Death of Patrick Rieupeyrout
The boat builder Harken and the Grand Pavois boat show announced yesterday the death of Patrick Rieupeyrout. Figure of the French nautical industry, he passed away on March 11, 2021 from cancer in his hometown of La Rochelle. He was 69 years old.
Figure of the Harken boat builder in France and artisan of the Grand Pavois
The name of Patrick Rieupeyrout was inseparable from the Harken hardware manufacturer. After having directed the brand of nautical equipment Barlow Marine Europe during 8 years between 1979 and 1987, it is to this fine connoisseur of sailing that Peter and Olaf Harken, founders of the American leader of the eponymous yachting, call to take the head of their French subsidiary in 1987 as general manager. He will remain at the helm of Harken until 2021, for almost 35 years, sharing the management with Pierre Massé for some years. The face of Harken, he has worked with all the major yacht builders, but also all the ocean racing skippers, from the Mini Transat, to the IMOCA and Ultimes.
Patrick Rieupeyrout was also involved in the life of the yachting industry in La Rochelle through its flagship event, the Grand Pavois boat show. He was a director of Grand Pavois Organisation from 1995, then secretary from 1997. Since 2004, he became vice-president of the association in charge of the organization of the boat show in his native port.
The BoatIndustry editorial team offers its sincere condolences to his family and friends from the entire French yachting community.
