Yachting journalist Peter Campbell OAM dies

Campbell wrote for Hobart-based The Mercury for the last 10 years and was a regular contributor to numerous media outlets, filing his final story only last week.

Campbell had a vast knowledge of local, national, and international sailing.

He was editor-at-large, and then editor for Offshore Yachting from 1971 to 2006, editor of Modern Boating from 1975-82, and served as the Sydney Hobart yacht race media director from 1991 to 2005.

Campbell was a member of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania since 1984, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron from 1991 to 2009, and a member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia since 1977.

Born at Beauty Point in northern Tasmania and growing up on the Tamar River, Campbell fostered a great love of sailing and the sea -- a passion that continued throughout his life.

Campbell started in journalism as a cadet with The Mercury from 1946-48 where he covered the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, before relocating to Sydney as a senior reporter for rural newspaper The Land.

Campbell later established a writing consultancy specialising in yachting, and reporting on major national and international sailing championships including Americas and Admirals Cups and the Atlanta, Barcelona, Seoul, Los Angeles, and Sydney Olympics.

While in Sydney, Peter took great pride in racing Hornblower, a Bonbridge 27 owned in partnership with the late John Ivimey, and winning the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s pointscore a couple of times in the 1980s.

Campbell and his wife Sarah returned to Tasmania’s Sandy Bay, supposedly to retire, in 2006.

In Tasmania, Campbell’s writing gave a special profile to racing on the Derwent River, focusing on the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Derwent Sailing Squadron, and Bellerive Yacht Club.

He also covered the state’s long-distance coastal races including the Westcoaster and Launceston to Hobart races, and the Three Peaks race.

In 2014, Campbell was recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for services to yachting journalism.

Former Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania commodore Robert “Biddy” Badenach said he was saddened by the news that Campbell had died.

“During my 27 years involvement with the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race I have met many people and have become friends – one such person was Peter Campbell,” Badenach said.

“He was a true gentleman, an outstanding reporter, and was highly respected by his peers and sailors.

“After moving to Hobart, his contribution to news on yachting in Tasmania was first class. He will be sadly missed by all who were associated with him.”

Campbell is survived by his wife Sarah, sons Timothy and Jonothan, and their partners Margot and Hannah.

Funeral details will be advised in due course.

– Craig Macaulay