Esther and I both knew Skipper Bob and Elaine well from our several year association with TrawlerFest events, first as co-presenters, and later as we were staff, and Bob was among the most popular of presenters that I could recruit in my position as Program Coordinator. Bob and Elaine were willing to drive nearly anywhere near the "Great Loop Cruise" route, and always filled the room to which they were assigned. Elaine always warned me well ahead of time that "We will need more chairs" and she was usually right! And she was always in the back of the room to quickly cover any omission that Bob might make. And, if the truth be known, on occasion she slightly inflated the number of tickets she collected and counted! They always were the table most in demand for lunches and dinners as everyone wanted to be able to have more time with Bob and Elaine. Both were most generous with their time as well as donations of Bob's books for our charity auctions, and they spent freely buying other's donations and supporting the local charity recipient. Bob's philosophy of cruising closely matched my own and Esther's. "Buy the smallest boat you can be comfortable on, not the largest one you can afford", was his mantra. I know of several couples who got into the life style without "Having to sell the farm" after listening to Bob's "Cruising on a Budget" talk. Bob was extraordinarily patient in dealing with the crowds in the "Vendor tent". Bob and Elaine, along with Claiborne Young, Fred and Joanie Myers, and Ron and Eva Stob often shared adjacent spaces in "The tent", and covered each other's space as needed. They all strongly supported first Georgs Kolesnikov, and later Jack and Millie Rose, in putting TrawlerFest on the boating map. Long distance coastal cruisers, Loopers, and others have lost a great friend, a wonderful resource, and an extraordinarily decent man. From another perspective, I suspect Bob would have been glad to pass on quickly and without long term complications, a feeling I share. I am very glad to hear that Elaine will continue the publication of the wonderfully informative and useful series of books that Bob initiated. I wish her well in that endeavor, and encourage cruisers to continue to update her on their observations. The last time I saw Bob, Esther and I were locked in Champlain Lock 2 in Mechanicville, NY, and he was researching the extent of damage from the floods in that area in late June 2006. Elaine was off on a "Red Hat Ladies" excursion. I sincerely hope she can continue to take the time to continue those kinds of fun activities! My heartfelt sympathies to Elaine and Bob's family. Dennis Dennis Bruckel, Cruising Editor Waterway Guide Formerly Program Coordinator, TrawlerFest Albin 27 Sadie B 407 414 0531 website www.debruckel.com