Bruce Tulio: Man of Leisure, Man of Action

You would think that, in his work as a spokesperson for the PADI scuba diving association, as well as his frequent participation in said sport, Bruce Tulio would get more than his fair share of time in the water. Likewise, you would think that flying a plane and driving a Ferrari would be more than enough thrills for one man. But if you have learned anything about Bruce Tulio, it is surely that this is a man of unending curiosity. And to be certain, his passions know no end—which is probably the best way of explaining how he finds the time to be a sailor.

And let us be clear in saying that, when we refer to Bruce Tulio as a sailor, we are not simply saying that he likes spending weekends on the lake, enjoying quiet and leisure time in his own boat. No, he is a competitive sailor. His participation in competitive sailing races has led him to some hazardous situations—and that, of course, is probably a big part of what makes it thrilling!

In particular, Bruce Tulio is a former participant in the Newport Bermuda Race. If you’re not up on this exciting, competitive event—truly one of the premier competitions in the sailing world—here are a few quick bullet points:

• The Newport Bermuda Race is a 635-mile race on the ocean, largely out of sight of land; it usually lasts anywhere from three days to a full week. It crosses a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean known for challenging weather, especially in the Gulf Stream, where there are strong currents and various hazards that keep the sailors on edge, and on their toes!
• The race is held every other year; it is conducted in June, and there are usually more than 180 boats in the race.
• Roughly 90 % of the boats have amateur crews comprised of friends and family members, all in keeping with a century-long tradition of sportsmanship and accessibility to anyone who wants to participate in the world of competitive sailing!

Obviously, the race is a big deal—and clearly, it has enough thrills and intrigue to make it entirely up Bruce Tulio’s alley!

In modern America, we tend to have a pretty fuzzy idea of exactly what it means to be a knight. Part of it, of course, is because the nobility is simply something we don’t have in our nation, at least not officially. Another part of it, though, is that we tend to get mixed signals. For instance, we know that many brave, gallant soldiers and national heroes have been knighted, throughout history, for their service to queen and country. We know also that entertainers—everyone from Elton John to Mick Jagger—are given knighthoods. And that’s not to say that all of these people aren’t worthy—it’s just that, well, what does it all mean, anyway?

That’s a fair question, but perhaps a bit of a broad one. The truth is, knighthood is something that can mean a lot of different things. Countries all over Europe bestow knighthoods, and they do so for a variety of different reasons. The bottom line is simply this: Being named a knight is a symbol of great prestige. It is not something to be taken lightly, but something to be revered.

Such is the case with Bruce Tulio. Yes, believe it or not, this man has been knighted—and that’s not even the most impressive part. What really amazes is that Bruce Tulio has been knighted twice, in two separate countries!

Here’s a quick rundown on the two honors Bruce Tulio has received:

• He is an Honorary Knight of Gruyere Castle, in Switzerland. This incredible, towering structure was constructed in 1282, and was originally used as a fortress!
• Additionally, Bruce Tulio received the full Warranted Legal Title of Knighthood of Aquataine Province, France. The Grand Duke Thomas II bestowed his full title, Sir Bruce Anthony Tulio.

How many American men do you know who have been knighted twice over? In fact, how many men do you know who have been knighted at all? Clearly, it’s a formidable achievement, but it’s not something Bruce Tulio boasts of; it’s simply one of the many stories he has from his fascinating life of leisure and social action.

There is an advertisement campaign that you’re probably familiar with—one that wonders what kind of libation the “most interesting man in the world” might seek. It is probably not quite appropriate to suggest that Bruce Tulio is the world’s most interesting man, and yet it’s hard not to think of him when that phrase pops up. While he may not be famous, and he may not do anything that is truly one-of-a-kind, the sheer diversity of interests, passions, and curiosities maintained by Bruce Tulio is truly a wonder to behold, and it goes a long way toward making the case that he is, in fact, quite an interesting fellow.

As for what Bruce Tulio does for a living, that’s less important; suffice to say he is a businessman who has found success for himself. But what really sets him apart is what he does outside the office. Consider, if you will, this partial list of hobbies of Bruce Tulio:

• He is a licensed pilot, and enjoys flying his own small, personal plane.
• He is passionate bout scuba diving—so passionate, in fact, that he once worked as a spokesperson for one of the world’s most respected diving training centers!
• He has been knighted—not once, but twice, and in two separate countries!
• He is a Ferrari enthusiast.
• He is a competitive sailor.
• He loves to surf.

And those activities only account for what Bruce Tulio does in his leisure time; in reality, though, he puts a great deal of his passion to work in the service of various worthy, charitable causes. Among them:

• Coaching various Little League sports teams.
• Fundraising for various private academic institutions.
• Campaigning to have Windsor Castle spared from fire damage—actions that led to a personalized letter of thanks from the Queen herself!

So as you can see, Bruce Tulio is into, well, a little bit of everything. And to each of these activities he devotes himself singularly. That’s what makes him, if not quite the most interesting man in the world, at least somebody worth knowing about!