Vespoli
Encyclopedia
Vespoli USA is a manufacturer of racing shell
s for rowing
. It was founded by former Georgetown University
rower, Olympian, and World Rowing Champion Mike Vespoli
in 1980. It is located on the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
rowing coach at Yale University
. It was during a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta
in 1977 that he saw the forefather of the shell that changed his life. The now defunct British firm, Carbocraft Ltd, was building shells that sandwiched honeycomb between composite fibers. "I saw a very advanced shell, realizing, in America at the time, we were rowing in either traditionally built wooden shells or a wooden shell frame with fiberglass skin over it," Vespoli said. He began to augment a modest coaching salary by becoming Carbocraft's American sales representative. In their day, Carbocrafts were exceptional boats, and the sport of rowing owes Carbocraft for the breakthroughs the company made in carbon-honeycomb shells.
After three years as Carbocraft's agent, Mike Vespoli realized importing boats led to unacceptable shortfalls in service. Customers were dissatisfied with fluctuating boat prices due to unpredictable exchange rates, an unreliable supply of spare parts, and uncertain delivery dates. In the summer of 1980, he decided to leave coaching to become a boat builder. By the fall, Mike had secured the rights to manufacture Carbocraft shells in the United States and opened a 4000 sq ft (371.6 m²). shop in Hamden, CT with his father and two employees, Peter Smith, a plant foreman from England, and Ed Kloman, an oarsman turned business executive. In the beginning Vespoli kept the basic Carbocraft design, which came to be known as the “A” hull model but he improved the construction techniques. Vespoli's new shells were well accepted and soon he talked the city of New Haven into selling him land for a modern boat-building plant.
The end of the decade was a busy time for Vespoli. In 1986 Vespoli moved production to its current location in New Haven. In 1988, Vespoli initiated the most comprehensive rowing shell research ever. Utilizing the talents of America’s Cup winning naval architect Bruce Nelson and hydrodynamics’ expert, Dr. Carl Scragg, they were the first to simulate shell movement in a tow tank with “unsteady” surge and pitch. Thus the “D” hull model was born. The D hull which became wildly accepted and praised during the 1990s had a very inauspicious start. Some contest that the United States Heavyweight Eight might have won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, or probably would have won the silver, instead of taking the bronze behind West Germany and the Soviet Union, if they had chosen to use the new “D” hull rather than the familiar 'A' hull, called Copenhagen Gold, which the crew preferred.
In the first half of this decade, Vespoli partnered with naval architect, Manolo Ruiz DeElvira, the principal designer of Alinghi, winner of the 2003 and 2007 America’s Cup. Manolo used to the most advanced hull design programs in the world to design Vespoli’s next generation of hulls, the “E” Hull. The "E" hull features increased stability and lower wetted surface [the dominant factor in slowing a rowing boat]. This model offers both wing and side mount rigger options.
Racing shell
In watercraft, a racing shell is an extremely narrow, and often disproportionately long, rowing boat specifically designed for racing or exercise. It is outfitted with long oars, outriggers to hold the oarlocks away from the boat, and sliding seats...
s for rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. It was founded by former Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
rower, Olympian, and World Rowing Champion Mike Vespoli
Mike Vespoli
Michael L Vespoli is founder and chief executive officer of Vespoli USA, Inc., a boat manufacturer in New Haven, Connecticut, that makes shells for rowing teams and individual rowers.-Career:...
in 1980. It is located on the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
History
The company’s origins date back to the late 1970s when Mike Vespoli was the freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
rowing coach at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. It was during a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1977 that he saw the forefather of the shell that changed his life. The now defunct British firm, Carbocraft Ltd, was building shells that sandwiched honeycomb between composite fibers. "I saw a very advanced shell, realizing, in America at the time, we were rowing in either traditionally built wooden shells or a wooden shell frame with fiberglass skin over it," Vespoli said. He began to augment a modest coaching salary by becoming Carbocraft's American sales representative. In their day, Carbocrafts were exceptional boats, and the sport of rowing owes Carbocraft for the breakthroughs the company made in carbon-honeycomb shells.
After three years as Carbocraft's agent, Mike Vespoli realized importing boats led to unacceptable shortfalls in service. Customers were dissatisfied with fluctuating boat prices due to unpredictable exchange rates, an unreliable supply of spare parts, and uncertain delivery dates. In the summer of 1980, he decided to leave coaching to become a boat builder. By the fall, Mike had secured the rights to manufacture Carbocraft shells in the United States and opened a 4000 sq ft (371.6 m²). shop in Hamden, CT with his father and two employees, Peter Smith, a plant foreman from England, and Ed Kloman, an oarsman turned business executive. In the beginning Vespoli kept the basic Carbocraft design, which came to be known as the “A” hull model but he improved the construction techniques. Vespoli's new shells were well accepted and soon he talked the city of New Haven into selling him land for a modern boat-building plant.
The end of the decade was a busy time for Vespoli. In 1986 Vespoli moved production to its current location in New Haven. In 1988, Vespoli initiated the most comprehensive rowing shell research ever. Utilizing the talents of America’s Cup winning naval architect Bruce Nelson and hydrodynamics’ expert, Dr. Carl Scragg, they were the first to simulate shell movement in a tow tank with “unsteady” surge and pitch. Thus the “D” hull model was born. The D hull which became wildly accepted and praised during the 1990s had a very inauspicious start. Some contest that the United States Heavyweight Eight might have won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, or probably would have won the silver, instead of taking the bronze behind West Germany and the Soviet Union, if they had chosen to use the new “D” hull rather than the familiar 'A' hull, called Copenhagen Gold, which the crew preferred.
In the first half of this decade, Vespoli partnered with naval architect, Manolo Ruiz DeElvira, the principal designer of Alinghi, winner of the 2003 and 2007 America’s Cup. Manolo used to the most advanced hull design programs in the world to design Vespoli’s next generation of hulls, the “E” Hull. The "E" hull features increased stability and lower wetted surface [the dominant factor in slowing a rowing boat]. This model offers both wing and side mount rigger options.
Models
- V1 - It is constructed of multiple layers of intermediate modulus, unidirectional carbon fiber and Nomex Honeycomb cured at 250 degrees. The V1 model features Vespoli’s ‘rhino skin’ (ultra-dense carbon layers) providing maximum impact resistance and stiffness.
- Millennium-2 First "Ribless" Vespoli model. Increased stiffness and cockpit room.
- Millennium - discontinued
- Ultralite II - Upgraded version of the Ultralite model. Features 100% 'Unidirectional' carbon fiber.
- Ultralite - discontinued
- Performer - Fiberglass laminate hull construction. Very tough, resilient.
Current Models
- V1 (4+/x and 8+)
- M2 (4+/x and 8+)
- Ultralite II (4+/x and 8+)
- Performer(2x/-, 4+/x and 8+)
- Matrix (1x and 2x/-)