View source for Pelle Petterson

{{short description|Swedish sailor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox sailor
| name=Pelle Petterson
| image=Pelle P June2010.jpg
| imagesize=
| caption =Pelle Petterson in June 2010
| fullname = Pelle Helmer Petterson
| nicknames =
| classes = [[Star (sailboat)|Star]], [[Soling]], 6 Metre, [[12-metre class|12 Metre]]
| club = Kattegattflottiljen
| collegeteam = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1932|07|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = 
| weight = 
| retired = 
| medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport|[[Sailing at the Summer Olympics|Sailing]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{SWE}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]] | [[Sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Star class]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo]] | [[Sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Star class]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalGold|[[Star World Championship|1969 San Diego]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|1977 Marstrand|6 Metre class}}
{{MedalGold|1979 Seattle|6 Metre class}}
{{MedalGold|1983 Newport|6 Metre class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Soling World Championship results (1969–79)#1969 Final results|1969 Copenhagen]]|Soling}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Star World Championship|1974 Laredo]]|Star class}}
}}

'''Pelle Helmer Petterson''' (born 31 July 1932) is a Swedish [[Yacht racing|sailor]] and yacht designer. Petterson has won two Olympic medals, four world championship titles, challenged for the [[America's Cup]] and designed several sailboats, including [[Maxi 77]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
Pelle Petterson was born in Stockholm, Sweden on 31 July 1932<ref name=sok>{{cite web | url=https://sok.se/idrottare/idrottare/p/pelle-petterson.html |title=Pelle Petterson | work=Swedish Olympic Committee }}</ref> to [[Helmer Petterson]] and Norwegian-born Borgny Petterson (born Holm). His father was also a designer who developed wood gas aggregates and [[Volvo PV444]], strongly influencing his son to go in his footsteps. In his youth, Petterson built gravity racers and sailed in the [[Stjärnbåt]] class.<ref name=att-finna/>

===Design career===
[[File:Maxi 77 front.jpg|thumb|A [[Maxi 77]], designed by Petterson]]
[[File:A wednesday evening race with 606 boats is about to begin at ÅSS, Mariehamn, Åland. (28051030183).jpg|thumb|[[Monark 606]]s, designed by Petterson]]
[[File:Volvop18395va1961front.jpg|thumb|A [[Volvo P1800]], designed by Petterson]]
Petterson studied at the [[Pratt Institute]] in New York from 1955 to 1957.<ref name=fyller-90-aar>{{cite web | url=https://norrahalland.se/familj/seglaren-pelle-petterson-fyller-90-aar/30722 | title=Seglaren Pelle Petterson fyller 90 år | newspaper=Norra Halland | first=Ronny | last=Karlsson}}</ref> He designed the [[12 Metre|12 mR yacht]] ''[[Sverige (yacht)|Sverige]]'', 17 [[6 Metre|6 mR]] yachts, and worked with [[Maxi (yard)|Maxi]], [[Nimbus (yard)|Nimbus]] and [[Monark Crescent]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/lång/pelle-petterson | title=Pelle Petterson |website=[[Nationalencyklopedin]] }}</ref> The Maxi series comprise about 30 designs, among them the [[Maxi 77]].<ref name=att-finna>{{cite web | url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/att-finna-sin-form/ | archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20161009115223/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/att-finna-sin-form/ | archive-date=9 October 2016 | title=Att finna sin form | work=Dagens Nyheter | date=29 July 2016 | first=Carin | last=Ståhlberg }}</ref> He has also designed the sailboats [[Monark 606]] and [[C 55 (sailboat)|C 55]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.svensksegling.se/svenskaseglarforbundet/utmarkelser/Halloffame/PellePettersson/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814235312/https://www.svensksegling.se/svenskaseglarforbundet/utmarkelser/Halloffame/PellePettersson/ | archive-date=14 August 2020 | title=Pelle Pettersson |work=[[Swedish Sailing Federation]] | first=Elke | last=Cronenberg }}</ref> In 2003, he designed the [[Swedish Match 40]] for [[match racing]] events.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/new-petterson-design-for-swedish-match-42224 | title=New Petterson design for Swedish Match | date=3 July 2003 | magazine=[[Yachting World]] }}</ref>

