With great sadness, we share the news of the passing of Barry Thompson.
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing on Friday 8th September, of industry stalwart and friend, Barry Thompson. Wow what can you say… I, like most, have been taken by surprise of our loss and personally, have been an emotional mess for days. I was totally blown away by the numbers of calls from the industry and mates for the first couple of days and days following.
Everyone had a very different relationship with Barry…. but he was a friend always to most. To me he was many things, a friend, a business partner, a councillor and an inspiration, but most of all…. a good mate. And after working together for 35 years, one could not be anything else but a great mate… with the past 26 years tied as business partners… I cannot think of another business partnership in the marine industry that comes near this.
We had many laughs and fun along the way visiting boat shows around the world, with Sydney this year, being my first without him in 26 years. There could be many stories to be told, in fact a book on our adventures could easily be written, but that might get a few in trouble 😊.
Many did not know, but Barry had been wanting to enjoy a little more R&R time and to be freed up from the business after 50 years of tickling his marine keyboard. About this time last year, Carla (my wife) and I agreed to purchase Barry’s ½ of the business. For the last six months he had been enjoying a little more freedom and less responsibility in running the magazine. He would often call me while out fishing – ribbing me, that he was poaching fish from my side of the peninsula, in Arkles Bay!
Barry passed away on the morning of the 8th September, with his mind again, clearly focused on one of his passions. He had prepared his boat and loaded the fishing gear, ready to go out to his happy place.
Barry loved his wife and family, along with travelling and boat shows, he loved boats and everything about them and with 50 years plus ‘playing’ with them, reviewing them, racing them, no one knew more…. he is undoubtedly our lifetime’s PowerBoat guru – and will be sadly missed by the industry, our readers, friends and family.
We will feature a full story in the upcoming November/December issue of Powerboat magazine of Barry’s milestones, adventures, accomplishments and what he has done for the marine industry….
Rest in Peace, Barry
A mixed tribute from others in the industry…..
A little more about Barry, our PowerBoat Legend and his last 50 years….. until recently, the co-publisher and editor of Powerboat and Alloy Boat, was a familiar sight at boat shows, factories, and international marine industry events.
His relaxed persona was a testament to his humble nature, even though many would say that his industry and product knowledge surpassed that of most others in the industry.
In 2009, Barry was inducted into the New Zealand Boat Show Hall of Fame by the Hutchwilco Boat Show for his services to the industry, where he had been helping to promote the event and the marine industry for almost 40 years.
In receiving the award, it was said that “In that time, he has probably spent more time afloat, in boats of all sizes, than any other member of the industry.”
Barry first entered the marine industry working under the great John Malitte at the New Zealand Herald.
Since then, the magazines he has worked on read like a history of marine publishing over many decades: Seaspray, Powerboat, Nautical News, Boating World, NZ Fisherman, and more recently, with his good mate Doug Dukeson, Propeller, Alloy Boat and Pacific Powerboat Magazines.
Barry had also been a keen participant in and supporter of powerboat racing in New Zealand, and it would probably be fair to say that no one has done more to promote the sport than Barry.
Barry and his good mate Glen Urquhart were the only Kiwis to have won a UIM World Powerboat Championship, achieving the title in Guernsey in 1986.
Without a doubt, Barry has written more boat tests and done more to promote powerboating than anyone else in NZ.
Locally, he was revered for his promotion of New Zealand overseas, introduced engine shoot-outs, and was instrumental in making offshore powerboat racing a safer sport.
Barry’s early years saw him confront some significant challenges with an offshore accident in 1986, where Barry sustained serious injuries. The strength and fortitude of the man were evident when, within a month, he was back to writing, and within a year, he was back behind the wheel of another race boat.
Late 2022 Barry with over 50 years of marine publishing, had negotiated a semi-retirement package with 26 year business partner Doug Dukeson, to enable him to kick back and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle, which had been doing in more recent times.
Barry is a loss to our industry, and his absence will be deeply felt.
Our condolences go out to Barry’s family, friends, and business colleagues around the world.
