home to not only the best sailmakers in the world, but the best sailors. 

For further information visit the  YCCS website , the  section dedicated to the event , or contact the  Press Office .

ABOUT DOYLE SAILS //   Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.

Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.

By sailors, for sailors.

• 130′ My Song Continues Winning Streak
• 130′ My Song Sets the Tone for Performance Superyachting
• 2014 Copa Del Rey Champions: Shockwave and HURAKAN
• 2015 Bucket Regatta: A Fine Ending To A Grand Event
• 2015 Melges 24 World Championship: R/P’s M24 Still Has It After All These Years
• 2015 Melges 24 World Rankings
• 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Start
• 2016 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup / Clash of the Centos
• 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
• 36 Class Wins in 20 Years at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

66′ Mini Maxi Alive Sweeps California Offshore Races and Sets New Course Record

• 78′ Lupa of London Takes Line Honors in 2014 RORC Transatlantic Race
• A Bittersweet Rolex Sydney Hobart
• A Clean Sweep for Reichel/Pugh Designs at the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart
• Aboard the Orma60 Mighty Merloe
• Alive Smashes 1,850nm Melbourne to Vanuatu Race Record

Alive Wins Newport to Ensenada Race Following Sydney-Hobart Victory

• Alive Yachting Claims Line Honors in the 2017 Veolia Bruny Island Race
• An Interview with Two-Time Melges 24 World Champion Vince Brun
• An R/P Icon Relaunches: Introducing the new Black Jack 100
• Andrea Racchelli and Team Altea are the 2018 Melges 24 World Champions
• Aragon Wins 2016 RORC Transatlantic Race
• Baltic 130 Custom Superyacht Sea Trial
• Career Opportunities
• Claude’s Career Opens with a Win
• Cowes Week: Lord Laidlaw’s R/P 52 CAPE FLING II wins IRC Class 0
• Design No. 268: X-Treme 32 for G–Force Yachts
• Esimit Europa 2 Takes Seventh Line Honors Victory in Giraglia Offshore Race
• FEA-Optimized Carbon Fiber Anchor Arm
• GALATEIA and MAGIC CARPET³ 1st and 2nd for the 2017 Wally Season’s Championship

GP42 42° South Shines at 2019 Cowes Week

• Highland Fling XI Wins 2012 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta
• Highland Fling XI Wins Line Honors Round the Island Race
• Honoring Devoted Friend and Humble Colleague Doug Peterson
• Illbruck the New 2016 Melges 20 World Champion, Savoini Claims Corinthian
• Introducing the Aquila RP45
• Inventing Legends | R/P Fast 35m Superyacht
• Inventing Legends | Wallycento Galateia
• Invisible Hand, Bad Pak and Wizard Sweep 2015 Cabo Race ORR1
• It Had To Happen: The R/P 45ft Offshore Performance Catamaran
• John Reichel And Naval Architect David Oliver Were All Smiles At The Inaugural Melges 14 Nationals
• Les Voiles de Saint Tropez Preview
• Lucky Earns Line Honors at the 2017 XIII Palermo-Montecarlo Race
• Magic Carpet 3 Celebrates Line Honours at the 2016 Giraglia Rolex Cup (241nm)
• Melges 24 Boat of the Week at Charleston Race Week
• Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2016 – 2018 Announced
• Melges 24: Still the Gold Standard
• Melges 32 ROCKS …OFFSHORE
• Mini Maxi Shockwave Dominates at Key West
• Modern Composite Materials
• My Song Continues to Set the Tone for Performance Superyacting as She Triumphs at the 2018 LORO PIANA SUPERYACHT REGATTA
• Newbold’s RP 51 Primitive Cool Finishes Sydney Hobart 4th Overall
• Nilaya Earns Overall Prize at Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous
• Nilaya is First In Class at the 2019 Superyacht Challenge Antigua
• NILAYA wins the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta 2016
• NZL Coastal Classic: RP42 Rikki Wins Iconic Race
• Oyster Teams Up with Reichel/Pugh for 33m Project Alpha

Perfect Scoreline For Magic Carpet 3 At The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta

• Perini Navi Announces Sale of the Second 42-Meter E-VOLUTION
• Peter Harburg’s R/P 100’ Black Jack Smashes Brisbane To Gladstone Race Record With An Average Speed Of 22.48 Knots
• R/P 63 Invisible Hand Is The 2014 ORR West Coast Northern Series Champion
• R/P Canting Keel Designs Dominate the 2016 Brisbane to Keppel Race (348nm)
• R/P Designed Wild Oats XI Beats Course Record in 2012 Rolex Sydney to Hobart
• R/P Designed Yachts Claim Top Spots in 2012 Rolex Sydney to Hobart
• R/P Designs Have Taken Solas Big Boat Challenge Line Honors Since 2005
• R/P Designs Victorious at Les Voiles de Saint-Barth
• R/P Trio at the 2017 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta
• R/P WallyCentos Magic Carpet 3 and Galateia Face-off at 2017 PalmaVela
• R/P-Designed MELGES 20 Selected as Sportboat for 2016 Resolute Cup
• R/P-Designed NILAYA and VISIONE Premier Yachts at 2016 Superyacht Challenge Antigua
• R/P-Designed Nilaya and Visione Prevail at 2014 St Barths Bucket
• Recently Launched – Aquila RP 45
• Records Fall in 2016 Newport to Ensenada Race
• Redemption! Wild Oats XI Wins 9th Line Honors Victory in the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race
• Reflecting on 2016
• Reichel and Pugh to attend the 2019 St. Barths Bucket Regatta
• Reichel/Pugh 100’ Wallycento Magic Carpet 3 Takes Line Honors Win in Giraglia Rolex Cup
• Reichel/Pugh 66’ KODIAK Wins Overall Performance Trophy at 49th NEWPORT-BERMUDA RACE
• Reichel/Pugh 68 Fast Performance Cruiser To Be Built By Baltic Yachts
• Reichel/Pugh 72′ Shockwave has won overall the RORC Caribbean 600
• Reichel/Pugh 72′ Shockwave Triumphs at the 49th NEWPORT-BERMUDA RACE
• Reichel/Pugh 86’ Windquest Takes Line Honors Win in the 105th Chicago to Mackinac
• Reichel/Pugh 90’ Rambler Triple Success
• Reichel/Pugh Collaborates with Italian Builder Perini Navi for the 42m EVOLUTION Superyacht
• Reichel/Pugh Designed Yachts Dominate US & Australian Regattas
• Reichel/Pugh Designs Earn Top Results at 50th Transpac (2,225nm)
• Reichel/Pugh Designs Lead the Chicago-Mackinac Race
• Reichel/Pugh Designs Showcasing at the Monaco Yacht Show
• Reichel/Pugh Designs Sweep 2015 Giraglia Podium

Reichel/Pugh Designs Triumph at Les Voiles de St. Barth

• Reichel/Pugh Designs Win 3 of 6 Classes at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
• Reichel/Pugh Designs Win at Long Point Race Week
• Reichel/Pugh Engineering – Race Retractable Propulsion Systems
• Reichel/Pugh X-Treme 37 Taz Wins Class at 2017 RORC Caribbean 600
• Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design and McConaghy Boats introduce the MC-R 35
• Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design IRC52 Highland Fling XII, in construction at McConaghy Boats.
• Reichel/Pugh Yachts Dominate Australian Offshore Classic
• Reichel/Pugh-designed 72’ Alfa Romeo Wins 48th Barcolana Regatta
• Reichel/Pugh-designed 86’ Spirit of Portopiccolo Wins the Barcolana, Again!
• Reichel/Pugh-Nauta 112’ Nilaya – Built by Baltic Yachts – Helmed by Owner – Dominates the St Barths Bucket Regatta with Triple Class Wins!
• Reichel/Pugh’s Iconic Design 146 Heads Home for a Major Revamp
• Rolex Sydney Hobart: Wild Oats XI’s Historic Eighth Line Honours Victory (630nm)
• Rombelli is 2019 Melges 20 World Champion, Joyce is Corinthian
• RORC Transatlantic Record for RP’s 130′ My Song
• RP 100 Canting Keel Maxi Esimit Europa 2 Breaks Giraglia Record

RP 50′ Racer Takes the Overall Win at Long Point Race Week

• RP 66 Alive Back-To-Back Winner Of SYC’s Sail Paradise Regatta
• RP 68′ Fast Performance Cruiser Launches
• RP 72 Shockwave Wins Newport to Bermuda Gibbs Hill Division – RP Yachts Sweep Prizes in Offshore Classic
• RP 90 Rambler Breaks Newport to Bermuda Course Record
• RP Maxis Dominate 33rd Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Race (384nm)

RP Maxis Finish 1st & 2nd at Palermo-Montecarlo

• RP TP52 Near Miss Wins 2012 Giraglia Inshore Event
• RP TP52 Near Miss Wins 2012 Giraglia Rolex Cup
• RP TP52 Team Vision Future Wins 2017 IRC European Championship

RP100 Black Jack Takes Line Honors in The Brisbane to Gladstone Race

• RP130 My Song Crowned 2017 Sailing Yacht of the Year
• RP130 My Song Most Innovative Sailing Yacht of 2017
• RP130 My Song Technical Article Featured in Seahorse Magazine
• RP52 Vincitore and James Mitchell

