A game where no-one wins

Near the end of 2001 there were some most terrible tragedies which are still mourned 6 years on.

For many, these events would be those which happened on September 11. I can still remember how that day went for me. The astonishing loss of life in such a horrible way sends shivers down my back, yet I was in New Zealand at the time. The distance involved meant that it's had very little impact on me personally. It's hard to explain how I feel about it really, I do grieve for those who were impacted by it, it's a terrible loss. It's a loss to humanity in the most global sense. But it's not a personal loss to me, I'm distanced from it.

So why bring this up? Because there was an event in late 2001 which impacted me so strongly, I'd claim it's close to how one would feel about 9/11, only that is a vast overstatement. It's not.

I doubt many people would know what befell on December 6, 2001. I can't blame them, the world was still reeling from the terrorist attacks in the US. Yet on that day, Sir Peter Blake was killed in the Amazon.

Sir Peter was the man who lead New Zealand to win the America's Cup in 1995, and then followed it up in 2000 when it was first successfully defended by a non-US team. Given that the first race for this cup was in 1851, that's no small detail. Australia had been the only non US team to win it in 1983, which they then lost in 1987 during an unsuccessful defense.

So not only had Peter Blake lead New Zealand to the history books, but he was also quite an accomplished sailor in his own right, having won the Whitford Round The World race, and also the Jules Verne trophy by circumnavigating the world in the fastest ever time.

After the 2000 defense of the America's Cup, he resigned from the team and set out on a cause. He founded Blake Expeditions and sailed to Antarctica, taking environmental notes which could be used to help understand the impact of global warming, and to give a better insight into this mostly unknown continent.

Following that, he went to the Amazon Basin, doing likewise as he had in Antarctica. Once completed, they headed back to civilization and had to wait for customs clearance. While waiting, the ship was boarded by local pirates, Sir Peter rushed out of his cabin with a firearm, and was shot. He died instantly. The pirates made their escape, taking booty comprising of a few watches and an outboard motor. They were later arrested and sentenced to an average of 32 years in prison.

People who knew Peter Blake, whether personally, or through media, were shocked at his sudden death. This was a betrayal of humanity. For such a small booty, these pirates cost the world a great, caring and loving man. It is a loss to the world.

It's not the same scale as 9/11, nor does it have quite the same impact, yet both were betrayals of humanity, to the loss of humanity.

I feel this would probably do better being left until the 6th anniversary of his death, but after the first post, I've been unable to shake his memory from my thoughts. It had to be said.

To Sir Peter Blake, and all the victims of September 11:

R.I.P