By Ellen B. Sanpere

PUERTO LA CRUZ – As was their custom, María Eugenia had driven her husband, Pierre, to start the workweek when violence struck just outside the PR Yacht Services gate at Marina Bahia Redonda in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

Yard owner Pierre Roelens, 53, and his wife of 26 years, María Eugenia Cañes, 45, were shot to death at about 8:30 a.m. on June 12. She ran out of the car and was hit in the back; he was shot in the chest through the car windscreen.

Boatyard and marina personnel, friends, yachties and clients were in shock as word got around. Not one could think of anybody who would want this beautiful couple dead. One friend, however, said that Pierre had been worried about something in the days before his murder and mentioned leaving the country for a few weeks.

Two days later, rumors abounded about possible reasons for the shootings as those who knew Pierre and María Eugenia gathered for the double funeral. Colleagues believe the murders weren’t random, but police had no comment on the motive and were still looking for the shooters.

Buses were hired to take friends to the viewing and cemetery. Employees wearing yellow PR Services shirts carried the two carved wooden caskets from the hearses. After the ceremony, tropical floral arrangements formed a mountain over the couple’s grave.

Newly widowed, Pierre’s mother flew in from France, his brother from Grenada. María Eugenia’s family came from the state of Táchira, south of Mérida. Their sons, 7 and 15, were with friends and did not attend the funeral.

Pierre shined as a man with the desire and the means to make the Puerto La Cruz experience a good one for any cruising boat needing service. María Eugenia brought genuine grace and beauty to those endeavors.

Seeing a need for more catamaran marina space, he opened a Catamarina in Lecheria just weeks before his death. When friends started Fundación La Tortuga to help the environment in the islands near Puerto La Cruz, Pierre donated space and a haul-out to restore an old 44-foot Hatteras for research and beach clean-up projects. Many of the cruising community knew and admired Pierre, even after hauling out in his boatyard.

Aside from his work, Pierre loved racing his S&S 39 Kemy III. To promote Puerto La Cruz as a destination, he initiated the Clásico Regatta in 2004. Last year, 37 competitors raced in the two-day event. Racers and non-racers with boats were encouraged to “dress ship” and come party Saturday night. When asked how he’d improve the race in 2006, he said, “better party – more beer – champagne!”

Race committee Chairman Andrés Ivanyi says the 2006 regatta will take place as scheduled on Oct. 7-8. Pierre’s boatyard crew plans to race Kemy III in his memory. Yard manager Rolando Palacios will continue Pierre’s dream of bringing boats and their crews to Puerto La Cruz for competition, fun and friendship. Boats scheduled for work in the yard will see no change, except for a little less cigar smoke in the late afternoon air.

Ellen B. Sanpere is a regular contributor to The Triton. Her last story about Montserrat appears on page A39. Reach her through editorial@the-triton.com.

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