-----Original
Message-----
From: Ronald L.
Jensen [mailto:RLJensen@writeme.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 20,
2003 10:08
PM
To: 'Thomson at Natirar'
Cc:
'Krueger@co.somerset.nj.us'; 'sras@lycosmail.com'; 'palmer.
stevens@enterpriseintegrators.com'
Subject: "Etak" / "Te Vega"
Thank you so much for your reply Barry. The information you have provided will be very useful once I get started putting together a comprehensive history of Te Vega. It may take awhile as I am not yet fully retired from my consulting engineering business. I have made some contact at Stanford University (owners while I was on board) and with heirs of Harold Miller of Portland Oregon, owner prior to Stanford. I plan to follow up with them for detailed information during their possession of Te Vega.
I have has some correspondence with Palmer. We connected by e-mail on 27 January. (Palmer, Once you have digitally scanned the Etak specs I will be very grateful if you could e-mail me a copy.)
I had a very pleasant visit aboard Te Vega with Captain Lauro Moracchioli and some of his crew on 7 March. Te Vega is berthed in La Spezia at the Porto Lotti yacht harbor.
Here is a very recent photo of Te Vega and some of the ship’s crew. Captain Moracchioli is standing. Nicola, the 1st mate is 2nd from the right. Maurizio, who does a great job of running the galley, is 3rd from the right. The very capable, experienced and senior member of the crew is Carlo the steward is 2nd from the left. This seems like a very happy crew. I have attached some photos that I took during my visit.
Te Vega is in superb condition. In Lauro’s words the restoration has replace about 95% of what originally existed of the yacht. The vessel is crammed with some of the latest technology. No longer are there ratlines to climb up to the topmast to manually take in the mainforetopstaysail (our crew referred to it as a “fisherman”) as I did back in ’63-’64. Electronics have replaced drawers full of navigation charts and shooting the stars and LAN. I prided myself on getting seven stars to closely intersect on the plot chart every evening that provided a clear sky from my sextant readings. No GPS then.
Calisto Tanzi & son Stefano Tanzi, owners of Te Vega have as their main business, Parmalat Finanziaria.
From Hoover's: "Having a box of shelf-stable Parmalat milk is like having a cow in your cupboard -- only a lot smaller and cleaner. One of the world's largest dairy companies, Parmalat Finanziaria produces milk and other foods in 30 countries. In addition to producing the Parmalat brand of UHT milk products, the company also produces vegetables, baked goods, and fruit juices. Its primary markets have been in Europe and South America, but its North American subsidiaries have been expanding through acquisitions. It is now the #3 cookie maker in the US (behind Kraft Foods' Nabisco and Kellogg's Keebler) with its Archway, Mother's, and Salerno brands. Founder Calisto Tanzi and his family own 98% of Parmalat."
More: http://www.parmalat.co.za/company/history_long.htm
The Tanzi's also own the Parma football team, though considering the team's record, they probably wish that they didn't.
I will stay in touch as information evolves and hope you all will do the same.
Best regards,
Ron Jensen
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomson at Natirar
[mailto:thomson@natirar.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003
8:32 AM
To: RLJensen@writeme.com
Cc: Krueger@co.somerset.nj.us;
sras@lycosmail.com; stevens@enterpriseintegrators.com
Subject: "Etak" / "Te
Vega" / Ladd
TO: RONALD L. JENSEN
In response to your inquiry for information about Walter Graeme Ladd and
Kate Macy Ladd, I am attaching a write-up concerning the history of the
Ladds' New Jersey estate, "Natirar" (an anagram for the North Branch of the
Raritan River that flows across the property) that also provides information
about the Ladds themselves.
With respect to Walter Ladd's last yacht, the "Etak" (an anagram for Kate,
his wife's first name), later renamed the "Te Vega," I suggest that you
contact either or both of Scott Rasmussen (sras@lycosmail.com) or Palmer
Stevens (stevens@enterpriseintegrators.com).
I recently located (at "Natirar") a copy of the original specifications for
the "Etak". I have sent a copy of it to Palmer Stevens, who I believe plans
to digitally scan the document and, at some point, post it on the Web. I
have also been advised, but have not confirmed, that design drawings for the
"Etak" are on file at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.
I hope this information is helpful to you. In return, I would be most
grateful if you could send me any written history you may have written, or
plan to write, about the "Etak".
Thanks.
W. Barry Thomson
The Natirar Association, Inc.
c/o 30 Fifth Avenue, #12-J
New York, NY 10011
Tel/fax: 212-228-6972