Navigator

about don

Growing up near Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, I discovered sailing in my early teens when a neighbor took me out on his Rhodes 19. Recognizing my enthusiasm, my father arranged lessons with Buddy Friedrichs, an Olympic gold medalist and world champion, cementing my love for the sport.

I spent years crewing on one-designs like the Soling and Star classes, later participating in Gulf Coast PHRF regattas and the SORC. While starting my first business in my early twenties briefly took priority, by my mid-twenties, I had acquired my first sailboat—a Borresen-built Dragon—marking the beginning of a lifelong journey in sailing.

By my mid-thirties, my focus shifted to cruising, leading me to purchase a Bristol 40. Selling my business in 1986 opened a new chapter—yacht sales. I initially specialized in bluewater monohulls, but my perspective changed in 1992 after encountering the TPI-built Lagoon 42. This led me to work with leading multihull brands like Jeanneau/Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Nautitech, and Catana. 

In 1996, I founded Navigator Yacht Group in West Palm Beach, taking over sales and marketing for Catana, a brand I not only represented but also owned and sailed extensively, including two Atlantic crossings. Over the decades, I’ve witnessed the multihull market evolve from niche to mainstream, now expanding rapidly into power catamarans.

In 2015, I stepped away from Catana as they transitioned to the Bali range.  Through it all, my passion for sailing remains as strong as when I first stepped aboard that Rhodes 19—though I may move a little slower on the foredeck!

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