Bob Tiedemann

[Carl Cramer]

I'm so sorry to report that our friend Bob Tiedemann, most recently featured in WB No. 189, died last night. He was a great friend of WoodenBoat and our community, and a wonderful insiration to all of us. Our deep condolences go out to Elizabeth and to all his close friends. Carl

[StevenBauer]

Sad news.

Steven

[Thad]

From the times in the late 80s when GLEAM and NORTHERN LIGHT came to Marblehead a number of times for the local wooden boat races I have known of Bob and watched what he has done. Maybe it was at the WB Show year before last, or maybe it was a year or two before that, but I remember watching him bring GLEAM into Newport harbor with a party aboard and sail her through the mooring field up to a float under the New York Yacht Club. Big boat. Crowded harbor. Beautifully done. Good man.

[Concordia...41]

If there is anyone who deserves fair winds and following seas, it is Bob.

Thoughts and prayers for his family & friends.

- Margo Geer

[sawcutmill]

Thad said it best, Ditto.

"With oars an Sails, God Speed Bob"

Stephen Millett

[sawcutmill]

Robert H. Tiedemann





NEWPORT - Robert (Bob) Tiedemann,

passed away May 8, 2006. A lifelong sailor whose passion for the beauty and versatility of vintage yachts passed away yesterday at Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI, following a four month struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56 years old.

His passion for classic yachts inspired him to rescue a substantial number of antique sail and powerboats from old age and disrepair. Two of his sailboats, Gleam and Northern Light, (both pre-World War II-built 12-Metres), were immortalized in one of the most famous yachting photographs of all time, "Flying Spinnakers," by the late Morris Rosenfeld.

Mr. Tiedemann combined his love of antique yachts with a thriving business by convincing corporate clients that racing his 12-Metres would make a good team-building exercise for their employees and clients. He started out in 1976 by chartering Gleam on Narragansett Bay, near his home in Newport, RI.

"It was an emotional decision," Tiedemann once said about his efforts to restore Gleam and Northern Light, both of which were largely in ruin when he discovered them abandoned in boat yards. After restoring their wooden hulls to pristine condition, he realized that people could identify with the class because 12-Metres were still sailing in the America's Cup races (1958-1987) at that time. "All of a sudden, these boats have a reason to live," said Tiedemann of yachts that many thought had outlived their youthful charm and purpose.

The idea of restoring old 12-Meters inspired restoration work by others who saw Tiedemann's success. Because of his efforts, there are now as many as a dozen vintage 12-Metres being chartered and raced off Newport each summer. While his boats never actually competed in the America's Cup, they were part of the same race class. Gleam, built in 1937, was once used as a Cup "trial horse." Mr. Tiedemann once estimated that he spent 13,500 hours at the helm of the 68-foot Gleam.

His restoration efforts have brought him restoration acclaim, including Preserve Rhode Island's Maritime Heritage Award in 1999.

Bob grew up in Greenwich, CT. His father was a naval architect and his family often sailed on Long Island Sound. Bob, who used to sneak into yacht yards as a child to admire boats, convinced his father to buy the 54-foot wooden yawl, Mariner, in the mid-1960s. Mariner, which was built in 1950 in Germany, set his destiny when he realized that he could make a living by chartering.

Mr. Tiedemann and his wife Elizabeth, whom he married in 1994 aboard Gleam, operate their business, Seascope Yacht Charters, out of Newport. Through the years, the company grew as the couple discovered other important boats that captured their interests. Seascope currently has six vintage yachts in its fleet. In addition to the two 12-Metres and Mariner, they also have restored and charter Pam, a 62-foot luxury wooden powerboat built in 1921 as a Great Lakes commuter boat; and Fawan, a 40-foot glass cabin launch built in 1911 for John Jacob Astor IV.

A sixth yacht, the 62-foot L'Allegro, sits under plastic wrap in the couple's back yard waiting to be restored. The express cruiser was slated to be the couple's next labor of love.

Mr. Tiedemann is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his mother, Gertrude, of Bear River, Nova Scotia; his two sisters, Janet Whitney, of Newport and Susan Comeau, of Bear River; and three nieces.

