Top navigator dies at just 53 years old
by Rich Roberts on 20 Jul 2008
Mark Rudiger at the Genuine Risk nav station in 2005 SW
Outstanding US navigator, Mark Rudiger, died Thursday from lymphoma. He was 53.
A statement issued earlier this week commented:
Mark Rudiger, one of the world's greatest sailing navigators, has had some complications due to a relapse of cancer and is hospitalized at Kaiser Hospital in Roseville in Northern California.
Rudiger was first stricken with lymphoma in 2004 but recovered to continue his career, including last year's Transpacific Yacht Race on Brack Duker's Holua, which finished second in Division 2, and this year's Vallarta race to Mexico, also on Holua.
Rudiger's wife Lori offered a statement: 'We are at a critical point here in California and need your support. Mark is in the hospital but hanging tough. He strongly believes in the power of positive energy. This is the time for it to help him through the next few days. He can fight this but we can help. Thanks for your support and for your good thoughts. Lori.'
Rudiger has navigated 14 Transpacs and two Volvo Ocean Races, the premier around-the-world race. On short notice, he guided Paul Cayard's EF Language to victory in 1997-98 and Assa Abloy to second place as co-skipper in 2001-02, and in 2005-06 he was called in again to work Legs 6 and 7 for a struggling Ericsson team.
His resume also includes five Barn Door first-to-finish Transpacs, two Sydney-Hobart first-to-finish boats, and last year he was first to finish on the inaugural Daimler-Chrysler Transatlantic race. He also has sailed regularly on various ocean racers, including Sayonara, Pegasus and Genuine Risk.
The following photos show Rudi being greeted by son Zayle at the finish of Transpac 2003 and later receiving the Don Vaughn Trophy (best crew on first boat to finish), one of several he won. Another shows him at the Genuine Risk nav station in 2005, and the earliest one is before the 2001 Volvo start at Southampton (two versions).
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