Yesterday morning I drove past Hatteras Harbor Marina on my way to work and noticed almost all the boats were at the dock. The Captains and Mates that were around were working hard on boat maintence and projects. They were tied up at the dock instead of out fishing because the wind was blowing and blowing pretty hard. It made me think about Cap’n B. He would not have been tied up unless that weather had a name, as in a Hurricane name. It would have been rough, it might have been scary, and the charter party would probably be seasick, but the Cap’n B, with Captain Bernice Ballance at the helm, would be out fishing. He was one of the toughest guys I know.
Our island has a heavy heart this week, though, because Cap’n B will not be fishing with us anymore. Last weekend he “crossed the bar” and we will miss him. He was one of the few people I knew who always had a smile for you. He was fun to be around and be with. He fished hard all through the years on his charter boat, the Cap’n B, he was a businessman and veteran. He enjoyed his friends, enjoyed life, loved his island and loved his family. Hatteras Island will not be the same without him, and I hope when we think of him we remember all the great times he brought to us. Godspeed, Captain B.