John Dinsdale in Memoriam
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Photos via Hobie, French Hobie Class Assoc & Gavin Colby.
John Dinsdale in Memoriam
One of the driving forces behind Hobie & Multihull racing in Europe has passed away last week. John Disndale was key in the Hobie Europe commercial and racing development success plus instrumental to the Formula 18 via the Hobie Tiger launch.
Mitch Booth : “ John was one of the most passionate and energetic guys in our sport. We worked together for many years and formed a fantastic friendship. When the work was over, there was still plenty to do, opening a keg of beer, cranking up the BBQ and just having fun. When my kids started racing, John supported and encouraged them to follow their dreams. Our family will always have fond memories of John.”
John Dinsdale was that guy always needed to go that further step, to make things happen by his own initiative. We are lucky to had him. We asked Gavin Colby to tell us his story as he was very close to him in his youth racing days in Europe.
Sail On John
Thanks for the work done that helped & inspired directly to many like Booth or Colby or via his deeds, in my case while I was racing Hobie 16 in Mexico and seeing that brand new main pentex Hobie Tiger at Valle de Bravo in 2004 triggered the spark for Catamarans to a higher realm.
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Gavin Colby remembers John Dinsdale
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“John Dinsdale was originally a student from Oregon USA, he went to Austria to instruct skiing while learning German. Before coming to Europe he had sailed a 14 in USA.
Later he became a German Hobie dealer in Munich. He wasn’t happy with the French product so he started importing boat directly from US.
At some point Coleman company bought Hobie World Wide. The European chapter was called Coast Catamaran France. Coleman headquarters were not aligned with the boss at Coast Catamaran France so they offered John the position. They told him to walk in fire him and the jobs yours!
The factory was a small dingy shed in the flat country behind Hyeres.
In the late 80’s Coleman wanted out of Hobie in Europe so John, and other investors bought the business and HOBIE Cat Europe was born. (Note: In January 1989, the company was divided between U.S. based Hobie Cat Company and Hobie Cat Europe and sold to two separate private ownership groups)
A new factory was built for Hobie Europe at La Farlède, an industrial area behind Toulon.
John also realized the importance of cat sailing representation at the ISAF. He lobbied for catamarans at ISAF conferences and Events. Back then the IYRU. He went to countless yearly meetings pushing hard for catamarans and HOBIE. He stressed the importance of Hobie representation at ISAF.
Mitch, Thomas, Doug, David and myself all were there under his leadership to support the class.
With the inception of F18, Hobie Cat Europe purchased the ‘Alado’18 fotter design (Ed: Designed by Jacques Valer) . Through John’s leadership the Alado became the Tiger and the most successful formula 18 of all time. With multiple standalone world championships of over 100 boats. Hobie OD Tiger Worlds reached a staggering 80 bot fleet.
The Tiger of course dominated the F18 winning F18 Worlds under Mitch, Darren and Glenn. We were all team riders. The boats were transported by semi trailer. Sailors flew in. It was an amazing time for catsailing!
Early 2000 HCE were selling over 100 tigers per year and in excess of 1200 boats. Employing over 120 people. From full time factory workers to pro sailors.
In retirement John loved to snow ski. He and his wife rebuilt a beautiful chateau in the south of France. He never lost his love of fun. Hobie sailing and cat sailing in general.
Through John’s life he always had the extraordinary support of his beautiful and strong wife Milla. She sailed with John over the years in multiple Hobie 16 world championships. They even sailed a Hobie 18 after their wedding to Porquerolles, an island off of Hyeres to their wedding reception. Hobie was genuinely running through the entire family.
John, Milla and the family never missed Oktoberfest. Every year, John and his family were there for the tapping of the first keg, opening day. Friends were always invited. It is always a great party and John loved it.
Following John’s time at Hobie cat Dinsdale Watersports was born with his son Andy. The business selling and renting RIB’s. John and Andy supplied boats to various events including to Olympic teams at WS regattas. The business and John’s legacy will live on through Andy as a Hobie agent in Munich.
He loved beer. Wine & coffee. He loved a bargain. And a bbq! He made us always travel with one so we could have beach bbq’s! We were always too busy with the boats for that. But he insisted. We even named the bbq “jet”. It went all around Europe.
He loved to fall asleep at the table. With one eye and ear open. Just to keep track of what’s going on! He genuinely was the most fun guy in the room.
He was an inspirational man.
He changed my life. And countless others.
I will miss him every day”.
Gavin Colby
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