RP66 Zaraffa Wins Overall ORR Title in Tight Marblehead to Halifax Race (363nm)

• RP68 To Launch This Fall From Baltic Yachts Shipyard
• RP69 TREBUCHET Sets Overall Course Record for Inaugural Miami-Havana Race
• RP72 Shockwave Success in the 2012 Copa Del Rey
• RP85 My Song Retires With Class Win At The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
• Scarlet Runner Wins Pacific Cup Grand Slam / Invisible Hand Takes Line Honours
• Shockwave Wins 2015 Pineapple Cup – Montego Bay Race (811nm)
• Shockwave wins New York Yacht Club’s 158th Annual Regatta
• Southern Wind 94 Hull # 3 Launches
• Southern Wind Shipyard Visit for Upcoming RP90 Performance Superyacht
• Successful First Regatta for the Melges 14 Fleet
• Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Historical Photographic Exhibition at Australian National Maritime Museum – November 2014 to March 2015
• TAVATUY Wins the Melges 32 Worlds
• Teams Maidollis and Taki 4 are the 2017 Melges 24 World Champions
• Teams Mikey and Sunnyvale are the 2017 Melges 24 North American Champions

The 50th Transpac Kicks Off

• The Baltic 130 Custom Superyacht Gets a Keel at the Baltic Yachts yard in Finland
• The Magic Carpet Story Featured in Seahorse Magazine
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• The Reichel/Pugh-designed Melges 14 is 2016’s Best Dingy
• Throwback Thursday / Bladerunner
• Throwback Thursday: Built in the 80s, Taxi Dancer Starts the Newport-Ensenada Race Tomorrow
• Throwback Thursday: Stark Raving Mad
• Transatlantic Race: Bryon Ehrhart’s Lucky Claims Overall Victory
• Transpac 2011: Bella Mente Takes the Barn Door
• Transpac: Wild Oats XI Has Fastest Elapsed Time | Grand Illusion Is Overall Winner
• Turner’s RP66 Alive Sets New China Sea Race Course Record and Takes 1st Place in IRC Division 0
• VIDEO / RP63 Aszhou at Long Point Race Week
• Video | Wild Oats XI Evolution
• Video: Launch of the R/P Baltic 130 Custom
• Visione Victorious at Superyacht Challenge Antigua
• Wild Oats X1 Record Ninth Rolex Sydney Hobart Line Honors Victory Overturned, Comanche Declared Winner
• WILD OATS XI Preparations Reaffirmed for the Sydney Hobart Race
• Winning Style | R/P Superyacht Wins Overall at St. Barths
• Wizard sets 2017 Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race Record
• Wizard Wins The Barn Door & 3 San Francisco Bay Area R/P Designs Take Class Wins In 2013 TRANSPAC

In the Press

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• Performance Cruising
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June 23, 2014 · Posted by kate

Congratulations to the owners and crews of the Reichel/Pugh designed yachts competing in the 2014 NEWPORT to BERMUDA Ocean Race (635 nautical miles).

New York Yacht Club/Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (June 23rd 2014) – George Sakellaris’ R/P-designed/engineered and McConaghy-built 72’ Mini Maxi SHOCKWAVE   took fleet line honors and wins the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophy taking 1st Place Overall under both ORR and IRC.   SHOCKWAVE takes multiple silver, also snatching the Corporation of Hamilton Trophy for the first yacht to finish in fleet ( best elapsed time) and the North Rock Beacon Trophy for the best IRC corrected time in fleet. The latter, a silver replica of the 1960-1990 North Rock Light Tower that once warned mariners of the rocky approach to Bermuda from the North.

The win adds to Shockwave’s growing list of recent victories, highlighted by their division win in the 2012 Newport-Bermuda Race, the 2013 Montego Bay, and earlier in the year won overall the grueling RORC CARIBBEAN 600 for the best IRC corrected time in the sixty boat fleet. Under prior ownership SHOCKWAVE also won overall the 2010, 243 nm GIRAGLIA Rolex Mediterranean Classic and the Mini Maxi Championship of the 2009 Rolex Cup.

Reichel/Pugh designs have a rich history of taking top spots in Newport – Bermuda Classic with multiple Division/Class winners and 8 Line Honors wins and three record setting races since 2002:

2014 – 72’ Shockwave – George Sakellaris Fleet Line honors winner and winner of Gibbs Hill Trophy IRC & ORR & winner of North Rock Beacon Trophy 2014 – 66’ Kodiak – Llywd Ecclestone Line honors winner in the St David’s Lighthouse Division and winner of Class 8 ORR 2012 – 90’ Rambler – George David 1st to Finish- SETS NEW COURSE RECORD – 39hr 39m 18s 2012 – 72’ Shockwave – George Sakellaris 1st Overall racing IRC & OR winner of Gibbs Hill Trophy & North Rock Beacon Trophy 2012 – 49’ Defiance – Hamnett Hill 1st Gibbs Hill Division Class 9 ORR 2012 – 66’ Kodiak – Llywd Ecclestone Line Honors Winner of the St Davids Lighthouse Division, 1st overall in Class 8 ORR & winner of Overall Performance Trophy 2010 – 90’ Rambler – George David 1st to Finish 2008 – 90’ Rambler – George David 1st to Finish 2004 – 86’ Morning Glory – Dr. Hasso Plattner 1st to Finish  – SET NEW (Canting Ballast) COURSE RECORD – 2d 28m 31s 2004 – 52’ Rosebud – Roger Sturgeon 1st Overall Racing Division and winner of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophy 2004 – 80’ Carrera – Joe Dockery 1st to Finish 2004 – 66’ Zaraffa – Dr. Skip Sheldon 1st Overall in St David’s Lighthouse Class 8 2002 – 66’ Blue Yankee – Robert Towse 1st Overall Racing Division and winner of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophy 2002 – 75’ Pyewacket – Roy Disney 1st to Finish – SET NEW COURSE RECORD (Fixed Ballast) – 2d 5h 39m 22s 2002 – 66’ Zaraffa – Dr. Skip Sheldon   1st Overall Cruiser/Racer Division and winner of the St David’s Lighthouse Trophy and Overall Performance Trophy

Event links: bermudarace.com

Photo courtesy of: Barry Pickthall / PPL Media

Visit the builder’s website at: mcconaghyboats.com

Tags: Bermuda Ocean Race (USA-BM) , George Sakellaris , Newport to Bermuda Race , Shockwave

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Monte-Carlo (August 24, 2019) – The 15th edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo marked the fifth and final event of the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge 2018-2019 and fielded fifty-one boats this year.

Miguel Galuccio’s Reichel/Pugh 84’ maxi Vera (formerly My Song ) was first to cross the finish line winning one of the Giuseppe Tasca d’Almerita Trophy . Vera’s crew, including Dutch Volvo Ocean Race legend Bouwe Bekking and Olympic champion Michele Regolo, completed nearly 500 miles of racecourse (on the direct route) in two days, 17 hours and 13 minutes — smashing the record set by Esimit Europa 2 in 2015. Esimit Europa 2 is a Reichel/Pugh-designed 100’ canting keel supermaxi, first launched as Alfa Romeo and is now the Australia-based Black Jack . (more…)

Sheldon, who began his sailing career as a student, commissioned Reichel/Pugh Design No. 96 Zaraffa as a dual-purpose racer-cruiser, built by New England Boatworks and launched in 1999. A rugged design, Sheldon never wanted the boat to be the cause of not finishing a race. Zaraffa competed in the 2001 Fastnet race winning class and taking 2 nd overall. She raced the Newport-Bermuda four times, claiming the 2002 Lighthouse Trophy win on the crew’s second attempt. She was also first-to-finish with overall honors on the 2003 North Atlantic Challenge from Newport to Cuxhaven, Germany, and in 2011 Zaraffa was 1st Corrected IRC 3 in the Transatlantic Race.  She has also raced the Sydney Hobart, Miami to Montego Bay, Round Gotland Race and the Middle Sea Race. In 2018, after a retrofit for the Transatlantic Race, the Sheldon family bestowed the USNA Sailing Team with the gift of Zaraffa for offshore training. (more…)

Reichel/Pugh racers to watch: Alive – Design 162 – 66’ CBTF Racer (formerly Black Jack & Stark Raving Mad ) Grand Illusion (featuring Reichel/Pugh-designed keel and rudder appendages) Lady Kanon – Design 177 – 45’ IRC Racer Shadow II – Design 122 – TP52 Taxi Dancer – Design 39 – 70’ ULDB Vitesse – Design 199.2 – Southern Cross 52’

Race Tracking Event News Photography

Phillip Turner’s Australian-based Alive Yachting team most notably won the 2018 Sydney-Hobart overall, and recently swept 2019 California Offshore races with back-to-back line honor wins in the SoCal 300 (Santa Barbara to San Diego), Coastal Cup (Monterey to Santa Barbara), Spinnaker Cup (San Francisco Bay to Monterey), and Newport-Ensenada Race.

