Mike Peyton, 96

Essex, U.K.

“The World’s Greatest Yachting Cartoonist” died Jan. 25. A modest, shy man, he eschewed the spotlight and seemed unaware of the esteem in which sailors all around the world held him.

Born into a mining family in County Durham (England) in 1921, he lied about his age to join the Army and was seconded to draw maps of the North African desert by the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War. Despite escaping twice, he spent most of the war in a prisoner of war camp.

Mike began sketching as a boy, inspired by the graphics in 1930s British comics. After the war he went to Manchester Art School. He also discovered boating. He bought a 12-foot canvas sailing canoe and worked his way down the River Thames, sleeping on moored barges.

Soon sailing became a passion. In those days, sailors wore peaked caps and ensigns were lowered at sunset. Naturally, Mike felt impelled to stick a pin in the balloon of pomposity of snooty sailors. With a few squiggly lines from his pen, he took people to the heart and soul of sailing and sailing’s cock-ups. His cartoons, which often needed no translation, were published worldwide in yachting magazines from Japan to America.