Trevor Otto Thomas did not hesitate when the call came to go to the aid of a yacht crew, drifting rudderless in heavy seas, far out into the ocean. He helped save their lives. Three months later, no one was able to save Trevor’s life. He was found dead a few hours after being reported missing on Monday, 15 December 2014. BRUCE SALT has paid a personal tribute in a message to friends, kindly shared here – with some of Bruce’s pictures.
It’s amazing to see the amount of emails I’ve received from folk around the world who had either come into contact with Trevor, or had heard of him.
I had the pleasure of knowing him on a personal level for the past 27 years.
Many have inquired as to the cause of death, as they remembered him as being a well manicured, fit, agile and intelligent gentleman who backed down from no man, and as a commercial fisherman has weathered many a storm both coastal and deep sea.
Not only was he a very successful commercial fisherman but a fine navigator and skipper of the MFV Westerdam (a Purse Seine trawler) and in between time his own inshore boat the Catfish.
In 2013/2014 he played a frontline role in the acquisition of the Australian-built 22m Westcoaster Longline Tuna fishing vessel the Extractor from Hout Bay, and sailed her to her new owners on St Helena Island, where he resided with his wife.
Apart from his passion for boats, he also loved stripping and rebuilding engines, especially diesels, with clinical cleanliness and precision. He also drew enormous pleasure from making equipment work again after it had been pronounced dead by its owners.
Ninety five percent of his projects were churned out from the porch of his flat in Jamestown, an area of miniscule proportions (perhaps eight feet long by five feet wide).
Rest in Peace Trevor
9 July 1953 – 14 December 2014
Regards
Bruce
SEE ALSO: Sailing for St Helena with a floorboard for a rudder
