Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2011


Waterfront News BILL LANGAN, YACHT DESIGNER


Michael William (Bill) Langan, age 55, died peacefully on December 31 at the Dana- Farber/Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center after a courageous battle with leukemia. Just two months ago, Bill was honored with the prestigious Leadership Award by the Inter- national Superyacht Society (ISS), recog- nized by his peers for his outstanding contri- butions to the standards, prestige and char- acter of the luxury yachting industry. Al- though he was unable to travel to accept the award in person, he was deeply moved by this tribute. Born in Greenwich, Connecticut on June 9, 1955 to Dr. Michael Joseph and Kathleen Holman Langan, Bill competed in most of the major ocean sailing races around the world. Starting in the sport on Long Island Sound at age 10, he was proud to have partici- pated in 20 consecutive Newport Bermuda Races, his first at age 15, and to eventually serve as the race’s Technical Director. Bill graduated from Greenwich High School and Webb Institute with a BS in Naval Architec- ture and Marine Engineering. Following a student internship at Sparkman & Stephens, the New York-based yacht design and bro- kerage firm, he joined the design department there in 1978 as Chief Draftsman. Two years later, Olin Stephens named him Chief De- signer, the position Olin himself held for 50 years. Bill’s early work with S & S included project management of the 12-meter yacht Freedom that won the America’s Cup race of


Bill Langan Passes Away - Langan Design to Continue


1980. In preparation for the 1987 America’s Cup challenge, Bill was chosen as designer for the America II campaign sponsored by the New York Yacht Club. 1987 marked the last time 12-meter yachts would compete in the America’s Cup, and with that change Bill decided to concentrate the firm’s business on luxury sailing yachts over 75 feet. Over the course of 20 years with S & S, Bill was respon- sible for over 300 individual designs. In 1994, Bill participated in the expedition, headed by former US Secretary of the Treasury William Simon, which navigated the icy conditions of the Northwest Passage from Alaska to Greenland. Bill redesigned, refitted and strengthened Simon’s yacht, the 175-foot Itasca, to make Simon’s dream journey a reality. In 1998, Bill fulfilled his own dream to found Langan Design Associates, Inc. of Newport, Rhode Island, and settled his family in Jamestown. With Bill at the helm, his firm completed over 40 designs, each unique, but all of them timeless in style, with attention to craftsmanship, advanced technology, and seaworthiness. His design vision was well received starting with his first design, the 130-foot ketch Victoria of Strathearn, which won design awards from both ShowBoats International and the ISS. Later designs in- clude Eos, a 305-foot 3-masted schooner, the largest private sailing yacht in the world to date. Bill encouraged his wife to start her own firm, Candace Langan Interior Decoration, specializing in yacht interiors. Their most


KUSTOM STEEL


recent collaboration, Calliope, a 42-meter motor yacht, is featured in the December issue of Yacht International. Bill was a mem- ber of Conanicut Yacht Club in Jamestown, New York Yacht Club, and the Storm Trysail Club. He served as Chairman of the Cruising Club of America Technical Committee for over 12 years. Bill was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Candace Register Langan, and two children, Tom and Annie of Jamestown, RI, his parents of Greenwich, CT, six siblings and their spouses: Meg Moore (John) of Reston, VA, Ellen Langan (Steve Krafchick) of Seattle, WA, Katie Langan Santee (Kevin) of Mamaroneck, NY, Betsy Dell (Roger) of Roseville, CA, Bob Langan (Margot) of Port- land, OR, and Stephen Langan (Kathy) of Bedford, NH; his mother-in-law Anne Mickle Register of Chestertown, MD, brothers-in- law Croft Register (Pam) and Fred Register (Connie), and sixteen nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on January 8 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, where Bill and his family are members. Follow- ing the church service, there was a reception at the Conanicut Yacht Club. In lieu of flow- ers, the family requests that memorial gifts be given in Bill’s name to The Jimmy Fund, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.


LANGAN DESIGN TO CONTINUE NEWPORT, RI —The legacy of re- nowned naval architect Bill Langan (1955 - 2010) will live on not only in the yachts that he designed over a career that spanned more than three decades — first as a designer with Sparkman & Stephens and then as principal of Langan Design Associates, Inc. — but also in the yachts that will be completed and conceptualized going forward by the newly formed Langan Design Partners LLC, head- quartered in Newport, RI.


