Ted Hood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick Emmart Hood
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Hood in front of the Little Harbor facility in Portsmouth, Rhode Island c. 1990s
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| Born | May 5, 1927 Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | June 28, 2013 (aged 86) |
Frederick Emmart Hood (May 5, 1927 — June 28, 2013) was an amazing American sailor and boat designer. People often called him Ted Hood. He was famous for creating beautiful boats and strong sails. Ted started his own sail-making company, Hood Sails, in 1952. He also founded Little Harbor Custom Yachts, a company that built special boats. Ted was a true champion, even winning the famous America's Cup sailing race in 1974.
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Ted Hood: A Master of Boats and Sails
Ted Hood was a very talented person. He was a yachtsman, which means he was skilled at sailing yachts. He was also a naval architect. This means he designed boats and ships. Ted's work helped many sailors enjoy the water.
Starting His Own Companies
Ted Hood began his journey in Marblehead, Massachusetts. In 1952, he started Hood Sails. This company made sails for all kinds of boats. Hood Sails was very successful for many years. It operated until 2017.
In 1959, Ted also started Little Harbor Custom Yachts. This company built special, custom-made yachts. He later sold this company in 1999. It was bought by Hinckley Yachts.
Racing and Winning the America's Cup
Ted Hood was not just a designer; he was also a great sailor. He competed in the America's Cup. This is a very famous and challenging sailing race. In 1974, Ted won the America's Cup. He was the skipper, or captain, of a yacht named Courageous.
After his win, Ted built what he thought was an even faster yacht. He then sold Courageous to another famous sailor, Ted Turner. Interestingly, Ted Turner later beat Ted Hood in the 1977 America's Cup while sailing Courageous!
Building a Marine Complex
In 1985, Ted Hood built the Ted Hood Marine Complex. This was in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He moved his Little Harbor Marine operations there. This complex was a full-service marina. It offered repairs and services for yachts.
Later, the actual building of Little Harbor Yachts moved. It went to Northern Taiwan. In the 1990s, the boating market changed. So, this operation started designing only power boats. In 1999, Ted sold this company to Hinckley Yachts.
New Ideas and Designs
After selling his company, Ted didn't stop designing boats. He started a new company called Ted Hood Yachts, LLC. This company was also in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. It was located near the Hinckley Yachts complex.
Ted Hood Yachts designed many different power yachts. These included Coastal Explorers and Expedition series yachts. They also designed motor sailors. All of these boats were made to handle ocean travel. Today, Ted Hood's yacht designs are built in Xiamen, China.
Honored for His Achievements
Ted Hood's amazing work was recognized. He was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1993. This is a special honor for people who have made a big impact on the America's Cup. In 2011, he was also inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame. These honors show how important Ted Hood was to the world of sailing and boat design.
