Irish sailing has lost one of its best international friends and loyal supporters with the death at the age of 93 of Piet Vroon, who was the very epitome of the reality that in The Netherlands, we find Europe's leading maritime nation. He pursued his enthusiasm for offshore racing in a succession of state-of-the-art offshore racers - nearly all called Tonnere de Breskens - with the same devoted energy and success that he brought to running a major international shipping business.
A longtime particpant on the RORC circuit and other events of similar calibre, his successes included the overall win in the 2001 Fastnet Race, line honours and the overall win in the 2010 Round Ireland Race, and the RORC overall championship in 2015.
A best friend of the similarly multi-maritime-minded late Denis Doyle of Cork, despite Piet's distinction on the international scene, he remained fiercely loyal to his home port of Breskens. It was very seldom that he
missed participation in the annual regatta there, while Breskens responded by giving him a proper welcome home every time he returned from campaigning, with the pace stepped up when he brought back even more trophies than usual.
To describe Piet Vroon as "life-enhancing" understates the situation. He was keen to the end, and our heartfelt sympathies are with his family, his close friends, and his many shipmates, consoled by the fact that he leaves so many wonderful memories.
WMN