HIGHLIGHTS OF REICHEL/PUGH TRANSPAC HISTORY

Reichel Pugh Maxi’s have held the Transpac Course Record for nearly two decades, from 1999 (Roy Disney’s 75’ Pyewacket Maxi Sled) until 2017 (broken by Comanche – setting the new Merlin trophy elapsed time record at 5 days 01:55:26). Until 2017, the record had been broken 4 times since 1999 – always by Reichel/Pugh designed yachts. R/P yachts have won the Barn Door Trophy 7 out of 10 editions of the race since 1999.

Reichel/Pugh’s original sled design, the 70’ Taxi Dancer took 1st place in Class A in the 1989 Transpac and second overall, this was during the heyday of the California Sleds when Class A of the 1989 race featured 19 Sleds. Thirty years later, Taxi Dancer is still racing!

2015 – WILD OATS XI – Roy Pat Disney’s and Bob Oatley’s 100’ Canting Keel SuperMaxi Wild Oats XI had the fastest elapsed time of 6d 10h 37m 2s to win the 2015 Merlin Trophy and take first in Division 1 at the Transpac’s Diamond Head finish line. Wild Oats XI is a 100-foot custom design famous for its record nine elapsed time victories in thirteen years (2005-2008, 2018) and three overall fleet wins (2014, 2012 & 2005) in the Sydney-Hobart race.

2015 – GRAND ILLUSION – Ed & James McDowell’s Santa Cruz 70 Grand Illusion was the overall winner. She was designed by Bill Lee and features Reichel/Pugh-designed keel and rudder appendages. Grand Illusion has now equaled the record for most overall Transpac wins, joining the 88′ Lurline which won the first two races in 1906 and 1908, and again in 1912. However, Grand Illusion holds the status alone for winning overall three times under the same Owner/Skipper, Ed & James McDowell.

2013 – RP74 WIZARD – David and Peter Askew’s 74’ Reichel/Pugh-designed and New England Boatworks-built Mini-Maxi WIZARD (formerly Bella Mente) finished ‘first’ in the 2013 Transpac Race winning the unique Transpacific Yacht Club’s Perpetual Trophy – a 3.5’ x 4’ plaque of hand carved Hawaiian Koa Wood – better known as the ‘Barn Door.’ This trophy is traditionally awarded to the fixed keel mono-hull employing no stored energy with the fastest elapsed time. Wizard’s elapsed time was 7 days, 7 hours, 53 minutes, 46 seconds, which was 12 hours and 13 minutes slower than Bella Mente’s Barn Door record run of 6 days 19 hours 39 minutes 28 seconds set in 2011.

2011 – RP74 BELLA MENTE – Hap Fauth’s 74’ Mini Maxi BELLA MENTE set a new fixed keel course record of 6 days 19 hours 39 minutes 28 seconds with an average speed of 13.6 knots.

2011 – RPTP52 PATCHES – Jorge Ripsteins R/P-designed TP52 PATCHES won Division 2 followed by R/P designs CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 45’ and VINCITORE 52’.

2011 – GRAND ILLUSION – Ed and James McDowell’s Santa Cruz 70 featuring R/P-designed appendages took first in division and first in fleet overall on corrected time.

2009 – RP100 ALFA ROMEO II – 1st to Finish (Lending Tree got a DNS!) 5 days 14 hours 36m 20s) (Moveable Ballast & Powered Winches Course Record). N. Crichton’s Alfa Romeo II, sailing in the “unlimited” class, was not eligible for the traditional “Barn Door” trophy, but instead was the inaugural winner of a new trophy dedicated by Trisha Steele, called the “Merlin Trophy”. On July 7, 2009, ALFA ROMEO II beat the MORNING GLORY record for best day’s run set in the 2005 race, by sailing 399nm in 24 hours. The next two days she broke her own best-day record by sailing 420nm and 431nm.

2005 – RP86 MORNING GLORY – 1st to Finish (SET NEW RECORD 6 days, 16 hours, 4 minutes, and 11 seconds to win “the Barn Door” trophy) (Moveable Ballast Course Record) – H. Plattner

2005 – RP52 ROSEBUD – 1st Class & 1st Fleet Corrected Overall – R. Sturgeon

2003 – RP77 PEGASUS – 1st to Finish Barn Door Trophy Winner – P. Kahn

2001 – RP75 PEGASUS – 1st to Finish Barn Door Trophy Winner, 2nd Fleet Overall Corrected – P. Kahn

1999 – RP73 PYEWACKET – 1st to Finish Barn Door Trophy Winner (SET NEW RECORD 7 days, 11 hours, 41 minutes, and 27 seconds Ending Merlin’s 20-year record) (Fixed Ballast Course Record) 2nd Fleet Overall Corrected – R. Disney

1995 – RP66 EXILE – 1st Place Class Winner – J. Warwick Miller

1989 – RP70 TAXI DANCER – 1st Place Class Winner (19 Sleds competing), 2nd Place Fleet Overall – M. Rousse

For more information on the yachts contact: [email protected]

ABOUT THE TRANSPAC First organized by the Transpacific Yacht Club in 1906, the Transpacific Yacht Race or Transpac is an offshore sailing race from Point Fermin in Los Angeles to Diamond Head, just east of Honolulu, a distance of 2,225 nm. This is among the world’s great ocean races, and biennially attracts some of the world’s fastest sailing yachts, some of its most talented offshore racing sailors, and a wide variety of offshore sailing adventurers.

photography courtesy of Sharon Green/Ultimate Sailing

San Diego, California (June 2, 2019) – Reichel/Pugh 66’ Canting Keel Mini Maxi ALIVE (formerly Black Jack & Stark Raving Mad) was first to finish (correcting to 7th) in the 5th annual SoCal 300 (300nm), following back-to-back line honor wins in the Spinnaker Cup (San Francisco Bay to Monterey), Coastal Cup (Monterey to Santa Barbara) and Newport-Ensenada. Alive also set a new course record for the 200nm Coastal Cup of 13h 48m 28s. Congratulations to owner Phillip Turner, skipper Duncan Hine and the entire Australian-based Alive Yachting team, who most notably won the 2018 Sydney-Hobart overall. The three-part CA Offshore Race Week now complete, the Alive team is taking on the competitive 17-boat Division 1 in the Transpac Race starting July 10th. (more…)

Queensland, Australia (April 20, 2019) – 100’ SuperMaxi Black Jack took line honors in the 71st Brisbane to Gladstone with a time of 16 hours, 56 minutes and 33 seconds—just 2 minutes and 36 seconds outside the 14-year record it broke last year. It was the sixth consecutive Brisbane to Gladstone line-honors victory for last year’s runner-up in the Sydney to Hobart and it marked eight wins for Black Jack’s owner Peter Harburg since 2009. (more…)

Dominating the Maxi Class 2 for the third year was Windfall’s Michael “Mick” Cotter, who humbly attributes much of their success to luck, however this was Mick’s seventh Les Voiles. The Reichel/Pugh-designed production 94’ Windfall was built by Southern Wind, with interiors by Nauta Yachts, Milan and launched in 2013. Results (more…)

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

RORC Caribbean 600 2016: the highlights, who won what and all the best pictures from the race

• Harriett Ferris
• February 26, 2016

Stunning picture highlights from photographers Tim Wright and Emma Louise Wynn Jones.

George Sakellaris’ Maxi72, Proteus (USA) has been declared the overall winner of the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 . Whilst several yachts are still racing, the remaining teams will be unable to better Proteus’ corrected time under IRC.

Sakellaris was awarded the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy for the best corrected time under the IRC Rating rule.

George Sakellaris receives the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy © RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

It is the second time that George Sakellaris has skippered the overall winner, having won the 2014 race with Maxi72, Shockwave. Proteus was also the winner of the highly competitive IRC Zero class featuring four Maxi72s.

Multihull record

Hurtling around the Caribbean at speeds in excess of 30 knots and topping out nearer 40, often barely a boat length apart, the epic duel between MOD70s Concise 10 and Phaedo3 came to a conclusion after 32 hours of hot racing. Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 Phaedo3, co-skippered by Brian Thompson crossed the finish line at Fort Charlotte in an elapsed time of 31 hours, 59 minutes, 04 seconds, breaking their own multihull race record set last year by 1 hour 34 minutes 26 seconds. Barely out of sight of each other the entire race, Tony Lawson’s MOD70 Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield was just 9mins 52seconds behind.

Phaedo celebrating their record win. ©RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Lloyd Thornburg’s Phaedo3 © RORC/Tim Wright

Fastest monohull

Jim Clark & Kristy Hinze Clark’s American VPLP-Verdier 100 Comanche crossed the finish line of the RORC Caribbean 600 at 03.45 on Wednesday morning with an elapsed time of 40 hours 53 minutes 2 seconds, taking monohull line honours for the race and only 33 minutes outside the record time set by George David’s Rambler 100 in 2011.

Team Comanche celebrate after taking line honours in the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600. ©RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Comanche Skipper, Ken Read: “Comanche is built to come in first to finish and when Mother Nature co-operates we have the pedigree to break records,” was Ken Read’s reaction to the wind coming from the south-east making the leg from St Marten to Guadeloupe a beat, which for previous record holder – Rambler 100, was a fast fetch. “Going around these islands is a ball; whales breaching, volcanoes smoking, it doesn’t get any better than that. We will be back, I promise you – this is a great race.”