He also designed [[Volvo Cars|Volvo]]'s successful sports car, the [[Volvo P1800|P1800]], while he was a student of [[Pietro Frua]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lasse |last=Swärd |title=Volvo ger upprättelse åt P1800:s skapare |trans-title=Volvo provide redress to the P1800's creator |url=http://www.alltommotor.se/artiklar/nyheter/volvo-ger-upprattelse-at-p1800s-skapare-1.17745 |work=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |date=8 November 2009 |access-date=8 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109033814/http://www.alltommotor.se/artiklar/nyheter/volvo-ger-upprattelse-at-p1800s-skapare-1.17745 |archive-date=9 November 2009 }}</ref>

===Sailing career===
Competing in the [[Sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Star|Star class]], Petterson won a bronze in 1964 together with [[Holger Sundström]].<ref name=olympedia>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/63292 |title=Pelle Petterson |work=Olympedia |access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref> He held the world title in this event in 1969, when he won the [[1969 Star World Championship]] in [[San Diego]] together with [[Ulf Schröder]].<ref name=fyller-90-aar/>

In 1972, Petterson was back at the Olympics, again competing in the [[Sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Star|Star class]], this time winning a silver medal.<ref name=olympedia/> Petterson, along with [[Stellan Westerdahl]], led the regatta after five races, but struggles in the sixth race made [[David Forbes (sailor)|David Forbes]] of Australia winning the gold.<ref name=sok/>

With money from the [[Maxi 77]] design, and sponsored by [[SCA (company)|SCA]], [[Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken]] and Volvo, Petterson challenged for the [[America's Cup]] two times.<ref name=att-finna/> With the yacht ''[[Sverige (yacht)|Sverige]]'', Pettersons team competed in the [[1977 Herbert Pell Cup]] and [[1980 Herbert Pell Cup]], advancing to the final in the 1977 edition.<ref name=sok/>

In Sweden, Pettersson represented Kattegatflottiljen in [[Gothenburg]].<ref name=sok/>

==Personal life==
[[File:Pelle Petterson.jpg|thumb|Petterson in the 1960s]]
Pelle Petterson married Irene and has three children.<ref name=att-finna/> One of them, Cecilia, designs a sailing clothing and sports wear bearing the name Petterson, under the brand name ''Pelle P.''. His other daughter, Ulrika "Icka", lives in the U.S. and is married to [[Paul Cayard]], an American yachtsman and professional sailor.

Since 1975, Pelle Petterson and Irene are residing in [[Kullavik]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kungsbackaposten.se/nyheter/designlegendaren-pelle-pettersson-fyller-90-kanner-mig-som-40-ar-.bc0b6063-eef3-4085-901d-f14d90eb885d | title=Designlegendaren fyller 90: "Känner mig som 40" | date=30 July 2022 | first=Josefine | last=Johansson }}</ref>

==Awards==
Petterson was the first person to be inducted into the Swedish Sailing Hall of Fame.<ref name=sok/> On 14 May 2004 he received the Swedish Business Award for Outstanding Achievements of the first grade from the West Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Among previous recipients are [[Arvid Carlsson]] Nobel laureate, [[Ingvar Kamprad]] founder of Ikea and [[Pehr G. Gyllenhammar]] former CEO of Volvo.

