Tributes are being paid to Captain Peter Evans, a highly respected captain and founding member of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA), who passed away on September 18 at the age of 73. Born in Wales in 1951, Evans began his yachting career in 1976 aboard Malahne, starting as a deckhand before progressing to captain several prestigious yachts, including Kingdom 5KR, a role he held for more than a decade.
Evans' contributions extended far beyond his role as captain. In 1991, he became one of the founding members of the PYA, a critical moment in yachting history when the industry was at risk of being overtaken by Merchant Navy officers. With his fellow co-founders, Evans approached the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to lobby for yacht-specific qualifications for deck officers. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Master 3000 Yacht Certificate of Competency and later the Chief Engineer Yacht Certificate of Competency, laying the foundation for professional yacht crew training and defining yacht industry standards.
A pivotal moment in Evans' leadership came during his term as PYA president, coinciding with the introduction of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in 2006. The MLC set international working conditions for all seafarers but was primarily designed for commercial shipping, where conditions differ significantly from yachting. Evans led a PYA working group that engaged with international regulators to highlight the unique challenges faced by the yachting sector. His efforts resulted in the MLC Large Yacht Code, also known as the REG Code, which safeguarded the industry’s specific requirements for yacht design, operation, and crew welfare.
Despite his Parkinson’s diagnosis late rin life, Evans remained resilient and positive. “He never let it dim his spirit,” recalled a close family friend, as noted by the PYA. “He had a way of making everyone feel supported,” said one former crew member, as quoted by the PYA, “and his leadership will never be forgotten.”
Peter Evans is survived by his wife Joëlle and their family. A memorial service will be held in his honor on October 26 in Antibes.