It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Manchester entrepreneur Tommy Tognarelli, who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 41. Tognarelli co-founded PlainSailing.com with his twin brother Adi in 2013 to make the booking of sailing holidays easier. The platform enables customers to search and book a yacht or catamaran in various destinations such as Greece, Croatia, the Mediterranean, or Caribbean.
In a statement, the company expressed its heartfelt condolences, “Tommy was an integral member of our company, providing leadership and valuable insights that helped transform the website into what it is today. We had many plans for the future, including expanding our cruising grounds in Australia and Thailand, and launching an app to simplify the booking process for our customers. Additionally, we wanted to use AI to enhance our customers’ experience and provide excellent service.”
Tommy was a booking expert who prided himself on his quick response times and understood his customers’ needs before they even knew it. He left his customers satisfied with their experience and even received direct WhatsApp messages from repeat customers asking for boat availability. His enthusiasm, skill, and patience will be missed on company trips and his ability to moor up in challenging weather conditions.
Outside of the business, Tommy had an active role in his community in Stockport, where he served as a Scout Leader for over 20 years. He helped many children and co-founded the Marple Beer Run, which raised over £20,000 for local causes. Tommy leaves behind his wife Fallon and four daughters, the eldest just eight years of age. To honor his memory, a Crowdfunder has been set up to support the local Scout group.
We are deeply saddened by his passing and grateful for his contributions to our company and community.
