Peter Blake (yachtsman)

Sir Peter James Blake, KBE (October 1, 1948–December 6, 2001) was a New Zealand yachtsman who led his country to two successive "America"’s Cup victories. He previously won the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989, and the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 by setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran "Enza". Blake was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for services to yachting, and received an honorary doctorate in 2000 from AUT University. He was murdered by pirates in Brazil on 6 December 2001 during an environmental exploration trip in South America.

Whitbread Round the World Race

In the 1977–78 race, he rejoined Les Williams this time with co-skipper Johnston on board "Heath’s Condor".

For the 1981–82 race, Blake mounted his own campaign as skipper of "Ceramco New Zealand", a 68 ft sloop designed by an up-and-coming naval architect called Bruce Farr.

Blake returned to the Whitbread Round the World race in 1985 with one of the race favorites, "Lion New Zealand", sponsored by the Lion Brewery.

In the 1989–90 Whitbread race, Blake skippered "Steinlager" to an unprecedented clean sweep. His team walked off with line, handicap and overall honours on each of the race's six legs.

America's Cup

Brought in at the last minute by Carl McKenzie to manage New Zealand's 1992 "America"'s Cup challenge, Blake led the Kiwi team to the challenger finals with NZL-20. However, Italy emerged from the controversial series with the Louis Vuitton Cup, and went on to face "America³" in the America's Cup match.

In 1995 Blake was back, this time as the syndicate head of Team New Zealand. With NZL 32, "Black Magic", they made a clean sweep, beating Dennis Conner 5-0. His red socks (a present from his wife) became something of a trademark; such items of clothing became a badge of mourning to his many admirers after his murder, most particularly in his native New Zealand.

In 2000 Team New Zealand, still led by Blake, became the first non American team to successfully defend the Americas Cup, beating Prada 5-0.

After the 2000 defence Sir Peter stood down from the team.

Blake was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1996.

Post racing

In 1997, Blake became the Cousteau Society's head of expeditions, and skipper of the "Antarctic Explorer", which he later purchased from the Society and renamed "Seamaster". After leaving the Society he led expeditions to Antarctica and the Amazon aboard "Seamaster" during 2001. [cite web|title=On Yachting; Peter Blake's Legacy Spans the World|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03EED9133CF934A35751C1A9679C8B63|first=Herb|last=McCormick|date=December 7, 2001|work=New York Times|accessdate=2007-11-21] The same year Blake was named special envoy for the UN Environment Programme.cite web|title=Long sentences for Blake murder|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2054913.stm|date=19 June 2002|work=BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-21] . He began filming documentaries for blakexpeditions, a company he founded.

Death and legacy

On 6 December, 2001, pirates shot and killed Blake while he was on an environmental exploration trip in South America, monitoring global warming and pollution for the United Nations. The two-month expedition was anchored off Macapá, Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon delta, waiting to clear customs after a trip up the Amazon river. At around 9 pm a group of six to eight armed, masked robbers wearing balaclavas and crash helmets boarded the "Seamaster". As one of the robbers held a gun to the head of a crewmember, Blake sprang from the cabin wielding a rifle used to ward off polar bears. He shot one of the assailants in the hand before the rifle malfunctioned; he was then fatally shot in the back by assailant Ricardo Colares Tavares. [cite web|first=Mike|last=Wise|title=YACHT RACING; A Year Later, Blake's Widow Searches for Strength|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE1DF163FF93BA15751C1A9649C8B63|date=December 28, 2002|work=New York Times|accessdate=2007-11-21] The boarders injured two other crew members with knives, and the remaining seven were unhurt. [cite web|title=Sir Peter Blake murdered|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423466/70205|date=December 7, 2001|work=TVNZ|accessdate=2007-11-21]

The only booty the attackers seized from "Seamaster" was a 15 hp outboard motor and some watches from the crew. Authorities eventually captured the pirates and sentenced them to an average of 32 years in prison each; Tavares, the man who fired the fatal shots, received a sentence of 36 years 9 months.

Prior to the attack, the yacht's crew had been very careful when travelling up the river and back down again; they always had crew members on watch. Only upon return to 'civilisation' did they relax their guard.

Sir Peter is survived by his wife Pippa, Lady Blake, and their two children Sarah-Jane and James. National Geographic has stated that blakexpeditions plans to continue Blake's environmental work.

Around 30,000 people attended a memorial service held for Blake at the Auckland Domain on 23 December 2001, and included tributes from Blake's family, the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, the Brazilian Ambassador, and Neil and Tim Finn. [cite web|first=Geoff|last=Beynon|title=Scoop
24 December 2001|work=Scoop|accessdate=2007-11-21] Helen Clark spent a night aboard the "Seamaster" three weeks prior to the attack. [cite web|title=Tributes to a sailing legend|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/1696129.stm|date=6 December 2001|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=2007-11-21]

Sir Peter Blake is buried in a very old churchyard on Church Lane, near Emsworth on the south coast of England. Emsworth is where Pippa and Peter settled and raised their two children. His headstone bears the words of John Masefield's famous poem, Sea Fever: "I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky, and all I ask....".

On 23 October 2002, the International Olympic Committee posthumously awarded the Olympic Order, one of its highest honours, to Blake. [cite web|title=Blake honoured by IOC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/1707359.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=12 December 2001|accessdate=2007-11-21]

In December 2003, the Sir Peter Blake Trust was established, with the support of the Blake family, "to help New Zealanders make a positive difference for the planet through activities that encourage environmental awareness and action, and leadership development."

The Trust has a range of initiatives, including the annual Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards.

"Seamaster" was originally built in France. After Blake's death she was eventually purchased by Etienne Bourgois and renamed "Tara." She continues to undertake successful Arctic expeditions.

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,614838,00.html The Guardian: Tributes for Peter Blake]
* [http://www.sirpeterblaketrust.org/ Official Sir Peter Blake Trust Website]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=320&ObjectID=10118908 NZ Herald: Blake Medal to honour leaders]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10337370 NZ Herald: Blake trust names winners]
* [http://www.taraexpeditions.org/ Official Tara Expeditions Website]

References