Lagoon Cove’s Bill Barber Dies at 78

Bill Barber

For the past 20 years or so, no cruise to the Broughtons was complete without a visit to Lagoon Cove Marina for a taste of the hospitality and charm of its owners, Bill and Jean Barber. Broughtons regulars were saddened to learn of Bill’s death in early April at age 78 after a recurrence of cancer.

Bill’s bottomless buckets of prawns, tall tales and laconic humour brought cruisers back to Lagoon Cove season after season. He and Jean also took a lead in promoting the Broughtons as a cruising destination, working with nearby marina operators to get this unique destination on BC and Washington
State cruisers’ radar.

Mark Bunzel, current publisher of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, remembered Bill this way: “After retiring from a successful career in advertising, Bill Barber, with his wife Jean, set about transforming Lagoon Cove into one of the premier marina destinations in the Broughton Archipelago. Bill seemed to thrive on the challenges of operating a business in remote BC. “Lagoon Cove is the crossroads for cruisers heading north and south through the Broughtons. Bill kept the place humming and always found a spot to squeeze in one more boat for the night. Happy hour often led to an evening around the campfire, complete with singing and Bill’s tall tales, including one of the water-skiing bear. Bill had an uncommon ability to hold his audience’s attention, and his stories became famous along the coast.

Bill’s enthusiasm, charm, and resourcefulness will be greatly missed.” Waggoner founder Robert Hale added: “This is a terrible loss for the many cruisers who planned each year to enjoy Bill’s droll storytelling, his fresh-caught prawns, his Canada Day crab races, and his easy way on the docks. Bill was an original, and the coast will be poorer without him.”

The marina will operate as usual this summer, managed by Pat Kukuruz and Bob Ness, who have been helping the Barbers for the past several years.

www.lagooncovemarina.com

Photo Credit:  Mark Bunzel

Related Articles

Pacific Yacht Conference Comes to Vancouver Next May

Pacific Yacht Conference Comes to Vancouver Next May

With its spectacular cruising grounds visited by relatively few superyachts, compared to say the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, the Pacific Northwest coastline appears to be a well-kept secret, at least in large yacht circles.

A new conference taking place aims to put Puget Sound, BC, Alaska and the entire region`s coast firmly on the superyacht map.   The Pacific Yacht Conference taking place in Vancouver on 28th & 29th May, 2014 is an international industry conference that will aim to draw participants from across the globe. 

Video Gallery

Pursuit S268 Sport CC

By Andy Adams

The Pursuit S 268 Sport centre console is a do-it-all kind of boat with a solid sense of style. Centre console designs have been developed for the southern blue water sport fishing enthusiasts (and this boat would raise fish with the best of them) but the Pursuit S 268 Sport centre console offers far more utility and enjoyment than just fishing.

Read More

Destinations

Bayfield Marine Turns 40 with Big April Events

(l to r) Holly, Adam, Pat, Ron, Shelley

Ron and Pat Reder started out in October 1984 across the road from where they are right now on the Bayfield River in Bayfield ON. The store front was about 10 x 20 and the rest of that side of the building was a stock room, wood finishing room, then behind that was more back stock and the lunchroom. Expanding every few years for the store front, then moving over to this new building five years ago, this year with Adam, Shelley, and Holly are carrying on the business.

Read More

Lifestyle