1995, Peter Blake: Never give up

Team New Zealand saw Queen St full to overflowing with wellwishers. (Glenn Jeffrey, NZ Herald Archive)

Sir Peter Blake was our New Zealander of the Year in 1995 for his role in leading Team New Zealand to a famous win in the America's Cup when Black Magic beat Dennis Conner's syndicate 5-0 in the waters off San Diego.

Sir Peter, already famous for his victory in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World race with Steinlager 2, was the land-based head of Team New Zealand while Russell Coutts called the shots on the water.

But, as America's Cup correspondent Suzanne McFadden wrote in the Herald's tribute to Sir Peter, the great man was invited to help crew the yacht before the challenger series began.

He could have had a role with the brains trust on board but he chose the hard physical work of being a trimmer and part-time grinder.

"He worked so hard in one race that he aggravated tendonitis in his elbow," wrote McFadden.

"At the end of the race he told the crew he would have to have a day off in the next race. That was the only race Black Magic lost on the water. It was also the day Blake's so-called lucky red socks - and their absence from the boat - became legend."

But, of course, it was not all down to luck.

"One of Blake's mottoes is to hang on in until you win," wrote McFadden. "Everyone remembers his outstanding round-the-world race victory in 1989-90 when Steinlager 2 dominated every leg.

"But he sailed in four Whitbreads before he won one ... He was once quoted as saying: 'The winners are the ones who keep coming back - not those who lose and give up'."

The welcome home parade for Sir Peter Blake. (David White, NZ Herald Archive)

He was a special envoy for the UN Environment Programme and set up blakexpeditions to help encourage people to take better care of the oceans and waterways. While leading an expedition to the Amazon River Sir Peter was killed by armed intruders on his yacht Seamaster.

"Our loss is the world's loss," said the Herald, stressing the importance of his work for the environment.

But not everything was lost. In 2004 the Sir Peter Blake Trust was set up with the objective of creating a living legacy for Sir Peter's life as yachtsman, adventurer, leader and guardian of the environment.

Its aim is to stay true to his pragmatic philosophy: "Having vision is not enough. Change comes through realising the vision and turning it into a reality."

From the Herald archives:
'A life of challenge and conquest', NZ Herald online, 8 December 2001

'Peter Blake, 1948-2001', NZ Herald online

Further reading:
'About Sir Peter Blake: A true New Zealand hero and leader', The Sir Peter Blake Trust