TitleSirFirst namePeterFamily nameBlakeHonourKBEDate of birth1 October 1948Date of death5 December 2001BiographySir Peter Blake was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the 1989–90 Whitbread Round the World Race, held the Jules Verne Trophy from 1994 to 1997 by setting the fastest time around the world as co-skipper of ENZA New Zealand, and led his country to successive victories in the America's Cup.
Blake's "lucky red socks" (a present from his wife) became something of a trademark. It was commonplace to see New Zealanders sport red socks or fly them from car aerials during the Cup races and a highly successful "fundraising edition" of official red socks emblazoned with the sail numbers of the two NZL yachts was produced to help fund future syndicates.
The 2000 America's Cup, Team New Zealand, still led by Blake, became the first non-American team to successfully defend the Americas Cup.
Blake was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1996 in honour of his services to yachting, Blake was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995, and received an honorary doctorate in 2000 from Auckland University of Technology.
In 2001, pirates shot and killed Blake while he was on an environmental exploration trip in South America, monitoring global warming and pollution for the United Nations. At his memorial service Prime Minister Helen Clarke described Blake as a "living legend" and a "national hero".
In 2002, the International Olympic Committee posthumously awarded the Olympic Order, one of its highest honours.
In December 2003, the Sir Peter Blake Trust was established, with the support of the Blake family, "to help New Zealanders make a positive difference for the planet through activities that encourage environmental awareness and action, and leadership development.” This includes two awards; one the Blake Medal, awarded each year to an outstanding New Zealand leader, and the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Awards, presented annually to six people recognised as younger leaders of considerable potential.
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Attendance StatusPastYear of entrynot specifiedYear of leavingnot specifiedHousenot specifiedOccupationYachtsman
