Posted by John Wilson on December 07, 2001 at 06:12:58 from 202.154.157.98:
New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake was killed during a robbery while in his yacht Seamaster which had been on an envirionmental mission up the Amazon River and was south of Macapa at the mouth of the Amazon. Apparently a gang of pirates known locally as the “Water Rats”. And all for an outboard motor plus watches and cameras!
Sir Peter Blake defended the Auld Mug (2000); won it ie the America’s Cup and knighted (1995), won the Jules Verne Trophy for fastest circumnavigation of world in Enza plus World Sailor of the Year and British Yachtsman of the Year (1994); won Whitbread round-the-world race in Steinlager 2 (1989-90); line honours in round-Australia race in Steinlager 1 (1988); NZ Yachtsman of Year (1992); line & handicap honours in Sydney-Hobart race in Ceramco (1982). He started in a boy’s (childs) P-class yacht though.
He was Captain of the Cousteau Society from 1997 until he resigned and established blakexpeditions in 2000.
see www.blakexpeditions.com
NB: gives a new meaning to the term “Amazon Pirates”.
PS: Local suburban bookshop here in Wellington, New Zealand has a complete set of the 12 S&A novels in the new 2001 Red Fox pb edition. With a single AR picture on the front; not a more recent sketch like the earlier Red Fox pb editions, and not a montage of AR sketches like the dust jackets of the Cape hb. editions. They must be in demand still to stock the whole set!