30 September 2020
Zvi
began his sailing career in the Sea Scouts as a high school student
in Haifa, Israel. He advanced to the Flying Dutchman, an Olympic
class at the time, and represented Israel internationally. He later
moved to the Etchells class which became his favorite boat, racing
with club members at the Carmel Yacht Club. In 1989, Zvi became an
International Judge and was active in his home nation and around the
world. He was an active member of International Juries, Protest
Committees and was in hearings and on the water until his last day.
In 1990, he qualified as an International Umpire, becoming the first
Israeli national to do so. Zvi established himself as one of the
most prominent International Judges in Israel and attended the
Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, the America's Cup and
numerous World and Continental Class Championships.
Zvi also dedicated much of his time to the development of sailing
and represented Group D on World Sailing's Council from 1995 to 2004
and was an Events Committee member from 1999 to 2016. In 2016 Zvi
was awarded the gold World Sailing Long Service Medal for his
contribution.
He was also instrumental in the constitution of an ORC office after
arranging in invitation in 2013 to Chief Measurer Zoran Grubisa and
Deputy Chief Measurer Nicola Sironi to go to Tel Aviv to train a
group of sailors to become measurers, among whom Roni Raviv was
chosen as the ISR ORC Rating Officer in 2014. From then on, ISR has
created a fleet large enough to accommodate Zvi as a Congress
member.
This relationship with ORC also extended to his serving on the
International Jury of several prominent ORC events, such as various
ORC World, European and European Sportboat Championships.
With these strong credentials, his stature was reassuring for all at
any meeting he attended, and his sharp and unquestionable comments a
warning for all listening, especially when he was in office in a
Jury. He was respected everywhere, and was a symbol on how you can
be strong without being aggressive or offensive.
In addition to this international work, Zvi translated the Racing
Rules of Sailing to Hebrew and guided the spirit of sailing and
judging in Israel.
He now joins the judging pioneers who influenced him, like Mary
Blewitt Pera, Paul Bennett, Marcel Leeman, Carlo Rolandi to mention
just a few.
Fair winds Zvi, you will not be forgotten by the thousands of
sailors and Judges who respected you throughout your long life.
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