Fredi Heins' decision to have Doug Peterson design his new yacht was cool and followed the idea of commissioning the most successful IOR designer at the time.

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The Californian's star rose in 1973 with the IOR one-tonner GANBARE. The boat shook up the International One Ton Cup in 1973 and was clearly the fastest yacht in the field, even if she ultimately didn't win. The following year the time had come and GUMBOOTS, drawn by Peterson, clearly won the championship. His reputation was established and Peterson became the most sought-after designer of IOR racing yachts for more than a decade. He is the only designer who​ managed to win 4 of the 5 IOR Cup Classes in the same year (1975), and only Bruce Farr and Doug Peterson managed to win the World Championships in all 5 classes in their careers ;

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In the US racing series SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Conference), the dominance of the Peterson designs was almost overwhelming with 7 out of 9 overall victories between 1975 and 1983. But Peterson designs were also highly successful at the ADMIRAL'S CUP, which at the time enjoyed status as the World Championship of Yacht Racing, with an overall victory and three second places as well as the title as Top Scoring Inshore Boat five times. The outstanding placings in the inshore races demonstrate  Peterson's special skill in giving his yachts superior upwind properties. One of the better-known yachts of this period is certainly the legendary WILLIWAW, among others under the German flag are CONTAINER, PINTA and THOMAS-I-PUNKT well known. Peterson also based the design of SNIFIX DRY on WILLIWAW, although Fredi Heins' specifications naturally required changes.

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Doug Peterson was also very popular and successful as a designer of series yachts. His designs for BALTIC YACHTS in the 80s are outstanding. Further shipyards particularly well-known in Europe which ordered Doug Peterson designs  include CANTIERI del PARDO  (Grand Soleil), but also the sporty models BAVARIA 38 and 42 Match are Peterson designs, And there are numerous Maxi Yachts, e.g. from JONGERT.

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After all, Doug Peterson has also left a powerful footprint in the AMERICA'S CUP. He won the Cup twice (1992: AMERICA and 1995: BLACK MAGIC Team New Zealand), once one of his boats came second, and finally Doug Peterson yachts won the LV Challenger Series twice (including the PRADA in 2000).  

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Doug Peterson died of cancer on June 26, 2017 at the age of 71. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the America's Cup, he was inducted into the AMERICA'S CUP HALL of FAME.