Boat International is sad to report the death of Kemal Cambol, chairman and CEO of the Peri Yachts yard in Turkey, after a short illness. Cambol was aged 57.
As a passionate boatbuilder throughout his life, he eventually realised his dream of owning a full shipyard in 2005 when he set up Peri Yachts in the Antalya Free Zone in Turkey.
‘Peri Yachts is the embodiment of a childhood dream, becoming a vision in my late twenties,’ said Cambol, talking about the yard and his experiences before his death. ‘I started building yachts at the age of 13 when the US Navy left some boats behind after leaving their base close to the area I used to live. Taking moulds from these seven-metre boats with polyurethane and reproducing them was my first experience. I then committed myself to the steel industry with a successful family business; but this early experience led to a passion of over 30 years where I was producing different types of yachts from 28 metres, alongside continuing the steel business, until we established Peri Yachts.
‘Peri’s business philosophy was very clear from the beginning. We are a reliable company building exclusive yachts on budget and on time, providing assistance and well established after sales to its customers. Of course knowing that you are very good in quality and design is not enough. You have to become visible.’
Delivering eight yachts between 29 and 41 metres in five years and running four more projects at the shipyard was one part of the visibility. The other lay in Cambol’s commitment to building a strong brand. To achieve this he went the unusual path of being first global, then local. He hired a company based in Switzerland for brand managing and established the Peri France office in Antibes, before opening a Sales and Marketing Office in Istanbul in 2011.
Cambol is survived by his wife Fusun and daughter Ceylan who will continue his dedication.