Sally Campbell, DSM Editor, goes on to give a little more detail on the 'man behind the name'!!

"The term 'sailing birth place' is appropriate, because Pete doesn't just love sailing, he lives sailing.  It is his sport, his hobby, his social life and his business.  I remember accepting a lift home from him one evening after a long day's sailing at Bristol Corinthian, a short time after we'd met.  We started out from the bar, only to be stopped by someone wanting advice on rule such-and-such, requiring of course another beer, then almost making it to the door before being accosted by a new sailor looking to buy a boat.  In the corridor, Pete was asked the race times for next week's RS event at Torbay, whether he had a spare jib sheet and could he recommend accommodation for the Solo Nationals before we finally made it to the car park. "Nearly there" I thought, over an hour later, but no, 3 or 4 more people to help about boat rigging, boat packing, boat fixing et al before we finally got to the car.  And this is Pete all over - he is utterly tireless, never too pre-occupied to help, advise or just listen".

 Roger Hocking, of Looe Sailing Club says "Pete's knowledge of sailing is second to none, he could be called a Sailing Grand Master!  He is always pleasant, professional and positive, and of course is always great to share a pint or four in the bar and provide superb entertainment at social events."

  "I have tried in vain to persuade an exhausted Pete to go to bed at 1am during a huge National Championship, where he was not only the event organiser, but also the natural party leader." Says Martin Wadhams, MD of RS, "he will not rest until everyone has had their fun."  Just one side of Pete's character - I will merely add that he enjoys rum and port as much as I do, and isn't that an age old sailor's privilege?

 In recent years it has been easy to associate Pete with RS sailing; he was of course a founder member of the RS Class Association and is still Chairman today.  He has been one of the top RS 400 and RS 200 sailors since 1995 and competed at more RS circuit events than any other sailor. His contribution was recognised when he was given a special award 'RS Personality of the decade' in recognition of his unmatched contribution to the Association and RS Sailing.  But Pete's sailing goes way beyond RS, when he grew too big for his Mirror he took up Enterprise sailing and recalls his first major milestone in sailing, beating his Dad, Tony Vincent, in a serious competition in 1979.

 Pete went on to become Captain of the University of Wales Sailing Club, then sailing in Larks, President of the International Enterprise Association and organiser of UK and World events.  He organised BUSA championships and qualified as an RYA Racing Coach. In 2006 Pete was presented with an RYA Community Award for Lifetime Commitment. 

As Sally says,  "Don't worry, it'll be fine" is Pete's stock response to any problem, whether it's literal 10ft waves at Looe, or metaphorical 10ft of emails as I take on this editor's role with the tightest deadline of the year.  From anyone else this would be at the least irritating or at the most patronising, but from Pete I actually believe it, in fact it won't be 'fine', it will be fantastic!  Not just for me, but for DSM to have Ugly on board!

 Ugly? - Yes, Pete has been known as Ugly for so long that many don't even know his real name.  The origin is largely lost in folklore, but if I get enough requests to spill the beans I might just do so!