You may not necessarily know his name, but if you have been reading yachting magazines over the years, his cartoons probably brought a smile to your face. British cartoonist Mike Peyton, who died on January 25th at the age of 96, was described variously as “the world’s greatest yachting cartoonist” and as the “Picasso of sailing.” A lifelong sailor himself, for over sixty years his cartoons captured the joys, sorrows, absurdity and outright silliness of sailing.
In 2012 the Royal Cruising Club gave Peyton their award for lifetime services to yachting. Last year the Yachting Journalists’ Association awarded their Diamond Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Award to Peyton. Comedian and sailor Griff Rhys Jones says of Peyton, “He captures the anti-glamour of yachting.” Sir Robin Knox-Johnston says, “Mike’s been my favorite yachting cartoonist for decades.” At the presentation, Paul Gelder noted:
With a few squiggly lines from his pen, he took people to the heart and soul of sailing and sailing’s cock-ups. He was a unique commentator on the sailing scene for more than 60 years. There was no other sailing cartoonist in the world to match his elegant, economical wit and wisdom. He said he got his best ideas sitting in the bath.
His humour was gentle, rather than vulgar, brash or cruel. As well as a superb draughtsman, he had a winning way with words, whether it was a clever punch line, a headline or a caption. He was a great storyteller – as anyone who sat beside the glowing coal stove on his boats can testify.
My Classic Boat Peyton’s Place
Mike Peyton, the Picasso of Sailing
Thanks to Virginia Jones for contributing to this post.
Stinking night, a deck hand observing through a pair of binoculars says to the glow of the companionway:
“Your fixed white reads “GENTS” and your flashing red reads “Watneys.”
A man, suspended upside down by his knees, hanging from the boom into a cramped stern hatch, his torso not visible, and the owner leaning in the cockpit says:
“If you put your hand up behind your back, you’ll find a burred nut.”
Seldom does the news of someones death bring a smile to your face, but the name Peyton does that.
RIP, a true legend, a true philosopher.
A crewman looking through binoculars on a dirty night says into the light from the companionway:
“Your fixed white reads “GENTS”, your flashing red reads “WATNEYS.”
A guy is hanging upside down suspended by his knees over the boom into the hatch of a small stern, his torso hidden. Another bloke is leaning on the coaming and says:
“If you put your hand up behind your back, you’ll find a burred nut.”
An amazing talent lost yet how few names, on hearing of their passing, brings a smile to your face? That was Peyton, a man whose sense of humour everyone could relate to.
RIP, a true legend, a true philosopher.
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