The sailing world lost one of its most respected and influential members last Friday when Jeff Martin, Executive Secretary of the International Laser Class Association for 40 years, had a heart attack while skiing in the French Alps.
Martin apparently suffered a heart attack on a chair lift and then fell off the lift. Here’s a report from the Sun.
There have been and will be many outpourings of respect and sadness at his passing. I never knew Martin, 65 years old at his death, personally. But I sailed in a Laser Masters Worlds he ran and it was the best event I’ve ever attended.
Martin stayed at the hel of the Laser class through thick and thin, navigating it through the drama of becoming an Olympic boat while running outstanding regattas in venues throughout the world. He was a big reason for Laser’s success, and in
From the International Laser Class Association:
ILCA is shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Jeff Martin on 11 January 2019 while on a ski holiday with family and friends.
Jeff’s dedication to the sport of sailing was unparalleled, having served as the Executive Secretary of the International Laser Class Association for 40 years. Jeff was a cornerstone of Laser events, having worked at every Laser Open World Championship except the first one in 1974 where he was a competitor.
The loss of Jeff Martin will be keenly felt throughout the sailing world and our deepest condolences go out to Jeff’s family and friends.
In September Martin was one of the inaugural members of the Laser Hall of Fame. Here are the details.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.