One of the Island’s top powerboat racing teams has been devastated by the loss of a member.Team Point Mart are mourning the death of co-pilot Frank Mello who passed away earlier this week at age 52.The Smith’s resident’s involvement with Team Point Mart stretches back to 2000 when he and team owner Stephen DeSilva purchased a Phantom together.During their first season racing together the two men won multiple honours en route to being crowned as national champions.“The first year we had it we were season champions, high point champion and national champion and we did that three or four times in the same boat,” Mr DeSilva proudly recalled. “We won the Hamilton Race, Dockyard Race and St George’s Race in the same boat.“Frank and my son Jason won the Round the Island Race. Frank never drove because of a foot injury he suffered many years ago in a bike accident so he always co-piloted with either Jason or myself. He actually raced with all of my sons.”Jason added: “It takes a special kind of person to be a co-pilot in a racing boat and Frank was my co-pilot. He never once told me to slow down or complained about my style of driving. There was only one thing on his mind and that was to win.“We shared many victories together but the one that sticks out the most was in 2003 when Frank and I won the coveted Around the Island Race. He was the happiest person in the world. He loved that boat like it was a person.”Prior to joining forces with Team Point Mart Mr Mello cut his teeth in the sport working as a pit crew for father and son duo Clyde and Dean Borman and later became a co-pilot for the same team.Mr DeSilva, owner of Point Mart Grocery, says the death of his friend and racing mate has left a huge void in everyday life at the store.The chair that Mr Mello used to sit in at the Pembroke store during his daily visits has become somewhat of a shrine, complete with a large photo of him with Mr DeSilva in their Phantom, which was sold just a few months ago.“We all miss him and every day he was here in the shop two or threes times a day for the last 13 to 14 years,” Mr DeSilva added. “His death has really knocked me around and he is a miss.”Mr DeSilva described his late teammate as a fearless co-pilot who was passionate about his sport.“Being a co-pilot is not an easy job and not once did he ever say slow down,” Mr DeSilva said. “There were many scary occasions and he never said slow down.“He loved the sport so much that he was ready to get in that boat at any time and any place and when we didn’t race he was upset. That’s how passionate he was about the sport.”As well as powerboat racing, Mr Mello had a passion for “fixing” up classic motorcycles.“He loved bikes, especially older bikes that he used to fix up,” Mr DeSilva said. “In fact, he was working on a Vespa Scooter with all chrome parts and had just about completed it.“Bikes and boats were his passion and he spent every penny he had on both of them.”Mr Mello was also a big fan of England’s Manchester United. One of the bikes he owned was decked out in United’s colours and team badge.“He was a big Manchester United fan and really had no choice hanging around us,” Mr DeSilva smiled. “I’m still getting used to him not showing at the shop in the morning. I’m still getting used to him not being around.”