Victor Tchetchet

Victor Tchetchet (1891–1974) was a pioneering early modern multihull sailboat designer from the Ukraine who is thought to have coined the term 'trimaran',[1] though Éric de Bisschop built a trimaran in France earlier.

Lona Andre, painted by Victor Tchetchet (1934)

Born in Kiev, Victor was inspired by South Pacific outriggers to connect two 18 ft (5.5 m) canoes to make a catamaran and enter the Kiev Imperial Yacht Club's local races. After winning, he was disqualified.[1]

In 1923 Tchetchet emigrated to New York City and further experimented with catamarans and trimarans.[1] In 1945 he launched his first trimaran, of 24 ft (7.3 m) length.[1]

Tchetchet entered the Marblehead Race Week in 1946. Despite a poor performance, his participation helped to overcome the local prejudice against multihulls after Nathanael Herreshoff's 1876 win with the catamaran Amaryllis at the New York Yacht Club's Centennial Regatta.[1] In the same year, he established the International Multihull Boat Racing Association.[1]