A Tribute to Tommy
A tribute to our co-founder Tommy Tognarelli, who lost his battle with cancer, aged just 41. We're heart broken.
Rest in Peace, Tommy
June 1983 - June 2024
We're devastated to report that our co-founder Tommy Tognarelli lost his battle with cancer at the end of June, aged just 41. We're all heartbroken.
As one of the founders (alongside his twin brother Adi) Tommy was instrumental in shaping the company ever since we launched in 2013, with a mission to try and make booking a sailing holiday easy.
His leadership and vision helped build the website into what it is today, and we had so many plans for the future - be it adding new cruising grounds in Thailand and Australia, rolling out an App to make it easier for our customers, and using AI to try and smooth out the customer journey even more than it already is!
Tommy was brilliant at managing bookings, priding himself on his response times and our 5/5 feefo rating, and often second-guessing questions before customers even know they have them! He had lots of happy repeat customers, including many who would simply WhatsApp him direct to ask for boat availability!
His enthusiasm will be greatly missed on company trips away in the Med and the Caribbean (most recently to the Bahamas back in April, where the top pic was taken), as will his skill and patience when trying to moor up in fierce rain and howling winds!?
On top of his work at PlainSailing, he was a star in the local community too - he was a Scout Leader for over 20 years, helping thousands of kids, and co-founded the Marple Beer Run, which has raised in excess of £20,000 for local causes. There is a crowdfunder in his memory in aid of the local Scout group.
He leaves behind his wife Fallon and 4 gorgeous girls, the eldest just 8 years old. He really was taken far too soon. :(
He is a huge loss to the business, and will be greatly missed. We only hope that we can match his standards and do him proud into the future.
