Sir Peter Blake murdered

Following earlier news-wire reports, the death of New Zealand yachtsman, Sir Peter Blake has been confirmed.

A statement issued by Omega, Sir Peter's sponsor on his latest expedition, reads:
"It is with deepest regret that Omega learned of the death of Sir Peter Blake, K.B.E., who was shot and killed by armed intruders who boarded the 'blakexpeditions' vessel Seamaster, anchored off Macapa at the mouth of the River Amazon, early this morning (Central European Time).

Sir Peter apparently died instantly despite desperate resuscitation efforts by members of the Seamaster crew. He is survived by his wife, Lady Pippa Blake, and their two children, Sarah-Jane and James.

The Omega statement goes on to say, " Seamaster was anchored off Macapa awaiting customs clearance to depart Brazilian waters after a two-month expedition exploring the Amazon and the Rio Negro as part of the 'blakexpeditions' programme to monitor the affects of global warming and pollution on the most environmentally sensitive regions of the world. She was due to depart tomorrow for the Orinoco river, in Venezuela, to meet and pick-up the 'blakexpeditions' jungle team which has continued the exploration work, crossing from the Rio Negro into the head waters of the Orinoco and down to its mouth in the Caribbean. The group of seven or eight armed and hooded intruders boarded Seamaster at approximately 10.15pm local time.

Sir Peter was fatally shot and two other members of Seamaster's crew were injured, one with a gunshot wound across the back, the other with a blow to the face. Both injured men are back aboard Seamaster after receiving hospital treatment.

The other seven Seamaster crew were badly shaken but unharmed. Brazilian police are investigating.

Over more than 20 years the man who started out in the P-class in Auckland harbour became an icon of New Zealand Yachting. He forged a singular reputation in ocean racing with a record-smashing non-stop round-the-world finish aboard ENZA in 1994. Blake took part in all the first five Whitbread Round the World Races. In the 1989-90 Whitbread race, he skippered Steinlager II to an unprecedented clean sweep - his team walked off with line, handicap and overall honours on each of the race's six legs. Blake's numerous accolades include two Sportsman of the Year awards and four Yachtsman of the Year awards. He was named a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1983 for services to yachting, and received a knighthood from the Queen of England in 1991, honoured with the title of Officer of the British Empire (OBE), again for services to yachting.


Sir Peter Blake (left) with the crew aboard ENZA
before the first Jules Verne attempt