FLETCH'S TIPS In loving memory of Barry Thompson

With heavy hearts, we share this month’s boating tips in memory of our dearly departed editor at large, Barry Thompson. Barry was not just a colleague but also a mentor and a cherished friend to both me and my family. His unwavering support was pivotal in motivating me to embark on the journey of writing Fletch’s Boat Tips for his magazine. He provided invaluable feedback and infused a dose of humour into our interactions, which contributed significantly to honing my journalism and writing skills. I will fondly remember Barry’s late-night phone calls, often punctuated by tales of keyboard mishaps or a mysteriously blank screen, usually right on deadline (Note: Double-check the power cord, Barry!).

There were moments when I dedicated weekends and evenings to teaching him the art of data backup and file retrieval, and over the years, he transformed into quite the tech-savvy enthusiast. I can’t help but smile when I recall the time Barry proudly set up a Google Drive to store all his files in the cloud, only to call me the next week in frustration, unable to recall his Google passwords and labelling it as a “stupid Google issue”. Barry’s absence leaves a void in our lives that cannot be filled. We will dearly miss his humour, his captivating boating stories, his sharp wit, his unwavering encouragement, his zest for life, and most importantly, his friendship.