2008 OLYMPIC SAILOR TO SERVE AS SPOKESPERSON
FOR THE MELANOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
By Lynn Fitzpatrick
08-04-18

-John Dane III Committed to Raising Awareness for the Melanoma Research Foundation-

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), the largest private, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States, today announced John Dane III, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team, will serve as a national spokesperson for the organization, promoting melanoma awareness, prevention and early detection.

A life-long sailor, Dane's Olympic pursuit began in 1968 when he sailed his first Olympic Trials.  He tried to make the U.S. Olympic Team seven times.  After nearly 40 years, Dane has achieved his dream of winning the U.S. Olympic Sailing Trials in the Men's Keelboat discipline. He will be competing in the sailing portion of the 2008 Olympics in Qingdao, China from Aug. 8-24, 2008.

Dane began his career at Halter Marine Group in 1974 as a program manager, and in 1988 founded Trinity Yachts as a division of the Trinity Marine Group which he was the President. Today, Dane, 57, is President and CEO of Trinity Yachts, one of the world's leading builders of mega-yachts, and majority owner of United States Marine, Inc., which builds high-tech patrol boats for the U.S. Navy and other navies around the world.

"We are grateful for John's commitment to melanoma awareness and hope our partnership will raise the profile of this serious disease," said Linda Pilkington, Executive Director, Melanoma Research Foundation. "There is a strong need for increased melanoma research to find effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma, and we hope John's efforts will help make a difference by supporting world-class research."

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, is one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S., and can strike people of all ages, all races and both sexes. One in 50 people have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma. In fact, in 2008, more than 62,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with invasive melanoma, resulting in an estimated 8,400 deaths. The MRF, committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma, educates patients and physicians about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. The MRF also acts as an advocate for the melanoma community to raise awareness of this disease and the need for a cure.

"The best way to prevent melanoma is to protect yourself from the sun," said Dane. "As a sailor who spends a lot of time in the sun, I know the importance of wearing sunscreen with a high SPF and to re-apply every two hours. I'm thrilled to be part of the MRF's efforts to educate others about prevention and the importance of research."

For more information about melanoma or the MRF, please visit www.melanoma.org.

About the Melanoma Research Foundation

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Launching Dreams of All Proportions
By Lynn Fitzpatrick
08-03-21

For some people in this world having a roof over your head and being able to provide for your family is a dream, for others having a positive role model to help you through tough times is a dream and for yet others representing your country at the Olympics is a dream.  Everything about John Dane III is larger than life.  His dreams are ambitious and his efforts to help others achieve their dreams are even more far-reaching and supportive.

This July, as he rids himself of jet lag and acclimates to the living conditions at the Olympic Sailing venue in Qingdao, China, Dane will celebrate his 58th birthday.  Yes, at 58, he will be pinching himself about coming so close to achieving a life long dream of being in the Olympics.  Dane's Olympic pursuit started in 1968 when he sailed his first Olympic Trials in the Dragon with OJ Young.  Young and Dane finished second to the boat skippered by Buddy Friedrichs; the boat that went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal that year.  At 18, young Dane learned some important lessons.  Not only did he realize what it would take to compete at the highest level, but he also realized how important having mentors such as sailing legends Gilbert Gray, Buddy Friedrichs, Barton Jahncke and Click Schreck were to helping him achieve those dreams. 

John soaked up everything that he could from his sailing mentors and applied the lessons to his educational, civic, family and sailing communities.  A native of New Orleans, Dane earned his B.S. and his Ph.D. in civil engineering at Tulane University.  A three-time All American Sailor and the 1968 Intercollegiate Sailor of the Year, Dane has continued to support Tulane University as a board member to the University's Presidents' Counsel and an advisor to the School of Engineering.

