Kabba

Atlantic Sailor and Pirate

by Shruti

Kabba (Stephen Donovan) was a single-handed Atlantic Sailor – though he looked a bit like a Pirate…

He was doing landscaping at Ko Hsuan School in north Devon when I met the lad. A very funny and juicy guy. I loved his laughter and east London accent. He was a right old Cockney mate.

A few years later he arrived in Totnes in his boat. I believe he and Vandan had sailed from Plymouth in stormy seas and she left for good, after being sea sick. So he invited me to come along, but I had a toddler to mind, so it was just a night in a moored boat by the Steam Packet Inn.

Bumping into each other repeatedly, he finally settled in Brixham, with a view of the sea from his window.

Many happy visits followed and a very amazing birthday party in 2018 with him singing and playing his guitar, 70s favourites, and all of us 25 doing Karaoke in front of a screen.

He loved going to the Totnes Market on a Friday.

Kabba’s throaty laughter is with me daily.

Rest well now. It was a bit untimely, but we understand – no need to say cheerio…

See you later.

Fly high.

Sail with the wind,

Shruti and Best Friend Shantideva

According to the Medina page, he has spent some time in that Commune, too.

His cremation was celebrated by his friends on 28 February 2024, with lovely non-religious music by the Eagles.

Bon Voyage, Kabba!

by Yatro

I first met Kabba a  l o o o n g  time ago at the Osho Centre in London at the time – Purnima. It was on the first/second floor? of a factory building in Kentish Town. I was leading Heart Dance, maybe he was participating, I don’t remember. But I do recall he saw something wrong with the windows, which were huge and well off the floor, and just leapt up and out on the ledge to the outside of the window to fix it. I was smitten!

After one Ko Hsuan festival he was looking for someone to help him paint his boat, Saffi, which he was living in, in a boat yard in Cornwall and I volunteered, tho I ended up cooking. I heard many stories, of his family and travels, most of which I have forgotten, but found out he had ‘inherited’ his knowledge of the sea and stars from his grandfather. He was completely familiar with the stars, I think as far as knowing what time it was, and navigating. He had had incredible adventures at sea, including coming up against ‘real’ pirates – near Gibraltar I think – but managed to outwit and outrun them.

He was given his beloved boat, Saffi, after building someone a house – his practical skills were put to good use in his travels and time in communes.

We sang many songs together. He would go anywhere, pick up a guitar and sing his favourites – he was passionate about rock and roll and his favourites from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s. It was wonderful to hear some of them at his funeral, for which many thanks to Vicky, his daughter, who he loved dearly.

Our friendship persisted over the years, tho I saw him rarely in recent years. I last visited him with Shruti on his birthday a few months ago at his place in Brixham. I thought this might be the last time I saw him and it was.

He had been declining over the recent years, and had various ailments, which he managed well, but eventually had to give up his boat, and his car, but never his spirit, his heart, his sense of humour.

He had a huge heart, full of mischief, and love of women, a real Zorba! And he had come to a couple of little ‘deathy’ events I organised and, as with many people, said was not worried about death, more about dying. So it felt apt that he didn’t have a protracted time of it. Seemingly it was a heart attack in his flat.

Bon Voyage, Kabba!

Yatro

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