On 19 November 2004 he received the KTH's Stora Pris from the [[Royal Institute of Technology]] in Stockholm.<ref>{{citation |title=KTHs Stora pris – Samtliga vinnare (KTH's Grand Prize – All the winners) |url=http://www.kth.se/om/fame/kths-stora-pris/1.3972 |work=[[Royal Institute of Technology|KTH]] |date=29 September 2009 |access-date=8 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206122004/http://www.kth.se/om/fame/kths-stora-pris/1.3972 |archive-date=6 December 2009 }}</ref>

On 8 June 2010 Petterson received from [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden]] the King's Medal (12th size bright-blue ribbon<ref>{{citation | title=HM King Carl XVI Gustaf Medals|url=http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/mediacentre/pressreleases/pressreleases/medalpresentations.5.130af452128eff9afdd80002267.html|date=8 June 2010|access-date=8 June 2010 }}</ref>) for outstanding contributions as a yachtsman and boat designer.

==Achievements==
{{updated|27 September 2015|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.sailing.org/sailors/biog.php?memberid=117175|title=Sailor Biography |work=members.sailing.org}}</ref>}}
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|NotesOff=y}}
|-
| 1964 || Olympic Games || [[Enoshima]], Japan ||style="background:#c96;"| 3rd || Star class
|-
| 1966 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Kiel]], West Germany || 7th || Star class
|-
| 1967 || [[Star World Championship]] || Copenhagen, Denmark || 5th || Star class
|-
|rowspan=2| 1969 || [[Star World Championship]] || San Diego, USA ||style="background:gold"| 1st || Star class
|-
| [[Soling World Championship]] || Copenhagen, DEN ||style="background:silver"| 2nd || Soling
|-
| 1970 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Marstrand]], Sweden || 13th || Star class
|-
| 1971 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Puget Sound]], USA || 7th || Star class
|-
|rowspan=2| 1972 || [[Star World Championship]] || Caracas, Venezuela || 4th || Star class
|-
| Olympic Games || [[Kiel]], West Germany ||style="background:silver"| 2nd || Star class
|-
| 1973 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[San Diego Bay]], USA || 8th || Star class
|-
| 1974 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Laredo, Cantabria|Laredo]], Spain ||style="background:silver"| 2nd || Star class
|-
| 1976 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], Bahamas || 8th || Star class
|-
| 1977 || [[6 Metre World Cup]] || [[Marstrand]], Sweden ||style="background:gold"| 1st || 6 Metre class
|-
| 1978 || [[Star World Championship]] || San Francisco, USA || 17th || Star class
|-
|rowspan=2| 1979 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Marstrand]], Sweden || 6th || Star class
|-
| [[6 Metre World Cup]] || Seattle, USA ||style="background:gold"| 1st || 6 Metre class
|-
| 1983 || [[6 Metre World Cup]] || [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]], USA ||style="background:gold"| 1st || 6 Metre class
|-
| 1995 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Laredo, Cantabria|Laredo]], Spain || 63rd || Star class
|-
| 1998 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Portorož]], Slovenia || 89th || Star class
|-
| 2009 || [[Star World Championship]] || [[Varberg]], Sweden || 61st || Star class
|}

==See also==
*[[Monark 540]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pellepetterson.se/ pellepetterson.se]
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com|pelle-petterson}}
* {{SOK profile}}
* {{World Sailing}}

{{Footer World Champions 6 Metre}}
{{Footer World Champions Star}}
{{Footer European Champions Star}}
{{Footer Swedish Champions Star}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petterson, Pelle}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Swedish male sailors (sport)]]
[[Category:Olympic sailors for Sweden]]
[[Category:Sailors at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Star]]
[[Category:Sailors at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Dragon]]
[[Category:Sailors at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Flying Dutchman]]
[[Category:Sailors at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Star]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Sweden]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Sweden]]
[[Category:Swedish automobile designers]]
[[Category:America's Cup yacht designers]]
[[Category:Swedish yacht designers]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in sailing]]
[[Category:Star class world champions]]
[[Category:6 Metre class sailors]]
[[Category:Volvo Ocean Race sailors]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1980 America's Cup sailors]]
[[Category:1977 America's Cup sailors]]
[[Category:World champions in sailing for Sweden]]
[[Category:Swedish people of Norwegian descent]]
[[Category:Sailors (sport) from Stockholm]]
[[Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen]]