Third July at the age of 80 years passed away our friend and colleague, yacht captain Anatoly Bolshakov. His whole life from a young age – wherever he was – was inextricably linked to sailing.
After moving to Moscow in the late 60-ies, he began to participate in competitions for the club “Spartak” and quickly achieved results: in the early ‘ 70s, Anatoly became the master of sports of the USSR.
In the seventies he and his family moved to Vladivostok, and easily joined the local sailing community, immediately taking the leading position, and many making for the development of sailing in the far East.
Returning later to Moscow in the perestroika period, he befriended many Russian drivers in this not simple time.
And since the beginning of the two thousandth Anatoly organized the training of Russian sailing in Turkey, passing young and all their experience gained over decades. And he was not just a good sailor and a talented teacher, but also a great photographer who shot a lot of lake, sea, ocean and, of course, yachts and yachtsmen.
But the most important in Anatolia Bolshakov was his human qualities and, first and foremost, kindness and hospitality. Probably will not find in Russia the man who would have any reason to remember our departed friend a bad word. He didn’t just create a Yachtmaster training, not just organized sailing regattas and festivals – he nurtured a community of like-minded people. The words “We were introduced by a Roofing Bolshakov” became the password to a huge set came in the sails of people. Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, Ukrainians – we are all mixed up in it if not the very lush, but very humane and friendly regattas.
So he forever will remain in our memory: a bright huge softie with an open mind, endlessly in love with the sail…
brightmemorypersonwonderful
What do you think?