Obituary: Frans Bolweg (NED)

It is with great sadness that ISAF announces International Judge Frans Bolweg (NED) passed away on Saturday 10 January 2015, aged 64, after a short illness.

Frans was active as a judge, an umpire and a race officer and contributed to each discipline in his own unique way. Above all he was a gifted teacher and a source of inspiration. His original way of thinking and working and his sharp analysis took many individuals as well as organisations to a higher level.

Frans was one of the co-founders of a Dutch yacht club simply known as ‘Uitdam’ that provided one of the first platforms in the Netherlands for international windsurf competitions on open water back in the 1980’s. He was also the first PRO responsible for the then brand new match racing event at the 1989 SPA Regatta in Medemblik.

He remained a loyal volunteer for the SPA (now Delta Lloyd) Regatta throughout the years, as race officer and commentator and in more recent years in a free role as overall supervisor.

Frans fervently believed in attracting young people to all aspects of event organising and he was an inspiration to all of them.

Dutch sailing owes Frans a debt of gratitude.