Crossword Genius

Captain needing to miss Peru, having no uniform (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

skipper

'captain' is the definition.
('skipper' can be a synonym of 'captain')

'to miss peru having no uniform' is the wordplay.
'to miss' becomes 'skip' (skipping is a kind of missing**).
'having no' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'uniform' becomes 'u' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'peru' with 'u' removed is 'per'.
'skip'+'per'='SKIPPER'

'needing' is the link.

(Other definitions for skipper that I've seen before include "being in charge?" , "Chap aboard trawler" , "Trawler boss" , "sleep in outhouse" , "girl with rope?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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