Super-maxi Comanche,2016 RORC Caribbean 600, ©RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Class winners:

Spirit of Tradition Class

The magnificent 213ft schooner, Adix finished the RORC Caribbean 600 at 0703 AST on Thursday 25 February in an elapsed time of 2 days 19 hours 33 minutes 5 seconds to win the Spirit of Tradition Class.

Adix sailing off Barbuda ©RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Gonzalo Botin’s Class40, Tales II finished at 0336 AST, over three hours before Adix and was the winner of the Class40 division for the third year in a row. They broke their own Class40 record by 11 minutes and 23 seconds to set a new Class40 record of 2 days 16 hours 26 minutes 29 seconds.

Tales II TW Setting a new Class40 record in the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600: Gonzalo Botin’s Class40, Tales II © RORC/Tim Wright

Eric De Turkheim’s French A13, Teasing Machine finished at 0710 AST on Thursday 25 February in an elapsed time of two days and 20 hours to provisionally win IRC One and claim third overall for the race.

In the eight editions of the RORC Caribbean 600 no other boat under 50ft has made the podium for the overall prize. As Teasing Machine moored stern to at Antigua Yacht Club, the mass of soaking wet offshore clothing on board was testament to a tough race.

Eric De Turkheim’s French A13, Teasing Machine, provisional winners of IRC One © RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Currently, Ross Applebey’s Scarlet Oyster look unbeatable, though Global Yacht Racing’s First 47.7, skippered by Andy Middleton has been hot on their heels for the last beat to the finish.

Performance Yacht Charter’s First 40, Southern Child is now third after time correction.

Winner is yet to be confirmed. The three leaders are Conor Fogerty’s Irish Sunfast 36, German Swan 44, Best Buddies and Peter Hopps’ Sigma 38, Sam.

Retirements

Five yachts retired from the race; Jonty Layfield’s Sleeper 11, Riccardo Pavoncelli’s Rosalba, David Ballantyne’s Jings and Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling, and Hap Fauth’s American Maxi72 Bella Mente.

Bella Mente afterguard Terry Hutchinson commented: “We are not really sure what happened. We were beating up to La Desirade, tacking up the shoreline and we heard a loud ping from down below, from inside the boat. It was really rough and we didn’t think much of it because you occasionally do hear random noises from these kind of boats. We got around the corner, set the Mast Head Zero and we were off doing 26 knots with Adrian Stead on the helm, coming into Proteus who had got around us in the wind shadow of Guadeloupe. As we accelerated we could feel the fin pitching back and forth. It felt like the boat was going one way and the fin another; that is speculation but it didn’t feel right. It felt very unnatural, so we slowed down. Moose (Mike Sanderson) said: ‘Did everybody feel that?’ We tried to arc it back up again and the motion was very noticeable; it felt like the fin was going to drop out of the boat. The correct thing to do at that point was stop and high-tail it for Antigua. It’s frustrating because throughout the race we had always kept ourselves in the hunt and we always knew that if we were in the hunt at that quarter, we could finish the race well, so it is frustrating.”

PICTURE HIGHLIGHTS:

George Sakellaris’ Maxi72, Proteus (USA) has been declared the overall winner of the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 © RORC/Tim Wright

Jethou, Maxi 72. Sailed by Sir Peter Ogden in IRC Z — in Redonda. ©RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Nikata, the new Baltic 115 at Redonda in the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600. Credit: RORC/Tim Wright

2016 RORC Caribbean 600 ©RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

SY Donnybrook Credit: RORC/ Tim Wright

Taz, Reichel Pugh 37. Skippered by Bernard Evan-wong in IRC1 Credit: RORC/ Tim Wright

2016 RORC Caribbean 600 Credir: RORC/Tim Wright

The all-girl Sirens’ Tigress; Credit: RORC/Tim Wright

Impressive start in IRC Zero and CK during the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 © RORC/Tim Wright

TP52 Spookie participating in the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 Credit: RORC:Tim Wright

Super-maxi Comanche ©RORC:Emma Louise Wyn Jones

Teasing Machine 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 Credit: RORC/Tim Wright

RORC Caribbean 600 2016, Antigua Yacht Club Marina Credit: RORC/Tim Wright

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Maxi72, Proteus (USA) declared overall winner of RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy

• Posted At 25 February, 2016
• Antigua , NEWS , RORC Caribbean 600

George Sakellaris’ Maxi72, Proteus (USA) has been declared the overall winner of the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600. Whilst several yachts are still racing, by the afternoon of Thursday 25 February the remaining teams will be unable to better Proteus’ corrected time under IRC. Sakellaris was awarded the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy for the best corrected time under the IRC Rating rule.

It is the second time that George Sakellaris has skippered the overall winner, having won the 2014 race with Maxi72, Shockwave. Proteus was also the winner of the highly competitive IRC Zero class featuring four Maxi72s.

“I would like to congratulate all competitors for attending such a great, great event. I am glad to have been part of it. We got a little bit lucky and won the day, but this event has many great teams and sailors. I am so happy; we hope to see you next year,” exclaimed George Sakellaris, owner of Maxi72, Proteus.

For more information visit the RORC Caribbean 600 mini-site: www.caribbean600.rorc.org

George Sakellaris’ Maxi72, Proteus (USA) has been declared the overall winner of the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 © RORC/Tim Wright

George Sakellaris’ Maxi72, Proteus © RORC/Emma Louise Wyn Jones

RACE MINISITE : Follow the race on the minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org Keep up to date with all the news. There will be blogs from the boats themselves on the race course, images, video and daily race reports. Follow the action as it unfolds on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.

SOCIAL MEDIA : Facebook. Follow the race on: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub Twitter: #rorcrc600 – Follow @rorcracing

TRACK THE FLEET : Every yacht is fitted with a race tracker and their progress can be followed on the race website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/Tracking/2016-fleet-tracking.html

Join the Virtual Regatta HERE: http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4559

• Proteus Sets the Bar
• Class Winners Decided 2016 RORC Caribbean 600

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Shockwave Wins RORC Caribbean 600

From the RORC:  With all 60 yachts accounted for, the Royal Ocean Racing Club announces that the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy for the best yacht, overall in IRC on corrected time, is George Sakellaris' RP72, Shockwave. The trophy will be presented to the Shockwave crew at tonight's Prize Giving held at the Antigua Yacht Club.

"I have a great crew and it was an excellent race, lots of wind and the racing was very close," commented Shockwave's owner/driver George Sakellaris, shortly after finishing the race. "I have done many offshore races but this is the first time I have raced this one and it was against tough opposition. I think the winds were favourable to us and the Shockwave team used that to our advantage. At the end of the day, winning yacht races is all about the team performance more than anything else."

"That is what ocean racing should be all about," commented Shockwave tactician, Robbie Doyle. "Beautiful racing between three very tough competitors, all fighting it out the whole way. A heavy-weight battle without a doubt – no question. I have had great moments in sail boats, but that was as much fun as I can remember. For 600 miles we were always in touch with each other, either up a few minutes or down a few minutes, and it all came down to the last beat to finish. It was like an epic tennis match. Every sail change was race critical. Bella Mente is a magic bullet when power reaching; we knew that before the start, so we set about minimising the time lost."

Robbie Doyle continued, "Bella Mente did a nice job getting through the lee of Guadeloupe by going inshore and at that time she had her time on us. All we tried to do was to stay in touch with her because we knew the race wasn't over.  The critical point in the race happened just after Barbuda when Bella Mente got under a cloud and literally stopped and we sailed right up to them. After that we knew that if we just stayed in touch, the win would go to Shockwave – that's yacht racing for you, but what a fantastic experience."

"With all of the yachts now accounted for, the racing team can join the competitors at tonight's Prize Giving for a memorable occasion," commented RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott. "There have been some retirements, but we are delighted that there has been only minor damage to yachts. Apart from the expected knocks and bruises for a 600 mile race, everyone is safely ashore and looking forward to a great party."

The Prize Giving will take place tonight at the Antigua Yacht Club from 1800.  Winners will be presented with their trophies and medallions. Every competing yacht will receive a decanter of English Harbour Rum inscribed with their yacht's name.

Shockwave Crew: Richard Bouzaid (NZL), Jason Carr (GBR), Reginald Cole (USA), Robert Doyle (USA), Jim Gibson (USA), Scott Gregory (CAN), Peter Kingsbury (PRI), Sam Loughborough (USA), Brian McInnis (CAN), Mark McTeigue (AUS), Andy Meiklejohn (NZL), Mark Mendelblatt (USA), Eduardo Natucci (ITA), Liam Newman (SWE), Silas Nolan (AUS), George Sakellaris (USA), Guy Standbridge (GBR), Adrian Stead (GBR), David Swete (NZL), Andrea Visintini (ITA)

A full list of the finishers can be viewed on the RORC Caribbean minisite

By Ocean Navigator

The Greek American who invests all his “energy” in Greece 

George Sakellaris excels in the field of green energy in America for many years, is the billionaire who never forgets his place and proves it in practice through a huge investment . Last week, Mr. Sakellaris was present at the inauguration and start of commercial operation of the new wind farm in Kefalonia. The project, which consists of 4 wind turbines and has a capacity of 9.2 MW, was implemented in record time by Ameresco – whose CEO is its founder, G. Sakellaris – and RESINVEST, on behalf of DEH Renewables.

