The death of a yachting great, Sir Peter Blake, a man as tall in stature and deed as the highest mast on the greatest of yachts, is not the sort of thing that would normally grace the pages of a cricket web site.

But then Sir Peter Blake, murdered yesterday on the Amazon by river pirates, was no normal sportsman or New Zealander.

Through his deeds initially, as a round-the-world yachtsman who led the Ceramco New Zealand and Lion New Zealand campaigns before having success with his Steinlager campaign on which he won all stages, then latterly in the Jules Verne Classic speed races around the globe and the America's Cup campaigns of 1992, 1995 and 2000, Blake set a standard in sports organisation and planning that is the blueprint for all other sports.

His example was so great that many people did not even realise that they were hooked into the notion of expecting more of themselves by simply making greater efforts in preparation, by planning, and that was across the board in sports.

He made the unbelievable, believable.

Meticulous in his preparations, positive in his pursuit, innovative in his techniques and down to earth in his presentation, Blake deserved his reputation as the greatest living sailor.

In life his feat in guiding New Zealand to an invincible sweep through the San Diego campaign to win the Cup was believable. His skill in master-minding the greatest Cup series of them all in New Zealand's defence from the revamped Viaduct Basin in Auckland was a supreme achievement.

In death, the reality of the mastermind and the dreams he achieved for the good of all New Zealand will be appreciated more than many were prepared to give him credit for during his life.

Blake did have the knack of attracting huge corporate backing, of staging massive public funding campaigns to power his dreams. This did affect the earning power for other sports, but none could deny his effectiveness in generating support.

The difference with Blake however, was what he did after getting that support. He delivered.

He didn't forget the little people who were driven along by his success and while other sports may well have been envious of the monetary backing he achieved, they found that if they wanted to compete they had to replicate his methods.

Blake set new standards in New Zealand sport in terms of harnessing public interest. He set new standards of planning, standards that have become text book models not only in the sporting arenas, but in the very corporate structures from whom he had support.

His planning style has become a benchmark for sports looking to improve their lot in results on the world stage. He was professional before New Zealand had attempted to understand the realities of professional sport - something they have still not come to grips with.

His example as a sportsman, as a planner, as a trendsetter, will be his legacy to New Zealand.

He was one of the key ingredients in sailing emerging from the weekend pottering around the bays category, to full on international achievements that affected even the most land-locked Kiwi supporter.

His was a phenomenal life, his effect on New Zealand sport profound and his attention to detail an example for any sportsman no matter the sport.

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