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Friday December 7 6:09 AM ET
Sailing Legend Peter Blake Mourned
By RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Parliament paid tribute with a moment of silence and a Maori hymn for New Zealand yachtsman Peter Blake.
Prime Minister Helen Clark described Blake, who was shot dead by pirates in Brazil on Wednesday, as a national hero and New Zealand's greatest sailor.
Blake, 53, skippered New Zealand when it won the America's Cup in 1995. Last year, he led the only successful defense by a non-American boat of the world's oldest sporting trophy.
Clark said Friday she was devastated by Blake's murder.
``I think he is to the waters what Sir Edmund Hillary (first to climb Mt. Everest) has been to the mountains. He's just the most amazingly accomplished yachtsman,'' she said. ``He was an inspiration to all New Zealanders.''
Blake's mother, Joyce Blake, said his actions in attempting to defend his crew and his boat moments before his own death were typical of his character.
She said from boyhood, Peter pushed sailing boundaries ``to see how far he could go. He loved boats, he loved racing and the water.''
Joyce Blake said while her son's exploits in round-the-world yachting caused family members to be concerned about his welfare in difficult conditions, his environmental protection mission was ``a different sort of danger. This was danger to himself personally, not just the boat.''
``(He) did protect the crew and boat. It is absolutely typical of him.''
Mortgaging his home to secure an entry into the 1995 America's Cup was the measure of Blake's commitment, said Bob Field, chief executive of Toyota New Zealand, a sponsor of Blake's challenge.
``He basically put his family fortune at risk,'' Field said. ``That convinced us to join the campaign. He was very determined and humble.''
In Wellington, business was halted Friday as tributes flowed.
After a period of silent respect to remember Blake, legislators spontaneously stood and joined in singing the Maori language version of the hymn ``How Great Thou Art.''
Flags at all the America's Cup yachting syndicate bases at Auckland's Viaduct Basin were flying at half-mast from early morning as the world's sailors paid tribute to the Team New Zealand founder.
America's Cup challengers, who begin sailing next October to see who will face New Zealand in 2003 for the America's Cup, canceled sail training Friday as a mark of respect.
Team New Zealand chief executive Ross Blackman set up the 1995 America's Cup |