Looking to have metal work done at a reasonable cost? Welding a specialty!


Also marina slips with lots of parking and storage available.


Call: (207) 991-1953 South Main Street, Brewer, Maine 04412


Commercial & Recreational Marine Suppliers


USCG Safety Inspection Station Mooring Supplies


Polyform US Fenders & Floats Areas Largest Rope Supplier Revere Liferafts Trawl Netting


Sports Netting for Golf/Baseball A FULL SERVICE YARD


Gasoline · Diesel · Marine Store Laundry · Showers Telephone · Ice


EVINRUDE/JOHNSON


OUTBOARD SALES & SERVICE ELECTRONICS INSTALLATIONS FLOAT & MOORING SERVICE


LOCATED IN CRADLE COVE WITH GREAT ANCHORAGE


INSIDE STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE


1-800-IMP-8865


44 SOUTH STREET NEW BEDFORD, MA 02740


CALL FOR DETAILS


700 Acre Island, P.O. Box 25 Lincolnville, ME 04849 207-734-2246 · VHF 09


Langan passed away on December 31, 2010, after a courageous two-year battle with leukemia, and it was his hope that his office continue serving current and future clients after his death. To that end, his long-time associates Thomas Degrémont, Antonio Ferrer, and Samuel Howell have formed an equal partnership that will move forward with the same vision and purpose that has been cultivated over their 32 years of combined dedication to Langan Design.


“It is an honor for our team to carry on in Bill’s name, continuing with our collective


commitment to delivering exceptional de- signs,” said Sam Howell, explaining that while attention to style, technology and sea- worthiness has been the basis of the firm’s design philosophy for 15 years, developing personal relationships with owners has been at the core of the Langan Design approach. “Each of our designs is a true reflection of the owner’s vision, a product of an in-depth and meaningful collaboration.”


Howell added that Candace Langan, Bill’s wife and the principal of Candace Langan Interior Decoration will continue her yacht interior decoration business out of the Langan Design office in Newport. “We work jointly on many projects, and she works closely with her clientele to create a timeless style based on individual tastes and needs, for both new construction and refit projects.” Langan Design Partners is an interna- tionally recognized full-service naval archi- tecture and yacht design office with the ca- pacity to take on all aspects of the develop- ment of luxury yachts and commercial ves- sels from early concept to detailed engineer- ing, incorporating 3D modeling, interior and exterior styling, performance and sea-keep- ing analysis.


The Partners


Tom Degrémont (Wakefield, RI)— Degrémont studied naval architecture and ship design at the University of Southampton in England, earning his Mas- ters of Engineering.


Born in Paris, he spent his childhood summers sailing and diving along the Brit- tany coast. His first job was as a reserve officer in the French Navy, working as a naval architect in the submarine refit design office in Toulon.


In late 1996, Degrémont’s passion for technology pushed his career in a new direc- tion when he joined a small Internet company as a technology consultant, then became a director of product development following its acquisition by AOL.


By 2003, the urge to return to naval architecture could no longer be ignored, and it was then that Degrémont joined the Langan Design team.


While at Langan Design, Degrémont was the lead designer on a range of projects, from the 100' steel sail training schooner Argo to the modern 83’ sailing sloop Angel. His most recent projects include the refit and extension of a 130’ A&R motor yacht and the super-structure modeling and styling of a 180’ motor yacht. Tony Ferrer (Newport, RI)—Ferrer holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineer- ing and studied at the Westlawn School of Yacht Design.


Born in Rio de Janeiro, he grew up sailing and worked at various shipyards designing and building yachts eventually leading to the formation of his own design office. In addi- tion to having designed various racing yachts that he campaigned around the globe, Ferrer also has worked on a wide range of custom and production sailing yachts, motor yachts and commercial work boats. Ferrer worked with Bill Langan at Sparkman & Stephens for over 10 years be- fore moving to Newport to join Langan De- sign in 1988. Some of his recent projects include the 105’ motor yacht Cassiopeia; the 145’ motor yacht Calliope; which was re- cently nominated for a Neptune award; a pair of luxury custom yacht tenders; and the styl- ing of EOS, a 310’ three-masted schooner. Sam Howell (Middletown, R.I.)— Howell holds a diploma in Yacht Design from Southampton Institute in England as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane Uni- versity (New Orleans, Louisiana).


Continued on Page 15.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32