Is Peter Blake really a NZ hero/icon?

[Winston001]

Honestly I don't know. It always seemed like an Auckland thing. Heard on the radio that Black Magic has just been moved to his memorial site.

[doc]

Honestly I don't know. It always seemed like an Auckland thing. Heard on the radio that Black Magic has just been moved to his memorial site.

Yep he is a legend. Well he was a leader of men anyway, nowdays few are able to recognise that quality.

[Owl]

No, but Sir Peter Blake was!

[98tls]

Yes i believe he was.Wheres Auckland?Could well ave come from Stewart Isle for all that it would matter.

[RantyDave]

Well: he "got shit done" (tm); won pretty much anything worth winning in yachting; bought enormous shitloads of pride, respect and money into New Zealand; and was a family guy and all round good dude to boot. So, yeah, I think we can count him as a proper, full-on hero.

Dave

[PirateJafa]

Yes.

More NZ children should be looking up to heroes like Sir Peter Blake, leaders of men who push the boundaries of where men can go, and how fast they can do it, supporting the environment and living a clean, honourable life.

Instead of thugs chasing a pointy ball around a field, living a life of alcohol and commercial whoredom.

[Highlander]

Absolutely. He was a legend while he was still standing, more so since his tragic and untimely demise.

[The Stranger:Me]

Honestly I don't know. It always seemed like an Auckland thing. Heard on the radio that Black Magic has just been moved to his memorial site.

How long have you been in NZ?

[Winston001]

Yes.

More NZ children should be looking up to heroes like Sir Peter Blake, leaders of men who push the boundaries of where men can go, and how fast they can do it, supporting the environment and living a clean, honourable life.

Instead of thugs chasing a pointy ball around a field, living a life of alcohol and commercial whoredom.

Agree completely about "sports heros". Someone like Mahe Drysdale is worthy of respect though.

Interesting.

My perception of Sir Peter Blake is he was a toff. Like Mark Todd. A person who could make a living sailing in yacht competitions still doesn't match up with say, Ed Hillary or Charles Upham VC+Bar. Upham stood and faced German machineguns and protected his men. Hillary founded schools and helped the Sherpas immensely. Both remained modest throughout their lives.

Peter Blake lived in England. His family are English. Nothing wrong with that but at the time of his death it appeared his affinity was with England. He'd left NZ behind.

[Maha]

Hes been fairly quiet in recent times.

[doc]

Agree completely about "sports heros". Someone like Mahe Drysdale is worthy of respect though.

Interesting.

My perception of Sir Peter Blake is he was a toff. Like Mark Todd. A person who could make a living sailing in yacht competitions still doesn't match up with say, Ed Hillary or Charles Upham VC+Bar. Upham stood and faced German machineguns and protected his men. Hillary founded schools and helped the Sherpas immensely. Both remained modest throughout their lives.

Peter Blake lived in England. His family are English. Nothing wrong with that but at the time of his death it appeared his affinity was with England. He'd left NZ behind.

Fark mate we have just gone thru a period where we had no male leadership role models. Now you want to destroy what we had in the past. Do you miss Helen or are you just bored ?

[Genestho]

Yes, definately an Icon. Pushing Boundaries, constantly looking for the next goal, the next level. He was one of many that put NZ on the Map for a long time, and achieved so much unselfishly.

Anyone that moves countries retains home in their hearts - no matter where they are, or what they do!

Blake and Hilary were some of my Heros when I grew up, I can't quite compare Mahe Drysdale - YET....

IMHO - Sad day for our kids when they have nothing as great as these men to aspire to!

[Madness]

The guy had balls the size of watermelons. That's worth something in my book.

Who here owned a pair of red socks?.

[Maha]

The guy had balls the size of watermelons. That's worth something in my book.

Who here owned a pair of red socks?.

No me, I also dont own an All Black Jersey or an Ice-Pick or a Canoe.

[PirateJafa]

Agree completely about "sports heros". Someone like Mahe Drysdale is worthy of respect though.

Interesting.

My perception of Sir Peter Blake is he was a toff. Like Mark Todd. A person who could make a living sailing in yacht competitions still doesn't match up with say, Ed Hillary or Charles Upham VC+Bar. Upham stood and faced German machineguns and protected his men. Hillary founded schools and helped the Sherpas immensely. Both remained modest throughout their lives.

I'm not saying that Sir Peter Blake is THE New Zealand hero. But he is A NZ hero.

While yes, Upham showed personal bravery in Africa throughout WWII, I don't think you realise the extent of similarities between Sir Ed and Sir Blake. Sir Edmund Hillary reached fame exploring the limits of how far a team of people can go, in his case up a mountain - but then it's hardly like Sir Peter Blake only raced America's Cup yachts in harbours around the world. In fact, he actually made his name racing in both the Whitbread Round-The-World races, and then later in the Jules Verne race, which pit yachts and their crews against each other in a non-stop round-the-world race, from Europe and back again - usually 70-80 days non-stop for most of the boats. Hardly a walk in the park.

While yes, there are sailors like Robin Knox-Johnston who have pulled off more epic races (First man to ever sail around the world non-stop by themself - 313 days at sea, with no sponsorship or outside help, winning the Golden Globe race), Sir Peter Blake's accomplishments are hardly to be belittled.