Wednesday, 4 February: It is with huge sadness that we have learned of the death of one our favourite sons, Siegfried 'Ziggy' Boettle, and on behalf of everyone in the sport we express our sincere sympathies to his family.

Ziggy was an institution in the sport while serving over 40 years as one of Outboard Marine Corporation's (OMC) top engineers on virtually all of their outboard motor product development projects over the past five decades.

"Ziggy, has devoted his time over the years to powerboat racing community whether it be local, national or international in scope. He began his service in the UIM F1 community back in 1996 as their technical commissioner as a representative of the UIM regarding legalities of all racers throughout a weekend when it came to their racing equipment including race engines.

The native of Gurnee, Illinois in North America has served many years with the UIM international governing body and is currently the head of the "Safety Cockpit Committee" and the Formula One Committee. He also has been a longtime APBA (American Power Boat Association) Club Chairman for Region 7 and head of the Great Lake Boat Club outside Chicago.

In 2011 he became one of an elite 'band of brothers' to be voted into the F1H2O Hall of Fame.

Ziggy will be greatly missed by us all.