At 84 years young, Peter Cunningham isn’t just an avid sailor; he’s a living legend whose passion for the open water has spanned five decades and countless nautical miles.
From the chilly waters of the United Kingdom to the sun-drenched Caribbean, Cunningham’s journey is a testament to the thrill, challenge and camaraderie that defines the sport.
Cunningham, a longtime Cayman resident, told the Compass that his interest in sailing began in the late 1960s at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club, where he’s still a member, in the United Kingdom. It was here that he first stepped aboard his brother-in-law’s 32-foot racer-cruiser, Whiplash, and the Royal Burnham One Design.
The spark was instant, ignited by his then future wife, who was babysitting for her sailboat-racing sister.
“I was instantly grabbed as crew,” Cunningham recounted.
“So, we can blame it on my wife [Pat Cunningham],” he teased.
For the next 10 years, after his move to the United States in 1967, Cunningham chartered boats in tropical locales like the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Tahiti, as well as competing in several Antigua Sailing Weeks, a regatta he has now participated in six times.
He has completed various other regattas such as in Burnham-on-Crouch, United Kingdom, where the racing exclusively features Royal Burnham One Designs.
Upon moving to San Francisco, California, in 1974, Cunningham first purchased a Hobie 18 catamaran, racing it in the Bay area as well as offshore and on reservoirs.
Following this purchase, he bought a J/29 PowerPlay, which he campaigned for over a decade.
PowerPlay became a regular in the Bay, racing Wednesday nights, Friday night Golden Gate, Midget Ocean Racing Club and Yacht Racing Association events and even completing the San Francisco to San Diego race.
This dedication culminated in a Pacific Coast Championship in 1985 and numerous other regatta victories.
Cunningham said the team’s name is important, with ‘Power’ representing their desire to be competitive and ‘Play’ symbolising their want to have fun.
He and his wife moved to Cayman in 1996 and he bought a J/22, which they have successfully raced, including winning the Round the Island race.
“That was the last race my wife Pat sailed with me as foredeck,” he shared.
After selling his company in 2010, Cunningham said his “big boat racing really started”. He met and was guided for the past 15 years by mentor Tony Rey, for whom he is eternally grateful.
In 2011, he started a campaign under the PowerPlay team name in larger boats and with Rey’s guidance, they have upheld the tradition of the name.
When asked what motivates him to remain active at 84, Cunningham said, “It is exciting, sometimes terrifying and gives a great sense of accomplishment when you finish a race or a cruise.”
He added, “Sailors are an inclusive, welcoming community and the sport makes you keenly aware of the power and grandeur of Mother Nature.”
For Cunningham, sailing in Cayman waters holds a special significance because of “the place and the people”.
He also praised the North Sound as “one of the best places in the world to sail small boats” due to the year-round trade winds, warm water, reef-protected small waves and open water.
Looking to the future of Cayman sailing, Cunningham hopes for continued success in international competitions, particularly the Olympics, and a diversification beyond the Laser class.
Most importantly, he champions a greater emphasis on youth sailing, saying, “It is our heritage, and it is a great character-building sport. It teaches respect for each other and our environment.
“We have some great coaches here [and] we need more of them and more funds to support them and provide the boats and facilities for children to learn and grow in the sport.”
He remains active in Cayman with a J/22 and a Seawind 1190, a 40-foot cruising catamaran, ensuring his sailing journey continues with local racing and cruising.
Cunningham’s enduring legacy is not just in the races won or the records broken, but in his unwavering passion, his commitment to community, and his inspiring example for generations of sailors to come.
