Sir Peter Blake was perhaps the greatest competitive yachtsman of all time ? the man who seized the America's Cup and won the Whitbread. In his later years he turned away from international competition and used the yacht Seamaster to draw attention to the threats to the world's environment. It was in pursuit of this cause that Blake was tragically murdered in 2001 at the mouth of the Amazon while defending Seamaster from pirates. In this first ever biography, close friend and colleague Alan Sefton traces Blake's extraordinary life. From the small boy crazy about the sea, to the rigours of ocean racing and the America's Cup triumphs, to the decision to devote his life to saving the world's oceans - and to his sad but brave end on the Amazon. Blake lived life to the limit. An Amazing Life offers both gripping adventure and inspiration to sailors and non-sailors alike.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Sale and Adventure in his blood; First steps up the ladder; His own command; A legend is born; One step backwards; A weighty problem; The trilogy; The big red rocket; Game, set, match and glory; 'a cynosure for all young New Zealanders'; too little, too late; In the footsteps of fogg; fully fruited; Team game; Black Magic; The vexing years; Making a difference; A date with destiny; epilogue; Sir Peter Blake ? a life; Acknowledgements

Author Biography

Alan Sefton is an experienced sports writer who manages Blakexpeditions, the company formed with Sir Peter Blake to operate the Seamaster. Sefton was chief executive of Team New Zealand during the 1999 America's Cup defence. Sefton has written several bestselling yachting books.