He has founded four pioneering energy service companies and has managed to stay on top of solving America’s most difficult energy issues through renewable energy and energy efficiency. He is the President and CEO of Ameresco.

The journey of his life began in 1947 from Laconia and specifically from  Bassara in Laconia where he was born.

 When he left the village at the age of 18 and arrived in Maine in the United States to study, George Sakellaris was shocked by climate change. He left a place that “snows once in ten years”, in a place that “thaws”. The shock was so great that he often wondered “what am I doing here?” and many times he thought of giving up his studies and returning to his homeland.

 It was in 1965 that he began his studies in the USA with little knowledge of English. It was very difficult in those years and it was not “just the fault of the … cold climate as he said. He lived with his relatives, working in a mini market and in a family restaurant as a cook, up to 16 hours a day! “In the first half,” he admitted, “I was seriously thinking about returning. “But I said no, I came here to get an education and I did it,” he said in an interview. 

He studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Maine and also received a degree in Business Administration and a postgraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. 

He has been awarded several business innovation awards, while he was a founding member of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) and his CV also lists his proposal to the Electricity Research Institute for the development of management programs, which were implemented.

 His studies, however, opened his horizons and helped him understand the American way of thinking. His first job was at New England Electric, where he climbed rapidly, until an incident that tested his professional and moral integrity “forced” him to seek his fortune alone. His first business venture led him to create two of North America’s most successful independent energy companies.

“First Noresco and then Ameresco,” he said, “the company I founded and run today and which is listed on the NYSE.” The idea is simple as well as intelligent: Ameresco comes to your factory or business in general, and devises a plan based on which you save up to 30% of the energy used, thus saving huge amounts of money. He says, however, that apart from the innovation that his company brought, the “key” to his success was his dedication to ethics and hard work, values ​​that he brought with him from his particular homeland.

Ameresco, headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, has 900 employees in 66 offices across North America. It is the largest independent energy solution provider in North America and through innovative systems and technologies gives each customer customized solutions.

It was not until 1979 that George Sakellaris began his campaign to conserve energy. He founded NEES Energy SA, a subsidiary of New England Electric Corporation, and served as President of the company until 1990. He later chaired Noresco, an energy conservation company serving municipalities, traffic services, school districts and hospitals. He was President of Noresco and CEO until 2000, when he left to start Ameresco. He has also founded and continues to serve as President, President and CEO of two companies in India that focus on renewable energy production.

In 2005, Ameresco was ranked 99th in Inc magazine’s list of the top 500 companies. This list reflects the annual ranking of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. In 2011 it was listed in the Forbes 100, as one of the best small companies in America. He is also a member of the Clinton Climate Initiative, which aims to help the world’s largest cities reduce energy demand and costs at their facilities.

He is a founding member of the National Association of Energy Services Companies (NAESCO). The expatriate newspaper “The National Herald” included him in its special edition with the 50 richest Greeks in America for 2013.

Today,at the age of 74, Sakellaris returns to Greece, to the homeland he loved and loves to a point of … obsession to stay. Certainly not as he thought then. Today, as a “hall of famer” of energy in the USA, as owner and head of one of the strongest (if not the strongest) mid-cap listed companies on Wall Street, an energy that revolutionized the American and not only industry, the multinational Ameresco colossus. George Sakellaris has returned as an investor to his homeland and intends to lead the race for green energy.

The investments

The fact is that the American multinational giant Sakellaris came to stay. After the project in Kefalonia, he will “chase” new projects in Greece, taking advantage of his deep experience in RES and the innovative solutions he has to offer in the green transition, energy saving and radical technologies. The situation, after all, is ideal, as only PPC Renewables “runs” projects worth 300MW, in the fight for the development of RES, reduction of energy costs and independence from fossil fuels, while much of the 110 billion euros that will be leveraged in the country by the tools of the Recovery Fund and other financial instruments will be directed to investments in green energy.

And, in an unexpected way, Sakellaris, this kid who did not know if he wanted to stay in the US to study or return to Greece, plays a key role in the investment rally in which the US further strengthens its relationship with Greece. 

In the mind of the Greek businessman all this “runs” for several years since even in the crisis that Greece was going through, he was looking for ways to invest in the country, it was something that was openly discussed in the Greek-American community.

The beginning 

In 2010, Ameresco made its Wall Street debut. The company, which was already one of the leaders in the field of RES and energy economy in B. America and the United Kingdom, was enthusiastically received by investors. And it continues. The “queen” of the mid-cap, Ameresco of 1141 employees, sees its share (again) rally above $ 96 and its capitalization reach $ 5 billion.

Ameresco has more than 45 (!) Subsidiaries. And Mr. Sakellaris, as CEO of Ameresco, a US-based subsidiary based in Massachusetts and a subsidiary in Europe, leads an industry that has been involved in the energy and environmental industries for more than 30 years and has overseen, developed, implemented and manage $ 5 billion worth of energy projects.

It is the largest independent provider of energy solutions in North America (in USA / Canada) and through innovative systems and technologies offers to each customer customized solutions (energy saving, energy efficiency, development of energy systems, electricity supply, etc.).

The emerging developments in the Greek market for RES (photovoltaic, wind, biomass, etc.) with the new institutional framework that has already rekindled investment interest, to make market conditions clearer and to change the entire aid system for projects. Something that creates the conditions for the bar to rise and for Greece to succeed in attracting a barrage of investments from large companies or businessmen with the “scope” of George Sakellaris, with himself in front, of course.

The family and the passion for racing

“I have a source of inspiration for my family and I am proud of her, my wife Kathi, my daughter Christina and my son Peter, and especially my parents Areti and Pano who created me and me they helped me develop perseverance, strength of character and determination in my life to reach very high “. With these words, George Sakellaris describes himself and his passion for his family. In Massachusetts, where he lives with his wife Katerina Papoulias and their two children, everyone has to say that despite his business successes and strong personal friendships, with powerful Americans like former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State , John Kerry, the couple remains simple and committed to their values. They will come to Greece at least twice a year, while in the USA they have a large charity project, supporting the local Greek Orthodox community.

Sakellaris, however, has another “passion”. The races, in which he often participates with his two boats and their crews, having won a number of international awards and other distinctions. The “Alfa Romeo III” racing sailing boat, which is the only one in the world, stands out, with which it has swept international organizations around the world.

Apart from energy, George Sakellaris has a strong interest in investing in Laconia, in the field of primary production and standardization. He never “cuts” his ties with his hometown, since he maintains a holiday home in Veria Parnonas and many of his donations to his patriots have his name.

• # George Sakellaris
• # Γιώργος Σακελλάρης

  Comments: 1

Σοφία Σκούρου Πολυχρονιάδου

-16/12/2021 1:06 am

Εξαιρετικό & δημιουργικό το έργο του Κ Σακελλάρη. Σαν Ελληνίδα με πατέρα Αιγυπτιώτη, Καθηγητή Κ.Φοίβο Πολυχρονιάδη & σύζυγο τον Ιεροσολύμων Λονδρέζο Dr Μιχαήλ Σκούρο & μητέρα του Dr Evangelo Scouro & Foivo Skouro. Oσο υπάρχουν άνθρωποι σαν αυτούς η Ελλάδα μας θα υπάρχει πάντα!

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Published on February 28th, 2014 | by Editor

RORC Caribbean 600: Shockwave wins IRC overall

Published on February 28th, 2014 by Editor -->

(February 28, 2014) – With all 60 yachts accounted for, the Royal Ocean Racing Club announces that the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy for the best yacht, overall in IRC on corrected time, is George Sakellaris’ RP72, Shockwave.

“I have a great crew and it was an excellent race, lots of wind and the racing was very close,” commented Shockwave’s owner/driver George Sakellaris, shortly after finishing the race. “I have done many offshore races but this is the first time I have raced this one and it was against tough opposition. I think the winds were favourable to us and the Shockwave team used that to our advantage. At the end of the day, winning yacht races is all about the team performance more than anything else.”

“That is what ocean racing should be all about,” commented Shockwave tactician, Robbie Doyle. “Beautiful racing between three very tough competitors, all fighting it out the whole way. A heavy-weight battle without a doubt – no question. I have had great moments in sail boats, but that was as much fun as I can remember. For 600 miles we were always in touch with each other, either up a few minutes or down a few minutes, and it all came down to the last beat to finish. It was like an epic tennis match. Every sail change was race critical. Bella Mente is a magic bullet when power reaching; we knew that before the start, so we set about minimising the time lost.”

Robbie Doyle continued, “Bella Mente did a nice job getting through the lee of Guadeloupe by going inshore and at that time she had her time on us. All we tried to do was to stay in touch with her because we knew the race wasn’t over. The critical point in the race happened just after Barbuda when Bella Mente got under a cloud and literally stopped and we sailed right up to them. After that we knew that if we just stayed in touch, the win would go to Shockwave – that’s yacht racing for you, but what a fantastic experience.”

