Barnes Grateful For Support After Boat Fire

Scott Barnes said he was “devastated and still in shock” after his charter boat Hakuna Matata was destroyed in a fire yesterday [September 10] and extended his thanks to everyone involved in extinguishing the fire as well as everybody who reached out to him.

“Today was one of those days I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” Barnes said.

“I’m sitting here devastated and still in shock.

“Hakuna Matata was more than a boat to me; it was a dream and goal of mine from a young kid to own a nice Carolina boat.

“At 30 years old, I made that dream come true and brought Hakuna Matata to Bermuda, my first ‘Big Boy Boat’.

“She was my pride and joy, and a boat that every year we put so much love into.

“I put my literal blood sweat and tears into that boat & in the 11-and-half years in Bermuda we made HM a top fishing charter boat, slayed so many fish providing top-level charters and good times to so many people.

“It turned a ten-year-partnership with my father into a 22-year-partnership,” he added. “A fire can take away a lot within a quick moment, but what it can’t do is take away all the memories we made,” Barnes said.

“And we made so many amazing memories onboard Hakuna Matata. It can’t take away the legacy that we brought to the Bermuda fishing industry and will continue to bring!

“And it can’t change all the goals we achieved.

“The most important things in times like this are what truly matters in life.

“The material things like an awesome boat, as hard and painful as it is can be replaced, lives cannot.”

Barnes thanked those who assisted during the incident and those who contacted him afterwards.

“I’m so truly grateful and thankful for all those people involved in the rescue and help with the fire today. Thank You!” he said.

“Thank you to everyone that reached out today, it truly is a blessing to know that the true people are there when it’s hard.

“This is not the end for Hakuna Matata … we mourn, regroup and will be back better than before!

“Today was a hard day, tomorrow will be too, but with the right people around you I know it will get better! I’m going to miss this boat; it was a big part of me.

“In life things can change in a blink of an eye, tell the ones you love you love them, enjoy the good times, and stay busy living and making good memories. Life it short, live it up!”

Barnes, the island’s most decorated karting driver, added: “I need some speed and shifter therapy now, anyone got a motor I could use to go racing lol.”

#BoatFires #Fires

Category: Accidents and fires, All, News