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Find A Grave Memorial# 129599949
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EIGHT BELLS: Wallace (“Wally”) Craig Ross
Published on August 28, 2013

Wallace C. Ross, former Noroton Yacht Club member, prominent yachtsman, pioneer sail maker, businessman and author, died on August 23, 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 90.

He was President of Hard Sails and Seaboard Marine from 1954 to 1974 which were among the nation’s leading sail loft and marine outfitters at that time.

His success at sail making came during a yachting boom in the 1950’s and 1960’s when synthetic materials were first made available for the crafting of sails. At Hard Sails, he made sails for over 100 national and international small boat champions, in addition to 12-Meter class sails and sails for many large championship boats of the day.

His company’s work with Dacron gave his sails a material that held its shape, permitted the application of aerodynamic theory to sailing and allowed mass production compared to the older sail making technique using cotton.

Seaboard Marine manufactured fittings for many America’s Cup boats in the 1960’s, in addition to many other marine product lines. He also sailed on many America’s Cup boats and became a first class racer in his own right.

Among his innovations were the radial spinnaker and the ball-bearing traveler.

In 1975, Wally Ross wrote the book Sail Power which was the capstone of the previous decade’s new intelligence about sails. The book became an established work on both sides of the Atlantic due to his practical sailing and sail making knowledge. He was credited with writing in layman’s language about a complex subject leaving the reader drawn along with the author as he introduced increasing more complexity.

In 1975, he founded Tortola Yacht Charters in the British Virgin Islands which was eventually acquired by Guinness Beer in 1982. He also created Ross Marine, Inc. which built the original mold and financed the Sonar class of club racing sailboats in the late 1980’s that were designed by Bruce Kirby.

Wallace C. Ross was born in 1923 in Bayshore, Long Island, NY as the son of James D. Ross and Nina Ross. He graduated from Cornell University and served with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. He lived in Bellport, NY for a number of years with his first wife who is now deceased. He later married Jean Ritchey in 1978 and lived in Rowayton and Darien, CT, Martha’s Vineyard, MA and later in Vero Beach, FL.

He was a member of Noroton Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, Edgartown Yacht Club, East Chop Beach and Yacht Club, East Chop Tennis Club, Edgartown Golf Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club, Moorings Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of America. With his interest in medicine, talent as a musician, a great golf game, easy writing ability and sailing achievements, Wally Ross was regarded as somewhat of a “renaissance man”.

He is survived by his wife, Jean R. Ross of Martha’s Vineyard, MA and Vero Beach, FL, his brother Douglas R. Ross of Clearwater, FL, his step-children, Douglas A. Bora, Jr. of Darien, CT and Carolyn B. Gould of Concord, MA, their spouses Lorene and George (Josh), and step-grandchildren, Scott D. Bora and Elizabeth (Libby) J. Bora.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2300 5th Avenue, Suite 150, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

By Doug Bora
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USA Public Records
Name: Wallace C Ross
Also Known As: W Ross
Residence Date: 15 Nov 2007
Residence Place: Vero Beach, Florida
Birth Date: 03 May 1923
Phone Number: (407) 234-1031
Phone Number Recorded Date: 01 Jan 2009
Address: 300 Harbour Dr., Vero Beach, Florida 32963
Address Date: 15 Nov 2007
2nd Address: E Chop Dr., Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts 02557
2nd Address Date: 01 Jun 1995-01 Oct 2007
3rd Address: 1860 Bay Rd Apt 204, Vero Beach, Florida 32963
3rd Address Date: 01 Jan 1991-13 Nov 2000
4th Address: 1903 Bay Rd Apt 208, Vero Beach, Florida 32963
4th Address Date: 01 Nov 1974-18 Jul 2001
Possible Relatives: Alan C Rossetto, Alana Beth Ross, Albert M Winkelvess, Amy Estabrook Estabrookross, Andre D Rossignol, Andrew R Cross, Anita P Ross, Anne Ouellette-Cross, Austin H Ross, Barbara Sullivan, Barrett G Ross, Brian J Ross, Barbara Gross Chazen, Carol L Ross, Carol Cheswick Ross, Daniel L Peloski, Dina A Cross, Donald D Ross, Donald G Ross, Donna J Hazelett
Record Number: 285524