It is with great sadness that we must report the unexpected passing of Boguslaw (Bugsy) Gedlek at the age of 75, a founding partner of BOAT International and its staff photographer from the first publication in 1983 until his retirement.
Bugsy trained as a lithographic printer and initially oversaw the production of the fledgling magazine, but soon discovered an innate ability to capture the very essence of a superyacht on film. His photographs - splashed on the cover or printed across double pages in full colour at a time when other yachting magazines were publishing small black-and-white images - were able to widen the appeal of superyachts and assist in the growth of the industry that designed and built them.
Designer Andrew Winch of Winch Design recalls: “Jane and I were shocked and very sad to hear that we had lost our friend Bugsy. He was a unique ‘one off’, leading the field in yacht photography. From the earliest days, he built the portfolio of Winch projects, always chasing that perfect Boat International cover or double-page spread. His images not only defined the magazine but also captured the dreams of designers and owners alike. I miss his laugh, his huge energy to shoot all night, to capture that sunrise or sunset, and his ability to always celebrate with us after that last shot. It remains in my mind, with so many others, why Bugsy was the king of the new superyacht photography. Jane and I and all his friends at Winch Design miss him deeply and send his family our love and condolences."
Always larger than life and with a mischievous sense of humour, he became famous not only for his photography, but also for the vast quantity of photographic baggage that he carried to destinations all around the world - and perhaps infamous to airline check-in desks for concealing the weight of it all. But it was always squeezed aboard somehow, and the job was successfully completed to meet the magazine’s deadline.
Superyacht owner Colin Griffinson remembers first meeting Bugsy by chance at a hotel in Antigua, where a shared dinner led to a lifelong friendship. He recalled: “I first met Bugsy at the yacht show in the early 2000s. We ended up sharing dinner and talking late into the night about our music backgrounds. Only the next day did I learn he was Boat International’s photographer. Not long after, he came to Vancouver to shoot my yacht, Pacific Yellowfin, which went on to feature in several articles and the 2007 refit book. Bugsy and I became good friends, and I was very sad to hear of his passing. But I know wherever he is, he’ll be playing the drums and taking photos of whatever is about.”
On retirement, Gedlek settled in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, where he followed his hobbies of walking and cycling the surrounding hills, along with his long-time dedication to performance cars and music, all of which he illustrated with his photographs.
He is survived by his ex-wife, Beverley, their daughter Alexandra and Jonathan, their son. An all-round good-guy, he will be sadly missed by his family and friends. The date of the funeral will be announced shortly.