Yachting: Special Monaco memorial regatta dedicated to Blake

10.45am

A line-up of America's Cup yachties and celebrities from the world of sport and film will take part in the Laureus Regatta dedicated to Sir Peter Blake in Monte Carlo on May 13 and 14.

The match-racing yachting regatta, which is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation and organised by the yacht Club de Monaco from Le Meridein Beach Plaza, is a lead-up event to the third annual Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony on May 14.

The regatta is being held as a tribute to Blake, one of yachting's genuine legends and a Laureus World Sports Academy member who was murdered by pirates while on an environmental expedition in the Amazon last year.

With Blake's death, former All Black captain and now Blues Super 12 manager Sean Fitzpatrick is New Zealand's only member left on the academy.

Fitzpatrick said he could not attend the awards if the Blues beat the Brumbies in their Super 12 rugby match in Canberra on Friday night and advanced to the semifinals.

"If we lose I'll fly on Saturday night to Monaco. It should be a special awards ceremony for New Zealand this year following the tragic death of Sir Peter," Fitzpatrick said.

Sports academy chairman and former US athletics star Ed Moses said Blake was an active member of their group for two years.

A spokesperson for the academy said a special section of the awards night would be dedicated to Blake.

Leading yachties for the memorial regatta include American JJ Isler, silver medallist at the Sydney Olympics in the women's 470 class and winner of last year's regatta just outside Monte Carlo's famous harbour.

Other skippers include Tommaso Chieffi, who is currently with America's Cup challengers Oracle, and his fellow Italian Francesco Bruni, a member of the Prada challenge.

Dawn Riley, skipper of the all-women America's Cup challenger Mighty Mary in 1995 and America True in 2000, will be a newcomer to the event.

British cup challenge skipper Ian Walker will also be racing because of a break in his team's training schedule with the newly launched Wight Lightning, which is on its way to Auckland.

The Laureus World Sports Academy is an independent group of 42 legendary sportsmen and women.

- NZPA

Peter Blake, 1948-2001

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