Captain is a word with multiple meanings. In certain branches of the military, it can indicate the rank between first lieutenant and major. On a boat or plane, it’s often used to describe the person at the helm, no matter the official number of bars on their epaulets. In its broadest use, the word captain describes a person of influence or importance in any field. Our editors went with that last definition as we considered which captains have made an impact during the 60 years that Soundings has been published. Our criteria included not just being in command of a vessel, but also inspiring people to broaden their thinking about what boating can be. In our estimation, the following individuals exemplify the possibilities that come with taking hold of a wheel or a tiller, and setting a course that just might change history.
PETER WRIGHT
The people who are fortunate to experience the thrill of landing a big marlin from a boat sometimes take a step back, look out at the endless ocean waters, and think, maybe I was born to fish. Peter Wright figured this out while he was still in elementary school. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he took to working aboard the local charter-fishing boats before he even reached his teenage years, putting him on a track that would help him to catch more marlin over 1,000 pounds than any captain or angler in recorded history.
