Blakey photo tribute

Christian Fevrier, photographer and friend of the late Sir Peter Blake, delivers his tribute to the great seaman

Monday December 10th 2001, Author: Christian Fevrier, Location: United Kingdom
ENZA New Zealand



April 1th 1994. Right at the end of her second attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy, the 92ft catamaran ENZA New Zealand skippered by Peter Blake and Robin Knox-Johnston, met a very severe gale in the North Atlantic.

"It was the worse I have ever met" said Peter Blake on his arrival in Brest. To avoid to capsize, the crew decided to use the heavy anchor chain of the anchor as a drogue. Run out 100m astern on a big loop from each hull, the heavy weight slowed the giant catamaran in the surfs.

We rendez-voused with ENZA at night on a French frigate in order to see the boat at sunrise, 60 miles from the line off Ouessant. The sea was still big and we could hardly see the yacht sometimes as it totally disappeared behind the 10 meter high waves (above).

At Ushant, a swarm of helicopters surrounded the catamaran. Peter's wife Pippa is in the lower helicopter, welcoming him home after his sixth circumnavigation.

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