Mr. Tiedemann was a member of the New York Yacht Club, Antique & Classic Boat Society and an honorary member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. Bob was also an avid gardener, snow skier, antique collector and nautical historian.

A memorial service is planned for Mr. Tiedemann at Trinity Episcopal Church, Friday, May 12, 2006, at 3 p.m.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Trinity Church Restoration Fund in honor of Mr. Tiedemann, or to the Robert H. Tiedemann Restoration Fund at the Museum of Yachting, an organization in Newport that Mr. Tiedemann helped form in 1980.

[PL3]

It was a particularly nasty night.

After his winter living in his Telluride camper in the parking lot on City Island with a varnished mid deck skylight on the roof, Gleam was finally ready for the sea.

The Yacht was incredible to all of us, but we all knew about the garboards.

"Bob you can't make a living day chartering out of Greenwich, Newport is the 12's!'

So Gleam went east.

Bob, Greg & a motly crew set sail for East Greenwich, the downstairs totally torn up, all of us a little over "extended" from all the jammin' to get she ready fo chater.

The night was long, the wind was on the nose, the bilge was a fire hydrant

The morning came, we made the bridge

The rest is history...

Sail on Bob

Follow The Gleam

[Concordia...41]

Mr. Tiedemann once estimated that he spent 13,500 hours at the helm of the 68-foot Gleam.

May we all be so blessed...

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

:(...... He did a lot for wooden boats.

[Ed Harrow]

Fair winds to another fine gentleman.

[ssor]

He died too young. :(

[Ross M]

Godspeed, Mr. Tiedemann

[mariner2k]

Narragansett Bay will be emptier without him.

Great sailor...Remarkable man!

[DLW]

My families have been close from quite some time and it has come to my attention that Bob's wife has decided to put for sale the entirety of his wooden boat fleet. Discarding a life and love hard spent, ignoring the wishes of Bob and his family and possibly destroying one of the best scenes in Newport (Gleam and Northern Light match racing). My only hope is someone comes along that can keep this wonderful collection together as it should be kept especially the 12 meters.

God Speed Bob

we all will miss you

[sawcutmill]

Whoa!

[DLW]

Whoa!


indeed - one of the few words able to explain this absurdity

[Wild Dingo]

Not really please remember Elizabeth is mourning is probably hurting severely and in some serious distress at loosing her partner... each of us greive in our own way each of us feel the pain and sadness of the loss of a partner deep within our souls hearts and minds

Perhaps if this is true then Elizabeth is reacting to her greif? Perhaps its a knee jerk reaction to loosing that special part of her that was her husband partner and love... remember that the loss of a loved one particularily a partner husband wife brings out many many emotions some good some not so good she is greiving for her man and the life they shared which is now so totally different and it is early days yet for her as she tries to come to terms with that loss... if she does go ahead and onsell them then so be it if not she must then struggle on alone (yes as others are doing) its her that matters right now not gleam or any of the other boats... and remember that at the end of the day its her choice to retain or onsell the boats that Bob restored... rightly or wrongly to you personally is irrelevent to her at this time.

condolences to Elizabeth and the families :(

[Lew Barrett]

It's hard to maintain a 12 meter, let alone a fleet of that scope. It might be a kindness to the boats if they are passed along to the next willing owners. Hard to say what the motivation is, one would need to know the particulars, and I don't pretend to know them having only the information I've read over the years, but if she's not as interested in them as Bob was, it's best they be passed along to people who will love, use and maitain them. It's the way of the world; the boats may be eternal, but we're just passing through.

[DLW]

... and remember that at the end of the day its her choice to retain or onsell the boats that Bob restored... rightly or wrongly to you personally is irrelevent to her at this time.

condolences to Elizabeth and the families :(


not if it is against family wishes - when Bob had always wanted his neices to run the company and for the collection to stay in the family. And especially now that elizabeth refuses to sell Mariner or any of the other boats to the family. But that doesn't seeem to matter at this point I am done posting about this topic.

[uncas]

He died too young.

Only the good die young.
May he find a craft on the other side of the bar and continue to sail with fair winds and sunny days.