Peter Gibbons-Neff Jr
A life long sailor with a passion for ocean racing
20,000+ Nautical Miles of Offshore Experience
Peter grew up in the Philadelphia area, sailing dinghies there and in the Annapolis waters from an early age, raced offshore as far as Bermuda, competed at the highest offshore collegiate levels as a skipper for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Varsity Offshore Sailing Team, and currently serves as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. As he transitioned away from 10 years of active duty service, Peter started a Mini Transat campaign to raise awareness for U.S. Patriot Sailing. U.S. Patriot Sailing helped Peter and now he is giving back as an ambassador racing on the ocean for the team. Peter completed the 2023 Mini Transat, continues to raise awareness and volunteer with U.S. Patriot Sailing.
Proud Member of:
Cruising Club of America
Storm Trysail Club
The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia
Military Service
Peter served in the Marine Corps for 10 years on active duty and transitioned into the reserves in the summer of 2021. As an intelligence officer, his experiences include deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as a military advisor, conducting counter-narcotic missions in support of U.S. Border Patrol, and as an infantry battalion intelligence officer deployed on U.S. Navy amphibious ships spanning the Middle East, Africa, and European theaters. This included sea time in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean. He is currently assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps at the Pentagon.
U.S. Patriot Sailing
U.S. Patriot Sailing is dedicated to supporting the Veteran community in providing a competitive racing team that helps Veterans navigate the hardships of transition, rehabilitation, and the complex life challenges associated with combat deployments. Racing with U.S. Patriot Sailing since 2018, Peter is currently a volunteer skipper for the Annapolis chapter of this non-profit sailing team. Peter skippers a Farr30, Melges24, and J22 in the Annapolis and Baltimore area.
Learn more about U.S. Patriot Sailing Below
Varsity Offshore Sailing Team
Competed on the U.S. Naval Academy’s Varsity Offshore Sailing Team (VOST) for all 8 semesters. Highlights include
Skippering the TP52 Invictus (previously Samba Pa Ti) in the 2010 Newport-Bermuda Race
Winning skipper in the 2010 McMillan Cup: Collegiate Big Boat Championship for Mid-Atlantic/New England districts, college sailing’s oldest event
Third place skipper in the 2010 Kennedy Cup: National collegiate large yacht championship
Helmsman/Navigator of the Farr40 Seawolf in the 2009 Annapolis-Newport Race, New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, and Block Island Race Week
Additional Boats Raced: Navy44 Mark I and II, J105, J109, J120, Nelson Marek 49, Farr 49
Earned U.S. Naval Academy “D” Qualification Offshore Skipper
2,500+ nm offshore experience
Early Offshore Racing
Peter grew up sailing offshore from an early age on his family’s Farr395 Upgrade. Highlights include the following:
2004, 2006 Newport-Bermuda Races
2003, 2005, 2007 Annapolis-Newport Races
5x Offshore deliveries supporting previous races
6x Watch Captain offshore
5,500+ nm offshore experience
Upgrade in Bermuda racing in the Onion Patch Series (2004)
Additional Pictures Below
Skippering U.S. Patriot Sailing's Farr30
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley showing his support for a team event
Skippering U.S. Patriot Sailing's Melges24
Teaching veterans how to sail U.S. Patriot Sailing's Melges24 on a training day
A chilly January day in Baltimore frostbite racing J22s with U.S. Patriot Sailing
A rewarding experience racing twice a week with Patriot crew in Baltimore's inner harbor
Part of his intel section prior to deployment celebrating the unit's 100th year (2017)
Peter's platoon of infantrymen conducting live fire training on a range in Puerto Rico (2016)
Police Headquarters in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan (2014)
Previously owned a 1984 S2 7.9 (26') while stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina
Racing on a J109 in San Diego while stationed at Camp Pendleton, California
Trimming jib while racing with Dennis Conner on his Nelson Marek 43 in San Deigo
U.S. Naval Academy's Varsity Offshore Sailing Team (VOST) in 2011
2010 Kennedy Cup: National collegiate large yacht championship, 3rd place (skipper)
Skippering the TP52 Invictus in Newport Harbor prior to the Bermuda Race (2010)
Driving the Farr40 Seawolf in practice during the fall 2009 season on the bay
Tactician and main trimmer for VOST's J105 during the 2008 fall racing season
Jib and spinnaker trimmer fall of freshman year on the Farr49 Hellcat (2007)
Racing on the Farr395 Upgrade as bowman for the start of an offshore race
420 skipper during junior sailing out of Severn Sailing Association (SSA) and Annapolis
Hey wrong sport?!! Still relying on the physical and mental resilience learned in 3 years of high school crew. We didn't have a sailing team, but that wouldn't keep me away from the water!