Hi, my name is Paolo Portiglia and I represent the Copyright Holder [CRH] as the Builder's Representative on the Executive Committee.
I have been involved with Skiff sailing since 1994 and became a Director of Nautivela in 2002. In 2006 Nautivela became the official Southern European distributor for the 29er (and 49er). I have had a close working relationship with the CRH (Julian Bethwaite) since we met in the mid-1990s. As well as the CRH I know Chris Turner (Ovington Boats) and John Clinton (Mackay Boats) as major distributors of both brands and I am part of the 49er working group. All 3 builders/CRH believe I have been instrumental in the growth of the 29er Class which has been solid with a very bright future.
I took over from Chris Turner as the Builder's Representative on the Executive Committee for the 29er Class and was reconfirmed by the CRH in 2020. It is a great pleasure and honour to serve the Class. My main task is to represent the builder's group and the CRH to the members, give technical advice when required, present evolutionary possibilities for equipment and maintain strong cooperation between the Class and the manufacturers.
It is a pleasure to be the Builder's Representative and I bring with that a European focus to the business over many years for the benefit of the Class, a position I take wholeheartedly! I speak 5 European + English languages fluently.
See you all in 2021!
Ciao, Paolo.