Pelle Petterson

Pelle Helmer Petterson (born 31 July 1932) is a Swedish sailor and yacht designer. He is the son of Helmer Petterson and Norwegian-born Borgny Petterson (born Holm), and studied design at the leading Pratt Institute in New York from 1955 through 1957. His father was also a designer who developed wood gas aggregates and Volvo PV444, strongly influencing his son to go in his footsteps. He is probably best known for designing the Maxi brand of sailing boats, which are still among the most common sailing boats in Swedish waters. He also designed Volvo's successful sports car, the P1800, while he was a student of Pietro Frua.[2]

Pelle Petterson
Pelle Petterson in June 2010
Personal information
Full namePelle Helmer Petterson
Nationality Sweden
Born (1932-07-31) 31 July 1932[1]
Stockholm, Sweden[1]
Sailing career
Class(es)Star, Soling, 6mR, 12 mR
ClubKattegattflottiljen, Gothenburg[1]
Medal record
Sailing
Representing  Sweden
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich Star class
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo Star class
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1969 San DiegoStar class
Gold medal – first place1977 Marstrand6 mR class
Gold medal – first place1979 Seattle6 mR class
Gold medal – first place1983 Newport6 mR class
Silver medal – second place1969 CopenhagenSoling
Silver medal – second place1974 LaredoStar class

There is a line of sailing clothing and sports wear bearing the name Petterson, under the Brand Name Pelle P. which are designed by his daughter, Cecilia. His other daughter, Ulrika "Icka", lives in the U.S. and is married to Paul Cayard, an American yachtsman and professional sailor.

Olympic medals and other yacht racing awards
A Volvo P1800, designed by Petterson

Competing in the Star class, Petterson won two Olympic medals: a bronze in 1964 and a silver in 1972.[3][4] He held the world title in this event in 1969.

He also won World Cup medals in the Soling Class and participated in the America's Cup several times, skippering the Swedish America's Cup Challenges in 1977 and 1980.

Awards

Petterson was the first person to be inducted into the Swedish Sailing Hall of Fame.[1] On 14 May 2004 he received the Swedish Business Award for Outstanding Achievements of the first grade from the West Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Amongst previous recipients are Arvid Carlsson Nobel laureate, Ingvar Kamprad founder of Ikea and Pehr G. Gyllenhammar former CEO of Volvo.

On 19 November 2004 he received the KTH's Stora Pris from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.[5]

On 8 June 2010 Petterson received from Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden the King's Medal (12th size bright-blue ribbon[6]) for outstanding contributions as a yachtsman and boat designer.

Achievements
Petterson in the 1960s
As of 27 September 2015[7]
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEvent
1964Olympic GamesEnoshima, Japan3rdStar class
1966Star World ChampionshipsKiel, West Germany7thStar class
1967Star World ChampionshipsCopenhagen, Denmark5thStar class
1969Star World ChampionshipsSan Diego, USA1stStar class
Soling World ChampionshipCopenhagen, DEN2ndSoling
1970Star World ChampionshipsMarstrand, Sweden13thStar class
1971Star World ChampionshipsPuget Sound, USA7thStar class
1972Star World ChampionshipsCaracas, Venezuela4thStar class
Olympic GamesKiel, West Germany2ndStar class
1973Star World ChampionshipsSan Diego Bay, USA8thStar class
1974Star World ChampionshipsLaredo, Spain2ndStar class
1976Star World ChampionshipsNassau, Bahamas8thStar class
19776 Metre World ChampionshipsMarstrand, Sweden1st6 Metre class
1978Star World ChampionshipsSan Francisco, USA17thStar class
1979Star World ChampionshipsMarstrand, Sweden6thStar class
6 Metre World ChampionshipsSeattle, USA1st6 Metre class
19836 Metre World ChampionshipsNewport, USA1st6 Metre class
1995Star World ChampionshipsLaredo, Spain63rdStar class
1998Star World ChampionshipsPortoroz, Slovenia89thStar class
2009Star World ChampionshipsVarberg, Sweden61stStar class

See also

References
  1. Pelle Petterson. Swedish Olympic Committee
  2. Swärd, Lasse (8 November 2009). "Volvo ger upprättelse åt P1800:s skapare (Volvo provide redress to the P1800's creator)". Dagens Nyheter. Archived from the original on 9 November 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  3. "Pelle Petterson". Olympedia. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. "Pelle Petterson - Sweden's sailing hero", 32nd America's Cup Interviews, 9 January 2005, retrieved 8 November 2009
  5. "KTHs Stora pris - Samtliga vinnare (KTH's Grand Prize - All the winners)", KTH, 29 September 2009, archived from the original on 6 December 2009, retrieved 8 November 2009
  6. HM King Carl XVI Gustaf Medals, 8 June 2010, retrieved 8 June 2010
  7. "Sailor Biography". members.sailing.org.
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