Professional Bios

Arbutus Marine is:

  • John Johnstone, owner and primary surveyor
  • Ugo Fritsch, associate surveyor

Ugo better

John Johnstone is an ABYC Certified Advisor with accreditation in ABYC Standards, Systems, and Electrical.  John has worked in the marine industry since 1996, including with Canadian Coast Guard (1996 to 2003) and with Transport Canada Marine Safety (2003 to 2007). During this time, he completed over 800 pleasure craft inspections and was a team lead for multiple accident investigations in partnership with various government agencies.

Highlights

  • professional project manager (PMP) with a specialization in strategic leadership from University of British Columbia
  • holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Finance
  • project team member on a $10M refit on a 165 ft Prini-Navi mega-yacht in New Zealand
  • 500 days of commercial sea time on small vessels (<60 tons)
  • ocean and coastal yacht delivery experience
  • over 25 years of extensive racing and cruising on North American Atlantic and Pacific coasts
  • logistics, tactics, and safety lead on a 1968 C&C 41 sailboat in the Vic-Maui 2014 yacht race
  • delivery crew member for TP-52 – Vic-Maui 2018 – Maui to Victoria
  • previous member of the Vic-Maui 2016 and 2018 organizing committee
  • member of the Vancouver Rowing Club (since 2006), including Fleet Captain in 2007
  • completed Canadian Power and Sail Squadron courses up to and including celestial navigation
  • Canadian Power and Sail Squadron lead instructor for 14 week piloting course

Specializations

  • Pleasure Craft Marine Inspections and Surveys
  • Small Craft Financial Assessment
  • Project Management and Report Development

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Ugo Fritsch, originally from France, landed in Halifax in 2012 before settling down in Vancouver later that year, after a cross-country trip. He has worked in the marine industry since 2003,  as a marine carpenter, professional skipper and sailing instructor for the French Sea Scouts associations.

As a marine carpenter, he studied his trade at the French school Les Ateliers de l’Enfer in Douarnenez, Brittany. He worked on the 80-foot sailing barge L’Audiernais during her full restoration (1998-2004), was in charge of the interior construction of the 50-foot polar explorer motor yacht Sila Inua in 2011 and of the restoration of the 60-foot old gaffer Les 2 Frères during the years 2011-2012.
As a professional skipper, he completed numerous deliveries throughout France, took a 40-foot sailing boat from Martinique to Europe. Before conveying the 70-foot sailing yacht Image’In from Oregon to French Polynesia in 2015, he was responsible for coordinating and verifying all the refits done by the owners.
Highlights
  • Offshore yacht deliveries from BC to French Polynesia, from Martinique to Europe
  • Involved in racing and cruising in France and on the West Coast for the last 15 years.
Specializations
  • Yachtmaster offshore with commercial endorsement, (R.Y.A./M.C.A. – U.K.) delivered in 2011
  • Marine Carpenter, graduated in 2008
  • Sailing instructor for the French Sea Scouts (2003 – 2012)

Professional Recreational Marine Surveys

UA-73738599-1