Ron Given 1937 – 2023
The marine industry, and particularly multihull enthusiasts, were saddened to hear that designer Ron Given recently passed away in Noumea. Given was a passionate, enthusiastic, skilled and knowledgeable yacht designer.
Born in 1937, Given raced motorcycles in his teens and only took up sailing in his early twenties. After sailing on the late Arthur Piver’s Lodestar in 1963 in Auckland, Given and his brother John built Piver 4.88m trimarans. Convinced he could do better, a year later Given designed and built the trimaran, Pisces.
Given designed his first catamaran, the A-class Hustler, in 1965 and two years later designed what became his ticket to immortality – the 4.26m Paper Tiger catamaran. Drawn on the back of a Weetbix packet, the Paper Tiger became a worldwide success and, over the past 56 years, at least 5,000 sets of plans have been sold, including over 2,000 in New Zealand. The first New Zealander centreboard design to gain international recognition, there are also Paper Tiger fleets in Australia, South Africa, the USA, Canada, Denmark and the UK. Philanthropically, Given forsook royalties for the design, letting the owners’ associations sell plans to generate funds. Given designed other variations of the Paper Tiger, including the Tiger Cub, Tiger Shark and the 8.5m Gulf Tiger.
Given designed the well-known racing catamaran Split Enz in 1980, which held the Coastal Classic record for many years, before designing the first of many ocean cruising catamarans, the 13.2 Sarina. Over the next 35-plus years, Given would refine his oceancruising catamarans through yachts such as Oro, Taleo Tambu, Norma, Crystal Harmony, Katoa and many others.
A versatile designer, Given also designed water-ballasted trailer yachts, catamaran windsurfers, land yachts and power catamarans, some of which were fitted with foils.
Given worked for Foster’s Marine for 25 years, playing a crucial role in its aluminium spar-making division. Given was a rig consultant for two New Zealand America’s Cup campaigns, 1987 and 1990, and the rigs on all his yachts reflect his expertise in this area.
“His contribution to the [marine] industry was immense,” said his old boss John Street.
Given’s enthusiasm for twin hulls was infectious, and his more than 70 voyages between New Zealand and Noumea gave him an unparalleled real-world experience of catamarans offshore. A great seaman and skipper, Given had firm, well-considered opinions about boats which he didn’t hesitate to express. He was a kind, generous, warm-hearted friend whom many will miss.
Given, who had been battling cancer for several years, passed on in Noumea on March 12 after a short illness. He’s survived by his second wife Andree, children Victor and Tracey, stepdaughters Caroline and Samantha, six grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren.