RIP Captain Phil Smith

[danzante]

Captain Phil Smith, relief Captain on the UW R/V Thomas Thompson, died Tuesday, January 19, onboard the vessel as she was sailing off of Punta Arenas, Chile.

Phil was in one of the first BST courses I taught, and last year I had the pleasure of sailing with him again on the Thompson.

Although he had a gruff exterior (like a lot of old school sailors), he genuinely cared for his crew and would always stop to ask each and every one of them if things were going OK. The research fleet will miss him.

Fair winds and following seas.

[Jeffrox]

A good guy no doubt. He and I did a gig together as releif 2Mate and Captain on the RV Kiloa Moana back in Nov/Dec 2002. Sailor rest your oars....