Peter Craig
Sailor of the Week - April 22 - April 28
Peter Craig, manager of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) Port Stopover at Fan Pier Boston, is no stranger to sailboat regatta management. Peter and his company Premiere Racing, Inc. have been organizing major international regattas since 1996. He has been the man behind the success of the Acura Key West Race Week and Acura Miami Grand Prix races.
Over the years, Peter has gained the reputation of running first-class racing regattas combined with outstanding on-shore activities for spectators to enjoy. Peter has also been contracted to manage other special regattas such as the TP52 World Championship, Volvo Ocean Race–Chesapeake Bay stopover, 1D48 Newport New York Series, North Sails Race Week, the Drumbeat Regatta and other one-design regattas… Peter’s latest challenge, the VOR Port Stopover at Fan Pier Boston gets underway this Saturday, April 25 and runs through Saturday, May 16.
Peter grew up in Marblehead, Mass. and on the waters of Buzzards Bay where he primarily cruised with his parents and five siblings on the family's Barnegat Bay catboat and later a 36-foot gaff rigged wooden schooner. It wasn't until Peter was a Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, when he developed an interest in racing through the school's offshore sailing program. Over the years, he has traveled the world competing in events. Peter served as Director of Operations for the America3 Foundation and prior to that was deputy director of US SAILING. He is an accomplished racer, whose sailing resume includes crewing on the successful America’s Cup defender in 1992 and two maxi-boat world championships. “I still get a kick out of racing with the ‘good guys’. It’s impressive to see how good these guys are that sail full time. I’m just along for comic relief,” said Peter modestly. “What I enjoy most about the sport is that it is my escape from the computer and phone, and I’ve always enjoyed the camaraderie associated with team racing. I also like the fact that there’s always a boat out there you can sail no matter what your physical limitations might be.” Peter and his wife Tricia reside in Marblehead with their three children.