Sir Peter Blake Killed by Pirates

Sir Peter Blake Photo credit: PPL

Famed sailor Sir Peter Blake was killed by pirates in the Amazon on Wednesday December 5, according to his office in Paris. Blake was in Brazil as part of his assignment as a United Nations envoy for environmental affairs. He was on an eight month cruise of the Amazon region, after completing a voyage to Antarctica and the the Southern Ocean.

Blake headed the Team New Zealand America's Cup team that won in San Diego in 1995 and successfully defended in Auckland in 2000.

Statement from the Volvo Ocean Race:

"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."

Peter Blake leaves behind a wife and two children.