Vespoli USA

INNOVATION 
 Vespoli's innovative spirit was born long before founder Mike Vespoli opened shop in Hamden, Connecticut in 1980. Mike, whose rowing career included a walk-on role at Georgetown University and gold at the 1974 World Championship Eight, was a heralded coach and advocate for the sport, serving the Olympic men's sculling team and paving the way for Wichita State's first rowing program. 

 Working in both elite and small club rowing environments made the need for affordable, first-class equipment abundantly clear to Mike. Fate and opportunity came together in 1977, when he discovered a revolutionary boat at Henley-Upon-Thames: U.K.-based Carbocraft's carbon fiber, honeycomb-core hulls. 

 Mike began importing Carbocraft boats the following year, becoming the first U.S. agent for the company and the harbinger of carbon fiber racing technology to America. Carbocraft was the first company to adapt aerospace materials and construction techniques to boat building.