Tich Mitchell of Sparcraft Masts was honoured with a prestigious and well-deserved South African boat building Legends award.
On Thurday June 6 2019, boat building night industry stakeholders and representatives from local as well as national government celebrated innovation and excellence in the leisure boat building sector at an event hosted by the South African Boat Builders Export Council (SABBEX).
SABBEX’s Legends and Trailblazers gala dinner was host to over 200 people and honoured those that have been instrumental in helping to elevate South Africa’s status in the leisure boat and yacht market, where Cape Town ranks as the second largest builder of catamarans in the world.
Sparcraft Masts in South Africa has a history that goes back three decades. With over thirty years’ experience in mast manufacturing, Sparcraft Masts is the industry’s manufacturer of yacht masts and spars in Southern Africa.
Tich Mitchell has been in the mast building business for 38 years. He left the submarine service to join Bellamy Masts in 1981 and there began his ongoing passion for creating rigs. Sparcraft Masts is housed in a custom build facility that was designed and built by him in Montague Gardens in 2001. It is perfectly situated for the transport of rigs from the factory to the harbour or back for servicing.
Over the many years in the mast building industry, Tich has worked well to surrounded himself with a wonderful team of experienced and motivated colleges that share his passion for manufacturing product locally in South Africa.
But the event was about honouring those in the sector who have achieved excellence to help boost the country’s reputation on the world stage – and on whose legacy the sector can leverage further growth.
Dumisani Ntuli, acting DDG Maritime Transport within the Department of Transport, handed out the awards.
Walking away as Legends on the night were:
- Tich Mitchell of Sparcraft Masts
- Jeff Stevens of Gemini
- Fuad Jacobs of Jacobs Bros
- Duncan Lethbridge of St Francis Catamarans
- John Robertson of Robertson and Caine
Trailblazers in the industry were identified as:
- Alex Simonis of Simonis Voogd Yacht Designers
- Anton du Toit of Du Toit Yacht Designs
- Greg Walters of Gaw Marine
- Mark Delany of 2 Oceans Manufacturing
- Carl Martin of Draco Sailing Hardware
The guest speaker for the night was renowned sailor, Skip Nova, who highlighted his deep connections with the country and South Africans.
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