For Pippa, Sara-Jane, James
for all of New Zealand, all of the sailing world,
all the people of the earth.
Remembering Sir Blake.


He sails tonight on a different sea,
red socks waving from the mast in the sky,
part of his playful memory and his wonderful legacy.
A giant on the seas, Sir Peter Blake sailed the world
backed by a strong New Zealand breeze.

Peter, your mainsail was well-trimmed in the final wind.
Your mission of love for our Mother Earth,
your final days, an adventure to protect the Amazon
will not be forgotten by this world citizen,
nor will the adventures of you and all the mates
of your beloved ship the Seamaster.

Goodbye Sir Peter Blake,
may your heart sail forever
on more peaceful seas,
and may others take up the slack in the sail.

*
In memory of Sir Peter Blake,
New Zealand, America's Cup winner,
captain of The Seamaster,
(formerly Cousteau's Antarctic Explorer)

*
FYI, Sir Peter Blake was murdered Dec 6, 2001 on his ship the Seamaster, while in harbor on the Amazon River. The following is an exerpt from his final log:

"The quality of water and the quality of life in all its infinite forms are critical parts of the overall ongoing health of this planet of ours, not just here in the Amazon, but everywhere.

We want to restart people caring for the environment as it must be cared for.

To win, you have to believe you can do it. You have to be passionate about it. You have to really "want" the result, even if this means years of work.

The hardest part of any big project is to begin.
We have begun, we are underway, we have a passion.
We want to make a difference.

Kind regards,

Peter."

http://www.blakexpeditions.com/flash.htm

*
(this is a repeat from Dec 2001.)