MARINERS in Bermuda and abroad are still reeling from the impact of the sudden death last week of Captain Richard Sinclair Lambert. He was the master and envy of all the sea dogs who make Robinson's Shell Marina at Somerset Bridge the base of their operations, whether for business or pleasure in and around the local waters.

And judging from the glowing tributes paid to him at his funeral and subsequent burial at sea, it would seem he was peerless. He made more than 30 ocean crossings, many alone, encountering some terrible experiences with mountainous waves and high winds. He used to tell his wife that if the sea did not consume him first, he wanted to be buried at sea.

At age 59, Richard (pictured right) died as he lived, on the water. He was last seen alive on Thursday, July 3, by his nephew Akil Lambert out in the Great Sound in Octuvie, a luxury ocean-going yacht, "tacking under full sail".

They waved to each other, Akil recalled, adding: "Richard was in his glory."

He moored the 50-foot craft at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, boarded his own boat, Kippy, a 13-foot Boston Whaler, which he always joked was his private yacht and headed westward for home at Robinson's Marina.

He called his wife Sharon on his cell phone, saying he would see her in 90 minutes, and in the meantime she was to take a constitutional walk. The couple were looking forward to a long Independence Day weekend celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary on Monday, July 7.

Sharon literally walked all night when he did not make it home. Early morning risers were startled seeing his boat drifting along the Herman's Bay shore line towards Cavello Bay. They alerted the authorities.

Richard suffered a fatal heart attack some time after phoning his wife. His passing was reminiscent of that of his maternal grandfather, Captain Jack Burrows, from whom he inherited part of his passion for the sea. He too died aboard his boat. Captain Burrows was the caretaker at Wreck Estate, and he was a veteran fisherman, who used to take Richard to sea from age six or seven.

His funeral on Friday last was most extraordinary. It was in the open air at Fort Scaur, planned by Sharon. She said while it was his wish to be buried at sea, she was the one who decided the fort was the ideal setting considering her husband was such a great outdoors man; and it was in walking distance from the neighborhood at Scaur where he was born and bred.

His flower-bedecked cedar coffin was strategically placed on one of the parapets of the fort, facing the waters to the west. It was the only place that could accommodate the hundreds who turned out.

Funeral director Colin W. Pearman, himself a yachtsman of no mean ability, said in all his many years' experience, he had never known of a funeral at the fort. The viewing had taken place the night before at the Pearman Funeral Home.

"It was the largest viewing we have ever had, exceeding that of the hundreds who turned out for Chum Morrissey; and likewise, the armada of 22 boats that accompanied his remains aboard John Carr's luxury 52-foot fishing cruiser Nomad, was record-breaking."

COLIN said the armada was most respectful, very orderly. The committal was in 100 fathoms of water, about four miles south of Hog Fish Beacon, just off Pompano Beach Club. It had been prearranged that Nothing Easy would take the lead at the final stage to pinpoint the exact area for burial.

Interestingly enough, it was the point where Richard's first cousin Raymond Lambert was buried. He was a mechanic who was killed in December 1989 during construction of the Bermuda College.

At the same time Richard was being buried, with full Captain's honours, a memorial service took place in Cuba at the Hemingway Marina where Richard was well known and highly respected. His good friend Mundi and others, who since the tragedy had been in communication with John Carr, put flowers in the sea at the appointed time.

John Carr and his wife Alice and children were shattered by news of Richard's death. He was the captain of Nomad.

"He was my best friend, best mechanic and best captain. He (Richard) let me use my boat sometimes," Carr said wryly. "I bought Nomad based on his recommendations. He made 13 ocean crossings in it. We put our lives in his hands every time we crossed the ocean and from Fort Lauderdale to Cuba.

"Richard was a great teacher; he shared his knowledge freely every day. He was a master at forecasting the weather. He would talk personally to the forecasters daily, and made his own decisions based on his own amazing instincts."

