"Our objective is to help protect life in, on and around the waters of the world" - blakexpeditions

Sir Peter Blake, K.B.E., was shot and killed by armed intruders who boarded the "blakexpeditions" vessel Seamaster, anchored off Macapa at the mouth of the River Amazon, early the morning of December 6, 2001.

Sir Peter apparently died instantly despite desperate resuscitation efforts by members of the Seamaster crew.

He is survived by his wife, Lady Pippa Blake, and their two children, Sarah-Jane and James.

Seamaster was anchored off Macapa awaiting customs clearance to depart Brazilian waters after a two-month expedition exploring the Amazon and the Rio Negro as part of the "blakexpeditions" program to monitor the affects of global warming and pollution on the most environmentally sensitive regions of the world.

She was due to depart tomorrow for the Orinoco river, in Venezuela, to meet and pick-up the "blakexpeditions" jungle team which has continued the exploration work, crossing from the Rio Negro into the head waters of the Orinoco and down to its mouth in the Caribbean.

The group of seven or eight armed and hooded intruders boarded Seamaster at approximately 10:15 pm local time.

Sir Peter was fatally shot and two other members of Seamaster's crew were injured, one with a gunshot wound across the back, the other with a blow to the face. Both injured men are back aboard Seamaster after receiving hospital treatment. The other seven Seamaster crew were badly shaken but unharmed. Brazilian police are investigating.

Nicolas G. Hayek, Chairman and CEO of the Swatch Group, OMEGA's parent company, said "Sir Peter has been a personal friend for a number of years and we were honored to support his worthwhile cause. No words can express our sorrow at this sad loss and at this time our thoughts are with his family in England and his close friends within the 'blakexpeditions' organization."

"Sir Peter was a very special person to many people around the world, highly regarded because of the man he was, because of everything he had achieved and because of everything he represented," said "blakexpeditions" spokesman Alan Sefton.

"He had left behind his many major achievements in sport to dedicate himself to creating greater awareness of the need to take better care of the world in which we live.

"And, typical of the man, he was giving it his heart and soul along with all those other virtues with which he had become synonymous -- total passion, charisma, commitment, leadership and integrity.

"We are struggling to come to terms with his loss and our hearts go out to his immediate family here -- Lady Pippa, Sarah-Jane and James -- and to his mother Joyce and family back in New Zealand," said Sefton.

Sir Peter Blake

Profession: Yachtsman

Born: October 1, 1948

Nationality: New Zealander

Marital status: Married with 2 children

Awards: - New Zealand Sportsman of the Year - 1995 British Yachtsman of the Year - 1995 K.B.E. Knighthood for services to yachting and New Zealand (Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

Career highlights

2000- present Founder of "blakexpeditions" and skipper of the "blakexpeditions" vessel Seamaster. As part of "blakexpeditions" program of activities, Sir Peter will be navigating Seamaster through the world's most important water environments including the Antarctic, the Arctic and the Amazon river. Under the motto "No water, no life", "blakexpeditions" aims to stress the need to protect the waters of the world using innovative and entertaining means.

2000 Head of the Team New Zealand America's Cup syndicate which successfully defended its title in Auckland.

In March, he appeared on OMEGA's Planet Ocean day at the Watch, Clock and Jewellery Show in Basel, Switzerland where he presented the coveted "Auld Mug" trophy of the America's Cup -- one of the rare occasions the cup has been allowed to leave the winners' country.

1995 Team leader of America's Cup winner Black Magic

1994 Successful Jules Verne Record attempt on Enza New Zealand: non-stop around the world in 74 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds

1971-93 Participations and victories as team leader and/or skipper in Sydney-Hobart Race, Admiral's Cup and Whitbread Round the World Race