Ellen: My sorrow over Blake murder

Sir Peter Blake in the 1990 Round The World race

By BBC Sport Online's Sophie Brown

British sailor Ellen MacArthur has spoken of her shock and sadness at the murder of yachtsman Sir Peter Blake, who has been killed by pirates on an expedition in the Amazon.

The New Zealander was one of the sport's most famous names and twice won the America's Cup in a sailing career full of achievements.

He was killed on board his ship Seamaster off the mouth of the Brazilian Amazon.

MacArthur was among several leading sailing figures to pay tribute to Sir Peter.

Sir Peter Blake was an incredible person

Ellen MacArthur

"I just can't believe it," she told BBC Sport Online.

"At this time, we all feel for his family - for his wife Pippa, who launched my boat.

"You imagine someone goes through all that Peter has gone through in his life, taken all the risks in the southern ocean and various different boats, and then for it all to end like this is unthinkable."

Sir Peter was best known for leading the yacht Team New Zealand to victory in 1995 and 2000 in the America's Cup, yachting's most prestigious team competition.

News of his death was given at the Paris boat show by the America's Cup sponsors.

"A group of seven or eight armed and hooded intruders boarded Seamaster at approximately 2215 local time on Wednesday," their statement said.

"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".

Seamaster was anchored off the port of Macapa near the mouth of the Amazon, waiting for customs clearance to leave Brazilian waters after two months' sailing in Amazonia.

Pirates

The assailants are thought to be from a local gang of pirates known as the "Water Rats".

MacArthur said that Blake was one of the sailing greats.

"I think that Sir Peter Blake was an incredible person.

"I've followed his sailing through the entire time that I've grown up with the sport.

Apart from the America's Cup victories, Sir Peter twice won the arduous Sydney-to-Hobart race, and the Whitbread round-the-world race in 1990.

Special envoy

In July of this year he was named as special envoy for the United Nations Environment Programme.

He was travelling in the Amazon as part of his UN duties, monitoring the effects of global warming and pollution in the region.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand on 1 October 1948, Sir Peter was knighted in 1995 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to yachting.

MacArthur added: "He's done some incredible things - from the Whitbread to winning the America's Cup twice with Team New Zealand and also breaking the round-the-world record."

"He really is one of the biggest names in sailing all over the world - in the UK, New Zealand and also in France."