This memorial site was created in memory of, Sir Peter Blake, who was born on October 1, 1948 and died on December 5, 2001.

This was a Kiwi who seemed so much larger than life. He was "big stuff" in whatever he did and he carried the spirit of thousands of New Zealanders along with him.
 
By the time he died Peter Blake was a husband, a father, a sailor, an adventurer, a passionate environmentalist and a New Zealand national hero. He commanded, but never sought, world-wide respect on an international stage.
 
Born into a family of four in Bayswater Auckland, Peter grew up around boats and it became clear from an early age that he loved the sea. It was also clear that he loved sailing - not only that, he was good at it.
 
Just how good was blazingly obvious when he (and some very talented others!) arrived back in New Zealand one day with a piece of silverware that required secure protection.

Winning the Americas Cup was an undoubted hightlight of an illustrious yachting career but Peter Blake, the man, will go down in history as a person who challenged New Zealanders to exceed their personal best.

The marvels of modern communication more than ever helped make Peter Blake a household name but unlike many other national names in a similar dimension, Peter Blake was a man who captured our hearts.

Perhaps the real proof of how much he meant to us lies in the simple things he left behind. Phrases like "5 zip" - how to win the Americas' Cup and how to defend it. And red socks - how to pull a nation together to fight for a cause.

Sadly this outstanding life came to an abrupt end on December 5, 2001 when Peter was shot trying to defend his friends in Macapa Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon.

This tragic loss was deeply felt by a large number of New Zealanders - a fact that was clearly demonstrated by more than 30,000 Aucklanders who turned up to his memorial service to farwell the boy from Bayswater.

• For more details on Sir Peter go to the
   Sir Peter Blake Trust official web site.
   Click Here