Sonny Levi

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Renato "Sonny" Levi RDI (3 September 1926 – 12 November 2016) was an English (of Italian heritage) known for creating powerboats for the Aga Khan, the Shah of Iran, and Richard Branson.

Early life[]

Renato Levi was born in Karachi on 3 September 1926 into a family that had fled fascism in Italy, but he was educated in France and Darjeeling.

Career[]

Levi learned about boat design in his uncle's boat-design business Afco in Bombay. He moved to England in 1944 and became a pilot in Spitfires with the Royal Air Force. After demobilisation he founded his own boatyard in Anzio in 1960. He invented a surface propulsion system which increased speed and reduced drag and was installed on Richard Branson's . In 1986 he was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Books[]

Levi wrote and published two books about high speed design on water, Dhows To Deltas[8] and Milestones In My Design.[9]

Awards[]

In 1987, Levi had his achievements recognised with his election as a Royal Designer for Industry, a distinction regarded as the highest honour obtainable in the field of design.

In September 2016, he was awarded with an honorary degree in boat design by the University of Genoa.[10]

Death[]

Levi died on 12 November 2016.

References[]

  1. ^ "home". Levi Boats. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  2. ^ "The work of Sonny Levi — Levi Designs". Sonnylevi.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  3. ^ "Sonny Levi | Register | The Times & The Sunday Times". Thetimes.co.uk. 2016-11-26. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  4. ^ Lawrence, Charles (2016-11-13). "Renato "Sonny" Levi | Classic Offshore Powerboat Club – COPC". Classicoffshore.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  5. ^ "Sonny Levi". Fastonwater.co.uk. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  6. ^ John Moore. "Sonny Levi – 'The father of modern powerboat design' has passed away – Powerboat Racing World". Powerboatracingworld.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  7. ^ "Dr Renato 'Sonny' Levi". Iwcp.co.uk. 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  8. ^ "Dhows To Deltas".
  9. ^ "Milestones In My Design".
  10. ^ "Sonny Levi – 'The father of modern powerboat design' has passed away".

External links[]


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