Salvation Army Captain Jonathan Kellman conducted the service at Fort Scaur. He, coincidentally, ended his tour of duty in Bermuda on Sunday as Captain in Charge of White Hill Citadel.

Captain Jennifer Hale from Army headquarters in Hamilton led the prayers, and the singing of the Mariners' Song, Eternal Father, Strong to Save, O hear us when we Cry to Thee, for those in Peril on the Sea.

RICHARD'S cousin Marsha Lambert Daniels read the obituary. A dramatic tribute that could not be duplicated was by paid by his long-time friend, educator Joey Robinson. His father, the late Maxwell Robinson, built the Robinson Marina. The marina closed half-a-day early out of respect.

Joey, when not in the classroom, was often part of Richard's crew when crossing the ocean in Nomad. Others were Colin (Ton Ton) Pearman, first mate; Ricky Richards, Noel Butterfield and Henry Edness.

Vashun Blanchette, a family member, paid an eloquent heart-warming tribute. Cousin Deanda Bannister rendered a solo.

In the early 1960s Richard earned his livelihood as a seaman for the US Naval Operating Base at King's Point. He worked on the Mac 111, a supply ship for the Argus Tower the Navy operated off the coast.

When Mac 111 was replaced by the more sophisticated Erline (which rhymes with line), he became her captain. Erline for many years was used in connection with the offshore, secret research carried out by the Navy's Tudor Hill Laboratory. A former commanding officer at Tudor Hill was Lt. Commander Amy M. Doggett.

From her home in Kilmarnock, Virginia, she e-mailed her tribute to Richard's wife, declaring: "How blessed was the world with the life of Richard Lambert. I was fortunate to have shared several wonderful years at Tudor Hill with him. There was no man but my father who I respected and trusted more or learned as much from him.

"Richard was a talented and skilful sea captain and so willing to share his knowledge. In those days the Navy wasn't quite willing to accept women at sea. Richard was an enlightened man, ahead of his time, who let me try to be the sailor I always wanted to be.

"I treasure the memory of taking R/V Erline into Port Carnival, Florida, right next to Cape Canaveral. I could relate to the astronauts I'd so admired as a child. This was the magic Richard and his generosity with R/V Erline could produce.

"Listening to him speak with that deep, lovely Bermudian accent was like hearing a beautiful song. May he forever enjoy fair winds and following the seas," declared Cdr. Doggett.

Richard was the first of four children born to Barbara and the late Sinclair Lambert. He attended West End School and Technical Institute for night classes. He inherited his passion for the sea from his mother's side of the family, the Burrows, and his father's side, the Lamberts.

THEY were friendly rivals who lived on different sides of Somerset Bridge. The Lambert boys and girls prided themselves as being the "water rats" of the Scaur. They lived in the sea their entire lifetimes from sun up to sundown and beyond.

Richard's uncles and cousins, all flamboyant, carried such colourful names as Canute, Slim, and Bully Lambert, Potsey and the rest of the Philpotts and the Crosses. The late Jack Cross was one of the founders of the West End Sail Boat Club. There was Hodge and the rest of the Rawlins males and females. They built and sailed their own boats, mostly Comet Class sailboats.

When Richard came along, he was a new breed "water rat". He was on the cutting edge of the new technology, which he grasped like a wizard. He learned hands-on in what he called the school of hard knocks.

Joey Robinson said he could handle any problem that showed up in a boat, electronic, electrical or whatever. He was an ace at water skiing, snorkelling and he enjoyed fishing. People were thrilled, just observing him at work and at play.

On July 4, 1978 he was presented with a Government Citation that he treasured. It was for hauling in a 704 lb. blue marlin, while on board Kon Tiki, captained by Rudolph F. Richardson.

In addition to his wife, Richard is survived by his mother Barbara; daughter Natasha Miller, and her husband Steven, who reside in Ohio with two children; son Arnold; two brothers Rupert and George and numerous other relatives and friends.