KEY POINTS:
Ginger Gibbs - power boat skipper, fishmonger, restaurant-owner, biker, car collector, property-speculator, and philanthropist - has died.
Mr Gibbs passed away in his Westhaven apartment above his Swashbucklers Restaurant and Bar at Westhaven Marina in Auckland early yesterday. He was 52.
Mr Gibbs and his Swashbuckling Flying Pirate crew were preparing to break the record of 112 hours to circumnavigate New Zealand in a custom-built powerboat.
Last year he and three others set a record for a transtasman crossing from Sydney to Auckland taking seven hours off the 47h 30m set by the liner Oriana 46 years ago.
Adam Wickes, who was the navigator and medic on that journey, was among friends and family who gathered at Mr Gibbs' restaurant last night to celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
"I'm a bit scared to tell you of some of the things he did, mate, but the man definitely was larger than life - a modern day pirate."
Mr Wickes said the crew still intended to try and break the New Zealand circumnavigation record, proceeds of which will go to Coastguard New Zealand. The attempt could happen anytime from Monday - weather permitting.
"He was trying to raise their profile so now we have something else which will drive us on."
The Herald understands a funeral service for Mr Gibbs will be held at the Swashbucklers Restaurant and Bar on Monday at 2pm.
Mr Gibbs' body will be taken to Tryphena on Great Barrier Island on Tuesday.
