“My girl and I came back down to the VI and looked around trying decide where was home, and it was a pleasant surprise. Either my eyes brightened or the islands have got a little bit better but it was a really enjoyable feeling to come home and we looked around at different islands and St Thomas is still the place we like the most,” said Peter.

With the next America’s Cup five years away, Peter wants to take some time off and do other things before re-joining the America’s Cup fray. He’s given himself two years to get his life back. Having bought some land on St Thomas and designed a house, he’s preparing to build. He gets married in December.

While he’s looking at his America’s Cup choices, he’s in no rush and after his last experience and to wants to weigh his options. “I don’t need the Cup. If it comes, the perfect deal, I’ll take it but I’m able to make a living professional sailing and live in the VI. That’s just about as close to an ideal life as I can imagine. I think it’s the right mind set for looking at the Cup.”

With rumours flying that he’s joining Alinghi and no official comment from either party, reading between the lines it seems that Peter is close to signing a deal with someone. Knowing that the key teams are quietly assembling now, he’s aware that if he leaves it too late he may have missed the boat. He has no interest in a four-year training program with the view that two to two and half years is more than enough time to train a sailing team. An early relocation doesn’t seem to be in his game plan but he would expect to stay involved and relocate two years out.

Peter competing at this year's King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda

As for his Swedish Match Tour plans, they seem to confirm his imminent America’s Cup signing. “I support the [Swedish Match] Tour one hundred per cent. Whether I’m ready to dive back in and start training a match race team right now, no. The match race circuit is an excellent arena to sharpen your tool and get your team totally tight but what am I training for now? The goal’s too far away.”

“I plan on joining a team relatively soon and I’ll just wait until I have those team colors all lined up and go right in to the Cup training on the circuit. I envision in the next year or two being on the circuit and then switching into Cup boats for the final two years. We might still keep our foot in the door in the final two years.”

And the clinching comment: “I would expect to be in the Swedish Match Tour in this coming year.”

In the meantime, he has some interesting projects lined up. He’ll be calling the shots as tactician on Tom Hill’s Reichel/Pugh-designed 75-footer Titan this coming race season, pick and choose Farr 40 and big boat slots in Europe, and Olympic coaching. He’ll be helping Bermuda’s Peter Bromby and his Star campaign. “Considering I did a similar thing on an isolated island and trained for myself, I’ll work with home a little bit and see how that goes,” said Peter. Also, expect to see him in the local club racing and on the IC24 circuit as it develops, also running clinics and coaching. “I want to get involved with some of the fun simple regattas again.”