“With all of the yachts now accounted for,” commented RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott, “we are delighted that there has been only minor damage to yachts. There have been some retirements, but apart from the expected knocks and bruises for a 600 mile race, everyone is safely ashore.”

Richard Bouzaid (NZL), Jason Carr (GBR), Reginald Cole (USA), Robert Doyle (USA), Jim Gibson (USA), Scott Gregory (CAN), Peter Kingsbury (PRI), Sam Loughborough (USA), Brian McInnis (CAN), Mark McTeigue (AUS), Andy Meiklejohn (NZL), Mark Mendelblatt (USA), Eduardo Natucci (ITA), Liam Newman (SWE), Silas Nolan (AUS), George Sakellaris (USA), Guy Standbridge (GBR), Adrian Stead (GBR), David Swete (NZL), Andrea Visintini (ITA)

Complete results: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/blog/race-information/results/index.html Event website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org

Background: The RORC Caribbean 600 started from Antigua on February 24, with the 600nm course circumnavigating 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heads north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barth’s before returning to Antigua.

Report by event media. Photos of Shockwave by RORC/Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

Tags: George Sakellaris , RORC Caribbean 600 , Shockwave

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A Chronicle of Current Events

For human rights & freedom of expression in the ussr, the podrabinek case, dec 1977 to feb 1978 (48.7).

<<No 48 : 14 March 1978>>

On 1 December 1977, the brothers Alexander and Kirill PODRABINEK (CCE 47) and their father Pinkhos Abramovich PODRABINEK were summoned for a chat by Yu.S. Belov, chief of a department at the Moscow City and Regional KGB. Alexander refused to appear.

“On behalf of the Committee for State Security ” (Belov told Kirill and his father Pinkhos Podrabinek)

“I suggest that you and your families leave the Soviet Union and go abroad via Israel within 20 days. There is enough material against you, Kirill Pinkhosovich, to institute criminal proceedings. You, Pinkhos Abramovich, are also known to us for your anti-social activities. An act of humanity is being offered to you both. I advise you to make use of it.”

Alexander (b. 1953) and Kirill Podrabinek (b. 1952)

The same evening Alexander Podrabinek was arrested on the street and taken to the KGB. Belov presented him, too, with an ultimatum: all three must leave the country, otherwise criminal proceedings would be instituted against both brothers.

Belov let it be understood that the absence of an invitation and difficulties with money would not be obstacles. Belov stressed that they could only leave all together.

HOSTAGE-TAKING

Many painful disputes have sprung up around the moral problems arising from KGB’s ultimatums and blackmail. The Chronicle cannot present the arguments but at least it can accurately convey the stance of participants in such events by reproducing all their statements in sufficient detail.

On 6 December 1977, there was a press conference at Andrei Sakharov ’s flat. Pinkhos PODRABINEK read out a “Statement for the Belgrade Conference [note 1] and the Press”:

“A distinctive feature of this case is the KGB’s use of the hostage system. Not one of us can determine his own fate independently, and a decision about the fate of three people has been placed by the KGB on Alexander Podrabinek alone, in whose departure the authorities are most of all interested. “We categorically refuse to accept such conditions and insist on our right to make our choices independently…”

Then Alexander PODRABINEK read out his “Reply” to the KGB’s proposal:

“I would like to draw the attention of the world public to my brother’s painful position and to the dirty tactics of the KGB — tactics of intimidation and terror. The whole world condemns the hijacking of aeroplanes and the taking of passengers as hostages, yet the KGB is using the very same method with regard to my brother, a method commonly used by terrorists. In the situation that has arisen the most painful thing for me is my brother’s fate. “At the KGB they insistently advised me to take advantage of this ‘humane act of the Soviet government’, as they expressed it. I regard this proposal as unconcealed blackmail by the KGB. “They have given me four days to reflect. On 5 December I have to give my reply. A reply that means a great deal to me. “This is my reply.

“I do not wish to go to prison. I value even the semblance of freedom which I possess now. I know that I would be able to live freely in the West and at last receive a real education. I know that there I would not have four agents at my heels, threatening to beat me up or push me under a train.

“Over there, I know, they will not put me in a concentration camp or a psychiatric hospital for attempting to defend people who are denied their rights and oppressed. Over there, I know, one breathes easily. While here one does so with difficulty, and they stop your mouth and stifle you if you speak too loudly. I know that our country is unhappy and doomed to suffering.

“And that is why I am staying.

“I do not want to go to prison, but neither do I fear a camp. I value my own freedom as I value my brother’s, but I am not bargaining for it. I will not give in to any blackmail.

“A clear conscience is dearer to me than material well-being. I was born in Russia. This is my country, and I must remain here, however hard it may be and however easy in the West. As far as I am able, I will go on defending those whose rights are being so brazenly trampled on in our country.

“That is my reply. I am staying.”

After this Alexander Podrabinek added that he would agree to leave the country only if Kirill were to ask him to do so.

On 7 December 1977, Kirill PODRABINEK made a statement:

KGB Blackmail

1. The KGB is using the hostage-taking method. They are basically blackmailing my brother Alexander, while I am the hostage. 2. The very formulation of the question: ‘leave or we will put you in prison’, is contrary to the law. If a man has committed a crime he must be prosecuted. However, in this case the KGB does not want to stage a new political trial but prefers to dispatch us abroad. The KGB has employed a well-calculated device — to exploit the insolubility of a situation with a hostage. All this blackmail is patently a consequence of the public stand taken by our family … “If any one of the three of us is arrested and any charge whatsoever brought against him, it can only be viewed as an act of revenge by the KGB and not as a requirement of justice.”

On 12 December 1977, Kirill Podrabinek informed Belov that he had decided to leave. Belov replied that Kirill could hand in his emigration documents, and on the same day Kirill did so. On 14 December Kirill Podrabinek made an addition to his previous statement:

“On 12 December, I telephoned investigator Belov at the KGB. Permission to go abroad has been granted; there was no mention of my only being able to leave only with my brother. Does this mean that the KGB has given up its hostage-taking and will really allow me to leave? In the very near future this will become clear … In view of all the circumstances, and fearing for my life” (see CCE 47) “I have taken the decision to leave.” *

KIRILL PODRABINEK (b. 1952)

On 27 December 1977, the police in Elektrostal (Moscow Region) brought charges against Kirill Podrabinek under Article 215 (RSFSR Criminal Code: “Illegal possession of arms, ammunition” etc). Kirill refused to sign the record of this charge. Investigator Radygin obtained his written undertaking not to leave town but said he would not need Kirill before the middle of January and, if need be, he could go to Moscow.

When Kirill Podrabinek came out of the Elektrostal police station he was met at the door by KGB Investigator Belov, who had arrived from Moscow. The condition of Kirill’s departure remained unchanged, Belov said, and gave him three days in which to persuade his brother to agree to leave.

From that day onwards, KGB employees began trailing Kirill Podrabinek . (His brother Alexander had been under a similar “escort” since 10 October 1977, see below). The same day 22 Muscovites issued a statement:

“Wishing to force Alexander Podrabinek to leave the country, the KGB is openly blackmailing him with his brother’s fate. A method of hostage-taking used thus far only by irresponsible criminal-terrorists is in the present case being adopted as a weapon by the official representatives of a powerful State. This blackmail clearly demonstrates the value of the charges brought against Kirill Podrabinek. “We call upon our fellow countrymen and world public opinion to protest against the use of hostage-taking, unprecedented in the practice of civilized states. We call upon our fellow countrymen and world public opinion to follow attentively the fate of the Podrabinek family.”

On 28 December Kirill Podrabinek made a statement:

State Terrorism

“… The KGB has resorted to hostage-taking. My brother Alexander has made a statement for the press saying that he does not wish to leave, but he will leave if I so demand. “Under no circumstances will I make this demand of Alexander. In the first place, that would mean becoming a blind instrument of blackmail in the hands of the KGB, exploiting a situation created by them for my own sake. In the second place, it is impossible for me to even ask, let alone demand such a thing. “However, I have resolved to pursue my chosen line of action and try to obtain permission to leave.”

On the evening of 29 December 1977, Kirill Podrabinek was arrested.

On the day of his arrest, he declared a hunger strike. After a few days he was transferred from Elektrostal to Moscow, to the MVD’s detention centre on Matrosskaya Tishina Street.

The first response to Kirill’s arrest was “The Christmas ‘Feat’ of the KGB”, a short article by Victor Nekipelov [note 2]:

“… The arrest of Kirill Podrabinek is an act of deliberate, demonstrative revenge. The authorities know full well that they are thereby dealing the severest blow to both Alexander Podrabinek – Take that for not accepting our offer! – and to his father — While you didn’t steer your sons to a compromise!”

On 1 January 1978, Yevgeny Nikolayev (see “In the Psychiatric Hospitals”, CCE 48.12 ) sent a letter to the RSFSR Procurator’s Office, protesting against the arrest of Kirill Podrabinek.

On 4 January 1978, Alexander and Pinkhos Podrabinek asked Belov for a meeting with Kirill.

