RIP Richard Newick
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Last night, Richard C. Newick, one of the great multihull pioneers, passed away. The father of so many brilliant designs, but to a proa obsessed mind, he stands apart because of CHEERS, the “giant slaying” proa of the 1968 OSTAR.
Dick often talked about how in a previous life he must have been a Polynesian outrigger canoe designer, and perhaps that is the best explanation for his gifts. We can only imagine what sort of vessels he will be working on in the next, and no doubt there will be little resting.
Here in Port Townsend, there was a powerful wind storm last night, 40 mph winds with gusts even higher, and then… suddenly, it stopped, like a light switch, flat calm. Never seen anything like it. There will be many eulogies of Richard Newick spoken by men, but there are few men who’s passing is saluted by the very elements with which he worked.
Please share your memories and condolences here.
