Sir Peter Blake shot dead by pirates in Brazil
by Editor 6 Dec 2001 16:31 GMT
It has been reported on the BBC that Sir Peter Blake has been shot dead by pirates in Brazil, according to his agent. He was thought to be in the Amazon on UN duties for which he was named as a special envoy for the United Nations.
Sir Peter Blake lead Team New Zealand to victory in the 1995 & 2000 America's Cup. He also won the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989 on Steinlager 2 and the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 on the catamaran ENZA for the fastest non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends and the people of New Zealand.
RYA Statement at the news of Sir Peter Blake’s death
Rod Carr RYA Chief Executive commenting on the Reuters news report that Sir Peter Blake has been shot dead by pirates off the coast of Brazil said:
“Firstly our thoughts are with his wife Pippa and their two children. If this tragic news is confirmed the sport of sailing will have lost one of its truly great statesmen. An outstanding leader, he built one of the worlds most effective sailing teams that captured in 1995 and defended in 2000 the sports highest prize the America’s Cup.
On a global scale Sir Peter’s sailing achievements are legendary. He has tackled the World's great oceans, winning the famous Whitbread Round the World race and latter winning the Jules Verne trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe with Sir Robin Knox Johnson.
We are deeply saddened by this news and if confirmed we will have lost one of our sports most courageous and brave sailors who although a native Kiwi had established his home here in the UK.”
Volvo Ocean Race Statement On Tragic Death of Sir Peter Blake
It is with great sadness that the Volvo Ocean Race learned today that Sir Peter Blake, five-time Whitbread Round The World Race sailor and double America's Cup winner, was tragically killed in Amazonia.
Sir Peter, 53, was a major figure in the world of sailing and helped make the former Whitbread race the pinnacle of ocean racing it is today. As skipper, he made history a decade ago by winning all six legs and the overall prize in the 1989-1990 Whitbread Round The World Race on Steinlager 2.
Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race, Helge Alten, currently in Sydney, Australia, said: "Everyone is shocked and saddened by this tragic news. Sir Peter Blake will always be remembered as one of the greatest sailors the world has seen through his achievements in all areas of the sport. His personal warmth and caring meant he was always an approachable figure and an inspiring personality. At this time our thoughts are with his family."
Update from Edgardo Vieytes Junior in Brazil:
A group of 6 people entered his boat Seamaster and stole watches and one 15hp motor. Sir Peter Blake and two others from his crew reacted to the situation and got shot. Sir Peter Blake died at the moment, the other two are in the hospital. The incident happened off the port of Macapa near the mouth of the Amazon.
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