Belov refused but promised to pass Kirill a note from them, “if there are no objections on the part of the investigator”. In the note Alexander and his father asked Kirill: “Do you agree to leave if there is no need to ask Alexander to do the same?”

On the same day, at 11.30 pm, Belov came to Elektrostal to see Pinkhos Podrabinek . He informed him that the investigator “had not allowed” the note to be passed to Kirill. If Alexander handed in his application to emigrate within three days, however, all three could leave the USSR. Otherwise, Alexander  would also be arrested. Belov suggested that P.A. Podrabinek go at once to Moscow and persuade Alexander to change his mind: he even gave Pinkhos Abramovich a lift back to Moscow in his car.

On 5 January 1978, Alexander Podrabinek appealed in an open letter to Amnesty International, calling on the organisation to speak out in Kirill’s defence.

On 9 January Alexander Podrabinek telephoned Belov at the KGB. When Belov asked if he intended to leave, Alexander replied that he could only decide this matter together with his brother.

On 15 January 1978, the Christian Committee for the Defence of Believers’ Rights in the USSR called upon “world public opinion” to speak out in defence of Kirill Podrabinek and condemn the policy of hostage-taking.

At the beginning of February 1978, the Podrabineks were summoned to Elektrostal for interrogation in connection with Kirill’s case.

Pinkhos Podrabinek replied to questions about Kirill but refused to sign a record of the interrogation. Alexander declined to answer questions, stating that the case was inspired by the KGB and was being conducted with violations of norms laid down in the Code of Criminal Procedure.

ALEXANDER PODRABINEK (b. 1953)

From 10 October 1977, Alexander Podrabinek was under constant KGB surveillance. Round the clock he was pursued by two cars carrying seven or eight employees of the security services.

Whenever he was inside a building the cars stood in front of the doorway. Whenever he walked along the street or travelled in public transport there were always several agents at his side. They threatened Alexander’s acquaintances and took photographs of them. Sometimes they interfered more actively with the life of their charge: on Sunday 18 December the escort prohibited Alexander from going skiing with friends in the Orekhovo-Borisovo district [Moscow Region]. Podrabinek wrote about this incident to [KGB chairman] Andropov:

“… Since 10 October of this year I have been under the continuous and unconcealed observation of our glorious Chekists. Defending the State’s security, I understand, it is essential for the KGB to search my home, call me as a witness in the case of Yury Orlov, suggest that I leave the USSR, blackmail me, make an attempt on my brother’s life, and do much else to ensure that I do not, accidentally, undermine the foundations of the Soviet political and social system. All this I understand. “I am not even particularly annoyed when one of the eight officers who perpetually watch over me swears he will break my legs or push me under a train. I understand the full difficulty of this highly complex, responsible and dangerous work and do not get angry with these heroic young people who, performing their civic duty, freeze on cold December nights outside the entrance to my house or squeeze after me onto a city bus in the rush-hour. I am enraptured by their daring, their persistence and their indifference to the cold … “Citizen Andropov! On behalf of myself and six of my friends I beg you: Provide your employees with skis and toboggans and, please, teach them how to use them, if they do not know. Then I shall be able to enjoy my on Sundays and the KGB will be able to work normally and not violate the Soviet Constitution. This can only enhance the reputation of our valiant organs and promote their physical development.”

From January 1978, the constant “escort” was replaced from time to time by ‘ordinary’ shadowing.

The security services are trying by any means to prevent Alexander Podrabinek from continuing his activities on the Working Commission (to Investigate the Use of Psychiatry for Political Purposes). In particular, they are hampering him from meeting, in the flats of his Moscow friends, people who have been subjected to “psychiatric persecution” and their relatives. Podrabinek and his friend Dmitry Leontyev , in whose flat he was living, were fined for violating the city residence regulations. Podrabinek was forbidden to continue residing at the flat.

Alexander Podrabinek was warned that he was liable to be charged with “parasitism”. In February 1978, having given his shadow the slip, he managed to get a job as a medical orderly (he is a qualified paramedic).

The pre-trial investigation of Kirill Podrabinek ’s case was completed in February 1978.

=======================

[1] Representatives of all 35 member-States of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) assembed in the Yugoslav capital Belgrade to discuss the implementation of the 1975 Helsinki Accords five years on.

[2] Victor Nekipelov

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Norilsk: The city built by gulag prisoners where Russia guards its Arctic secrets

Environmental activists are frustrated by how authorities handled a diesel spill which poured into two Arctic rivers in late May.

Moscow correspondent @DiMagnaySky

Friday 3 July 2020 23:41, UK

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The drive from Norilsk airport to the city takes you past mile after mile of crumbling, Soviet-era factories.

It looks like an endless, rusting scrapyard - a jumble of pipes, industrial junk and frost-bitten brickwork. If you were looking for an industrial apocalypse film setting, this would be your place - but you're unlikely to get the permissions.

Norilsk was built in Stalin's times by gulag prisoners. This gritty industrial city is a testament to their endurance both of the cruelty of Stalin's regime and of the harsh polar climate. There were no thoughts then on how to build to protect the environment, just to survive it.

Vasily Ryabinin doesn't think much has changed, at least in ecological terms. He used to work for the local branch of the federal environmental watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, but quit in June after exposing what he says was a failure to investigate properly the environmental impact of the gigantic diesel spill which poured into two Arctic rivers in late May.

At 21,000 tonnes, it was the largest industrial spill in the polar Arctic .

Despite the Kremlin declaring a federal emergency and sending a host of different agencies to participate in the clean-up, just last week Mr Ryabinin and activists from Greenpeace Russia found another area where technical water used in industrial processes was being pumped directly into the tundra from a nearby tailing pond. Russia's investigative committee has promised to investigate.

"The ecological situation here is so bad," Mr Ryabinin says.

"The latest constructions such as the tailing pond at the Talnack ore-processing plant were built exclusively by Nornickel chief executive Vladimir Potanin's team and supposedly in accordance with ecological standards, but on satellite images you can see that all the lakes in the vicinity have unnatural colours and obviously something has got into them."

Mining company Nornickel would disagree. It has admitted flagrant violations at the tailing pond and suspended staff it deems responsible at both the Talnack plant and at Norilsk Heat and Power plant no 3 where the diesel spill originated from.

On Thursday it appointed Andrey Bougrov, from its senior management board, to the newly-created role of senior vice president for environmental protection. It has a clear environmental strategy, provides regular updates on the status of the spill, and its Twitter feed is filled with climate-related alerts.

But what investors read is very different to the picture on the ground.

Norilsk used to be a closed city - one of dozens across the Soviet Union shut off to protect industrial secrets. Foreigners need special permissions approved by the Federal Security Service (FSB) to enter the region. It would take an invitation from Nornickel to make that happen and, for the past month since the spill, that has not been forthcoming.

Unlike in Soviet times, Russian citizens are now free to come and go. That's why our Sky News Moscow team were able to fly in and travel around the city, even if getting to the spill site was blocked. What they were able to film provides a snapshot of the immense challenge Russia faces in upgrading its Soviet-era industrial infrastructure, particularly at a time when climate change is melting the permafrost on which much of it was built.

Just downwind from one of the rusting factories on the city outskirts is a huge expanse of dead land. The skeletal remains of trees stand forlorn against the howling Arctic winds. Sulphur dioxide poisoning has snuffed the life out of all that lived here. Norilsk is the world's worst emitter of sulphur dioxide by a substantial margin.

"For 80km south of here everything is dead," Mr Ryabinin says, "and for at least 10km in that direction too. Everything here depends on the wind."

Immediately after the spill, Mr Ryabinin filmed and took samples from the Daldykan river just a few kilometres from the fuel tank which had leaked. By that point the river was a churning mix of diesel and red sludge dredged up from the riverbed by the force of the leak. Norilsk's rivers have turned red before and the chemical residues have sunk to the bottom, killing all life there. Nothing has lived in those rivers for decades.

In his capacity as deputy head of the local environmental watchdog, Mr Ryabinin says he insisted that he be allowed to fly further north to check the levels of contamination in Lake Pyasino and beyond.

Nornickel at the time claimed the lake was untouched by the spill. Mr Ryabinin says his boss encouraged him to let things be.

"I can't be sure I would have found anything, but this sort of confrontation - making sure I didn't go there with a camera, let alone with bottles for taking samples, it was all very clear to me. It was the final straw."

Rosprirodnadzor refused to comment to Sky News on Mr Ryabinin's allegations or suggestions that the agency was working hand in hand with Nornickel.

Georgy Kavanosyan is an environmental blogger with a healthy 37,000 following on YouTube. Shortly after the spill, he set out for Lake Pyasino and to the Pyasina River beyond to see how far the diesel had spread.

"We set out at night so that the Norilsk Nickel security wouldn't detect us. I say at night, but they've got polar nights there now, north of the Arctic Circle. So it's still light but it's quieter and we managed to go past all the cordons."

He is one of the few to have provided evidence that the diesel has in fact travelled far beyond where the company admits. Not just the 1,200km (745m) length of Lake Pyasino but into the river beyond.

