TLC Yachts LLC is happy to announce that Michael Tamulaites has joined the management team at TLC. As marketing manager he will be working with Tim Jackett and the Tartan and Legacy dealer networks to promote both the Tartan and Legacy brands through public relations, social media, advertising, boat shows and special promotions. As brand manager for the custom division of TLC, Michael will don his sales cap and work to bring in custom projects both new and re-fit to the growing company. Michael’s vast marine industry experience and creative intuition will be a boost to both existing brands and help launch the custom division.
“Michael impressed us with his creativity and marine knowledge years ago when he was our ad rep for Cruising World and Sailing World publications,” according to Jackett, “so much so that we hired him away in 2003. Although our paths diverged for a time we stayed in touch and feel this is the right time to bring him back into the Tartan and Legacy families.”
“Tim and Rob Fuller are growing a great boatbuilding company for the future based on an incredible history,” Tamulaites observed. “They are stars in the industry and know that smart growth is the best growth. Putting such wonderful brands as Tartan and Legacy under the TLC umbrella is genius. And being able to look at ideas from current owners of both brands and even other designers through a non-production lens is exciting.”
Michael’s first taste of leaving the Naples, Florida beach he grew up on, under sail, was in a “Kool” styrofoam, lateen-rigged, death-trap of a 12-footer. But it was his mother, who re-injured her back skydiving after 90+ safe landings, and was looking for an adventurous way to meet people that wouldn’t be so death-related, who took the three-member family (Mom, Michael and younger sister, Karen) down the sailing rabbit hole. Starting with a battered rental-fleet Sunfish and a Coast Guard sailing course, mom and Michael took off and became completely hooked. Sis, not so much. Michael crewed locally for two amazing men who were very strong influences in sailing and life. From PHRF to IOR, Sunfish and Lasers to Olympic Finn, Michael sailed anywhere and everywhere through high school, college and the 1988 Olympic Trials.
“When my mom got me into sailing as a kid, our first “ride” was a Tartan 27 name “Finesse,” Tamulaites reminisced. “She raced aboard, doing bow, and then one summer we, my mom, sister and me, were invited to race aboard her at Abaco Race Week in the Bahamas. What an incredible experience, and ever since, I’ve been hooked on Tartans. When I met Tim during a SAIL Magazine Rally in the Bahamas he impressed me with his cool confidence in carrying the brand into the future. Now this was in the 1990s so that impression was really spot on!”
Boston Whalers equated to the land-based freedom flights of go-carts and minibikes for water-saturated Neapolitan kids. The mangrove channels between Naples and Marco Island were hide-and-seek wonders with the odd rusty barge to investigate for inquisitive ignorant youth. They were incredible skiing and fishing venues as teenagers and beautiful cruising areas with parents on all manner of production and custom power cruisers. Although sailing put Michael on the water, anything that floated taught him valuable life lessons and opened his eyes to the wonder of water-based life.
“As much as I love sailing, it sure is nice sometimes to hit a few buttons and start cruising at speed to a favorite beach or harbor. Day long and long term cruising under power will continue to grow and I know that Legacy is going to grow along with it. I’ve followed the brand though its life and appreciate Mark Ellis’ fine designer’s eye. As he has done with Tartan, Tim will massage the Legacy brand with his intelligent influences and the rewards of his involvement will be obvious. The Legacy brand is in very good hands now and going forward.”
Through his marine industry career, Michael followed leads like playing wind shifts. Starting as a young editor at SAIL Magazine, he has alternated between boatbuilding and national magazine work for over 25 years. Every tack has been filled with rewarding experiences and excellent people who have shared their incredible knowledge freely. Currently living in Bristol, Rhode Island, with his wife, two teenaged sons, a crazy dog and “way too many boats,” Michael has landed right where he belongs.
Michael will remain based in Bristol, Rhode Island, and can be reached at michaelt@tartanyachts.com or 401.835.4437.
