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Sir Peter Blake

Role: Syndicate Head Age: 50 Born in Auckland in 1948 and educated at Takapuna Grammar School. Sir Peter Blake is the syndicate's Head of Defence. In 1983 he received an MBE for services to yachting and awards have flowed in thick and fast since. In 1989 he was the NZ Sports Personality of the Year, and in 1990 Sportsman of the Year. He received an OBE in 1991 and in 1995 he was knighted for services to yachting and New Zealand. His sailing achievements are many. He has been in five Whitbread Round The World Races, including the first ever in 1973 aboard Burton Cutter. He skippered Ceramco NZ in 1981-82, Lion NZ in 1985-86 and Steinlager 2 in 1989-90. He was involved in New Zealand's America's Cup campaign in San Diego in 1991, and in 1994 he won the Trophée Jules Verne record for a non-stop circumnavigation (sailing around the whole world), with a new time of 74 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes and 22 seconds.

He was back in charge of the America's Cup Challenge with Team New Zealand in 1994, and in 1995 Black Magic took the Cup. Sir Peter is, among many things, a life member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, president of the Jules Verne Association, and is Honorary Skipper of the Child Cancer Foundation.

Sir Peter recently accepted a role as head of the Cousteau Society, which he will assume at the end of the America's Cup 2000 regatta.

He is married to Pippa and the couple have two children, Sarah-Jane (16) and James (13). When Sir Peter isn't yachting he is either flying -- he gained his private pilot's licence in 1975 -- scuba diving or writing. Sir Peter has written four yachting books to date.