One of my inspirational books about small boat cruising is Beach Cruising and coastal camping by Ida Lewis who took me to Frank Dye. He had a fascinating series of small boat adventures. Frank and Margarat's books make fasinating reading. His legacy will live for many generations. The following is from the DCA club " I have just received a telephone call from Margaret Dye to tell me that her husband Frank passed away peacefully yesterday, aged 80. In her words, he lived his adventurous life to the full, but always quietly, modestly and without grumbling, and the manner of his passing was in keeping with that. To hear her talk of the times they'd had together was a privilege - such a humbling experience to hear at first hand of those experiences I've previously read about in their various books. And not just Frank, too, but to hear her waxing eloquent about Shackleton, her great hero, and the worst smallboat journey ever made in the James Caird from Elephant Island to South Georgia, and that she has always been so proud to see the James Caird and their own Wayfarer close together in the museum. Frank had a bad winter, I gather, and had not been able to enjoy life outside, on and off the water, for some time. I had the impression that he had decided for himself that it was time to go. Margaret was with him yesterday when he set sail for the last time. She felt that she ought to make sure that their fellow openboaters in the DCA ought to be among the first to hear of his demise. I will place something in the next issue of the journal, but if anyone wishes to add their eulogies, by all means send them to me - but do it soon, as publication date is at hand. Keith.
From another DCA member "I was privileged to meet Frank at one of the Beale Park meetings, where he signed his book for me. I found him to be a modest man, who spoke the language of our common interest. I also remember his exciting talk given to the DCA at the AGM at Rutland Water. Frank's adventures, including sailing a Wayfarer to Norway and voyaging from Florida to Canada, were made without electronic aids other than rudimentary RDF, and are an inspiration to everyone who cruises in little boats. He would never contemplate putting others at risk to rescue him. Next time you are out of sight of land, crossing a harbour bar when it's a bit rough or just enjoying the wildlife of a deserted creek, you are doing what Frank would have us do. Without the trail blazing voyages he made, we would not at the back of our minds have the knowledge that dinghies can do incredible things. Our lives might never have discovered the true possibilities and joys of voyaging in little boats. My sympathies to Margaret at this time, whose book has brought many of the adventures of the Dye's to our attention."
Thanks Doug Kelch