A Southerner through and through, Dane's business career started in New Orleans, prospered, was decimated by Hurricane Katrina and rose like a phoenix to lead the Mississippi Gulf Coast revival.  Dane is not a dabbler.  His shipyards and maritime interests have developed into one of the largest builders of luxury yachts in the world, Trinity Yachts.  His other business, United States Marine, Inc. builds high tech patrol boats for the US Navy and other navies around the world.  When Hurricane Katrina flooded Trinity's New Orleans shipyard, Dane led his partners in making the bold move to quickly relocate their operations to Gulfport, Mississippi.  Trinity set up a 1-800 number and wired $1,500 to every one of its 500 employees who called in.  The company ordered 100 mobile homes and quickly went to work providing the infrastructure for the new housing and boat building community.

While he put the pieces of his business back together, Dane lived with twelve other members of his family aboard a houseboat that he has owned for 25 years.  The father of seven and grandfather of two worked 18-hour days for six months and set an example for all including his son-in-law and US Olympic teammate, Austin Sperry.  Sperry sings praises of Dane's work ethic and is forever "indebted to him for showing (me) what it takes to be ultra successful."  Dane's businesses have flourished since Hurricane Katrina.  Between direct employees and sub contractors, their employment has doubled to over 1,000 employees and their work orders have nearly tripled. 

Dane's own mentoring program reaches well beyond his family, crew and employees.  Trinity Yachts has been helping dreams come true in Broward County, Florida for years with their support of the Boys and Girls Clubs.  Their support has fostered high quality relationships between children and caring, well-trained adults.  The efforts extend throughout the county and provide positive role models for at-risk youth. 

With a trustworthy and capable team minding the shop, Dane and Sperry, have the resources and have carved out the time to develop a strong Olympic sailing effort.  Their campaign, complete with several coaches and trainers, multiple Star boats and support boats and lots of fans wearing the classic Trinity Yachts baseball cap is leaving no stone unturned as it approaches the Olympics.  Remembering what it was like to "be living out of a van and not having a pot to piss in" during one of his earliest Olympic campaigns, Dane also made a generous contribution to the US Olympic Sailing Team in 2007.

John Dane III Adds Another Boat to His Fleet
By Lynn Fitzpatrick

John Dane III and Leslie, his wife	Olympic Gold Medalist, Magnus Liljedahl and John Dane III

John Dane III was honored by Shake-a-Leg Miami; Miami's all inclusive sailing facility and the winter training hub for many of the world's paralympians, as a dream launcher.  This Saturday night, over 450 supporters enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres under the stars, an elaborate dinner in the historic Coast Guard hangar, live and silent auctions.  Dane, whose boatyards are busy building 124-foot to 240-foot mega yachts, added to his flotilla, that includes the custom RIB, Medal Chaser, by outbidding all others for a two-person kayak.

Shortly after his 58th birthday, Dane will head to China to vie for an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2008 Games in Qingdao, China.  Dane has been trying to achieve his dream of going to the Olympics for over 40 years.  His dream came true last year when he won the closely contested US Olympic Trials in the Men's Keelboat.  Dane was joined by fellow Star sailors, family and colleagues from the yachting world in celebrating Shake-a-Leg Miami's accomplishments.  The organization is unequaled in making Biscayne Bay accessible to young and old, able bodied and disabled and financially challenged individuals.

Dane, the CEO and President of one of the world's largest luxury yacht makers, Trinity Yachts, applauded Harry Horgan, President of Shake-a-Leg Miami, his colleagues and cadre of volunteers for the work that they have done.  Dane, who is very involved with Broward County's Boy's and Girl's Clubs and their waterfront programs, encouraged everyone to support these community-based waterfront programs. 

Magnus Liljedahl introduced Dane to Shake-a-Leg Miami.  Liljedahl has one thing that John Dane III has on his list of most sought after items — an Olympic Gold Medal in the Men's Keelboat.  Liljedahl's program, Team Paradise, assists aspiring Paralympians with coaching and support from Olympians and elite sailors.

Liljedahl is retired from racing Stars, but he will be out on Biscayne Bay watching the 2008 Star World Championships and keeping a close eye on the US's 2008 Olympic representatives and more than 200 sailors from 30 countries who will be vying for the championship title and the final Olympic berths.  For up to date regatta coverage, please visit www.StarClass.org and www.StarWorlds2008.com.  Starting Wednesday, look for additional in depth coverage of the 2008 Star World Championships at www.WorldRegattas.com.

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