He says his measurements indicated a volume of hydrocarbons dissolved in the water of between two and three times normal levels. He thinks after he published his findings on YouTube, the authorities' vigilance increased.

Greenpeace Russia have spent the last two weeks trying to obtain samples from Lake Pyasino and the surrounding area. They have faced difficulties getting around and flying their samples out for independent analysis.

They are now waiting for results from a laboratory in St Petersburg but say the samples remain valid technically for just four days after collection and that they weren't able to make that deadline due to the authorities' actively obstructing their work.

Elena Sakirko from Greenpeace Russia specialises in oil spills and says this has happened to her before. This time, a police helicopter flew to the hunter's hut where they were staying and confiscated the fuel for the boat they were using. Then a deputy for the Moscow city parliament tasked with bringing the samples back from Norilsk was forced to go back empty-handed.

"We were told at the airport we needed permission from the security department of Nornickel," Ms Sakirko says. "We asked them to show us some law or statement to prove that this was legal or what the basis for this was, but they haven't showed us anything and we still don't understand it."

Nornickel announced this week that the critical stage of the diesel spill is over. The company is now finalising dates for a press tour for foreign media and for other international environmentalists.

Mr Ryabinin thinks this should have happened weeks ago.

"If we don't let scientists come to the Arctic region to evaluate the impact of the accident, then in the future if anything similar happens, we won't know what to do."

A spokesperson for Nornickel said the company "is actively cooperating with the scientific community and will meticulously assess both the causes and effects of the accident."

Nornickel considers permafrost thawing to be the primary cause of the accident, but is waiting for the end of investigation before making a final statement, the spokesperson said.

They added that the company "accepts full responsibility for the incidents on its sites these past two months and holds itself accountable for any infrastructural deficits or poor decisions by personnel.

"The imperative is to do everything to clean up our sites, instil a stronger culture of transparency and safety in our workforce, and ensure that such situations do not occur in the future."

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Written by Zuzana Bednarova

At 0700 local time, on Day Two of the RORC Caribbean 600 , George David’s RP90 sailing yacht Rambler had kicked off the race with a four-mile lead on the water from Hap Fauth’s JV72 luxury yacht Bella Mente . Rambler yacht’s water-line length is a big advantage on the longest reaching leg of the course and the American Maxi is expected to extend that advantage during the day, on the water at least.

George David's superyacht Rambler 90 - Credit: RORC Caribbean 600/Tim Wright/photoaction.com

Overnight, sailing yacht Bella Mente had stretched six miles ahead of George Sakellaris’ RP72 yacht Shockwave , to lead IRC Zero on corrected time by 15 minutes. Johnny Vincent’s Pace was in a solid third place in class and will be hoping that the lead boats will run out of breeze at some stage of the race so that the British TP52 can press home their rating advantage.

During the first night, squalls were ripping through the race course at regular intervals, bringing cold rain and erratic wind; both in speed and direction, testing the mettle of the 60 strong fleet. One of the smallest yachts in the race, Hot Stuff, crewed by Girls 4 Sail, was approaching St.Kitts. The rest of the fleet, bar Rambler, Bella Mente and Shockwave, were negotiating the chicane at the top of the course, weaving through the stunning islands that make the RORC Caribbean 600 one of the most beautiful offshore races in the world.

The twin masted schooners, superyacht Adela and charter yacht Athos , have covered over 230 miles in just 20 hours. Athos is just a mile ahead of Adela on the water but, after time correction, Adela leads the Superyacht Class. The two largest yachts in the race are about to enter the narrow confines of the Anguilla Channel and a tacking duel of epic proportions is the likely outcome.

In IRC One, Piet Vroon’s Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, has covered over 200 miles of the course in just 20 hours and continues to lead the class, both on the water and on corrected time. Behind Tonnerre are two displacement Swans: Colin Buffin’s Uxorious IV, and Todd Stuart’s White Rhino. Taking into account time correction, the beat through the Anguilla Channel and the reach down to Guadeloupe may favour the two heavyweight competitors, especially as the current wind speed is sub 15 knots which is too little for the light displacement Tonnerre to use her planing ability.

In IRC Two, all 12 yachts have averaged close to eight knots since the start, providing a highly competitive fleet. Peter Sowrey’s First 40, Lancelot II, has been punching above her weight, no doubt aided by the talents of solo round the world sailor, Alex Thomson. On the water, Global Yacht Racing’s First 47.7, EH01, and Bernie Evan Wong’s Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, are having an intense battle for line honours in the class, with Lt Col Paul Macro’s Royal Armoured Corps team on Southern Child, just a mile behind the on-the-water leaders.

In IRC Three, Classic S&S 52, Dorade, has stretched out a five mile lead on the water and leads the class after time correction. Adrian Lower’s Swan 44, Selene, has taken an absolutely flier. After rounding Saba, Selene tacked and bore away to take up an extreme offshore position, looking to lay St.Barths in one tack: Banging the Corner. Presumably, Selene feel that this tactic will pay off but it is quite a gamble.

Below is a video with start and first leg highlights from the 2014 RORC Caribbean 600 yacht race:

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "George David's RP90 sailing yacht Rambler leading at RORC Caribbean 600".

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The Caribbean

This year’s RORC Caribbean 600 attended by record number of 60 yachts

This year’s rorc caribbean 600 expected to host around 50 yachts, a great start for 2014 rorc caribbean 600 yacht race, this year’s rorc caribbean 600 yacht race to kick off on february 24.

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First refuelling for Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP

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The FNPP includes two KLT-40S reactor units. In such reactors, nuclear fuel is not replaced in the same way as in standard NPPs – partial replacement of fuel once every 12-18 months. Instead, once every few years the entire reactor core is replaced with and a full load of fresh fuel.

The KLT-40S reactor cores have a number of advantages compared with standard NPPs. For the first time, a cassette core was used, which made it possible to increase the fuel cycle to 3-3.5 years before refuelling, and also reduce by one and a half times the fuel component in the cost of the electricity produced. The operating experience of the FNPP provided the basis for the design of the new series of nuclear icebreaker reactors (series 22220). Currently, three such icebreakers have been launched.

The Akademik Lomonosov was connected to the power grid in December 2019, and put into commercial operation in May 2020.

Electricity generation from the FNPP at the end of 2023 amounted to 194 GWh. The population of Pevek is just over 4,000 people. However, the plant can potentially provide electricity to a city with a population of up to 100,000. The FNPP solved two problems. Firstly, it replaced the retiring capacities of the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, which has been operating since 1974, as well as the Chaunskaya Thermal Power Plant, which is more than 70 years old. It also supplies power to the main mining enterprises located in western Chukotka. In September, a 490 km 110 kilovolt power transmission line was put into operation connecting Pevek and Bilibino.

Image courtesy of TVEL

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Strange Glow Over Moscow Skies Triggers Panic as Explosions Reported

B right flashes lit up the night sky in southern Moscow in the early hours of Thursday morning, new footage appears to show, following reports of an explosion at an electrical substation on the outskirts of the city.

Video snippets circulating on Russian-language Telegram channels show a series of flashes on the horizon of a cloudy night sky, momentarily turning the sky a number of different colors. In a clip shared by Russian outlet MSK1.ru, smoke can be seen rising from a building during the flashes lighting up the scene.

Newsweek was unable to independently verify the details of the video clips, including when and where it was filmed. The Russian Ministry of Emergency situations has been contacted via email.

Several Russian Telegram accounts said early on Thursday that residents of southern Moscow reported an explosion and a fire breaking out at an electrical substation in the Leninsky district, southeast of central Moscow.

Local authorities in the Leninsky district told Russian outlet RBC that the explosion had happened in the village of Molokovo. "All vital facilities are operating as normal," Leninsky district officials told the outlet.

The incident at the substation in Molokovo took place just before 2 a.m. local time, MSK1.ru reported.

Messages published by the ASTRA Telegram account, run by independent Russian journalists, appear to show residents close to the substation panicking as they question the bright flashes in the sky. One local resident describes seeing the bright light before losing access to electricity, with another calling the incident a "nightmare."

More than 10 villages and towns in the southeast of Moscow lost access to electricity, the ASTRA Telegram account also reported. The town of Lytkarino to the southeast of Moscow, lost electricity, wrote the eastern European-based independent outlet, Meduza.

Outages were reported in the southern Domodedovo area of the city, according to another Russian outlet, as well as power failures in western Moscow. Electricity was then restored to the areas, the Strana.ua outlet reported.

The cause of the reported explosion is not known. A Telegram account aggregating news for the Lytkarino area described the incident as "an ordinary accident at a substation."

The MSK1.ru outlet quoted a local resident who speculated that a drone may have been responsible for the explosion, but no other Russian source reported this as a possible cause.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Moscow with long-range aerial drones in recent months, including a dramatic wave of strikes in late May.

On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the region's air defense systems had intercepted an aerial drone over the city of Elektrostal, to the east of Moscow. No damage or casualties were reported, he said.

The previous day, Russian air defenses detected and shot down another drone flying over the Bogorodsky district, northeast of central Moscow, Sobyanin said.

There is currently no evidence that an aerial drone was responsible for the reported overnight explosion at the electrical substation in southern Moscow.

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