Sir Peter Blake

His trademark laugh, and can-do spirit, belied a steely resolve that made him one of the most potent leaders in modern New Zealand. His name has become a by-word for leadership and BLAKE, the charitable trust established in 2004, still rewards a cohort of emerging leaders every year.

Peter started competitive sailing aged five. At 18, he won the New Zealand Junior Offshore Group Championship in a yacht that he built with his brother. At 21, he burst onto the international scene as watch leader on Ocean Spirit in the Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro race. Ocean Spirit won, and he was snapped up to be watch captain on two Whitbread Round the World races in 1973 and 1978 — remarkable for someone so young.

Peter was convinced that New Zealand had the sailing and boat-building skills to enter international competitions. Charismatic and convincing, he raised local funds to commission young New Zealand designer Bruce Farr to build Ceramco, a 68-foot sloop that was the first of its kind for New Zealand and novel in many aspects. However, tragedy struck on the first leg when Ceramco broke its mast 4,000 kilometres from Cape Town. In a display of ‘Kiwi ingenuity’ the crew jury-rigged a fix and went on to place third in the race.

The recovery secured Peter’s place in yachting lore and ushered in a golden period for New Zealand yacht racing. Lion New Zealand was placed second in the 1985 Whitbread. In 1989, Peter skippered Steinlager 2 to win an unprecedented clean sweep of line, handicap and overall honours on each of the race’s six legs. In 1994, he was the first non-French skipper to win the Jules Verne Trophy, the fastest non-stop navigation of the world under sail.

Peter was respected in sailing circles, but it was his role in the America’s Cup that captured the nation’s imagination. The longstanding US contest had its New York dominance broken by a gutsy Australian challenger from Perth in 1983. New Zealanders, long-time rivals with Australians, couldn’t stand by watching the Aussies win, and entered a series of challengers in subsequent years, notably KZ-7, a novel, fibreglass boat designed by Farr, affectionately dubbed Plastic Fantastic. Despite close competition on the water, and legal fights off it, New Zealand was denied victory.

In the 1992 challenge, Peter was a last-minute choice as team leader, and, though they lost to Italy, his appetite was whetted.

In 1995, he formed Team New Zealand and commissioned a Farr special, NZL32, or Black Magic. The team swept all before it and went on to claim the vaunted prize. The competition galvanised the nation, with TV ratings equivalent to those seen only by the other national religion, rugby. As Black Magic approached the finish line on the last race, sailing commentator Pete Montgomery shouted a line most New Zealanders can still recite:

“The America’s Cup is now New Zealand’s cup!”

Peter’s ‘lucky red socks’ (a gift from wife Pippa) became a fundraiser and a talisman that continues to this day for BLAKE. He was made an MBE in 1983, an OBE in 1991, and knighted in 1995 for services to yachting.

In the 2000 America’s Cup, Team New Zealand became the first non-American team to successfully defend the America’s Cup, beating Prada 5–0. Following this, Peter stood down to resume his interest in ocean conservation. Peter’s vision and determination for an America’s Cup village of yachts and superyachts resulted in the development of Viaduct Basin in downtown Auckland.

In 1997, he’d been appointed head of expeditions of the Cousteau Society, founded by French conservationist Jacques Cousteau. Peter was to captain the planned vessel, Calypso II, but disagreements led to him resigning and purchasing the Society’s Antarctic Explorer. He renamed it Seamaster and led expeditions to Antarctica and the Amazon.

He was also named Special Envoy for the UN Environment Programme and began filming documentaries for his company Blakexpeditions.

On 5 December 2001, Seamaster was anchored in Macapá, Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon delta, awaiting customs clearance. Pirates boarded the ship and held a gun to the head of one of the crew. Peter sprang from the cabin and shot one of the robbers in the hand. But his rifle malfunctioned, and he was fatally shot in the back by another pirate. The robbers escaped with an outboard motor and some wrist watches.

Peter Blake’s murder shocked New Zealanders and the sailing world. His memorial service held in Auckland’s Domain was attended by 30,000 people and included a tribute from Prime Minister Helen Clark.

“Our small nation went into shock. Sir Peter Blake was a living legend. As an outstanding sailor, he had brought great honour and fame to New Zealand. His death was unthinkable,” she said.

Later that day some 8,000 vessels sailed in the Auckland harbour in his honour. In 2002, the International Olympic Committee posthumously awarded Peter the Olympic Order, one of its highest honours. He was twice named New Zealand Yachtsman of the Year, New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, and once named World Sailor of the Year.

Biographer Stephanie Gibson, in Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, summed up his character:

Blake’s greatest strengths lay in organisation and leadership. He built up his sailing crews through careful selection, focusing on compatibility and the temperament of individuals who could function effectively in team environments. He encouraged consensus, and worked as hard as his crews, thereby winning loyalty and respect. Many became lifelong friends and sailed with Blake whatever the project.

Much loved and admired, Sir Peter Blake is remembered as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s greats.