As New Zealand Woman’s Weekly prepares to mark its 85th birthday, we are taking a look back through our rich history, opening the archives to revisit some of the extraordinary, historic or downright unusual stories that have featured in the pages of this magazine.
Each week, we’ll bring you one of these incredible tales.
While we’ve watched the incredibly calm and humble Peter Burling behind the wheel of the Aotearoa in Bermuda, it wasn’t hard to be reminded of another national hero who also made his name on the water.
Sir Peter Blake is the name every New Zealander still thinks of when it comes to America’s Cup racing – not only for his ability on a yacht, but for his kindness, humility and loyalty.
We take a look back to Sally Woodfield’s 1995 story soon after Sir Peter brought the Auld Mug home for the first time.
The triumphant skipper posing with his children, James and Sarah-Jane, next to the Auld Mug in San Diego.
“Get your red socks on” became the motto of this year’s America’s Cup. In the end, even Prime Minister Jim Bolger and Dame Cath Tizard were sporting a pair on their VIP feet. And for that, we have to thank the wife of the man who led Team New Zealand to victory – Pippa Blake.
Speaking exclusively to New Zealand Woman’s Weekly just hours after stepping off the special Air New Zealand flight from San Diego and facing tumultuous welcome, Pippa admitted, “I probably shouldn’t tell you this. Everyone seems to think he’s been wearing lucky red socks for years but I only gave him a pair last Christmas.
“He’s always had some sort of lucky omen but he certainly didn’t start off the America’s Cup saying, ‘These will be my lucky charm’ – it just happened.”
And English-born Pippa adds, “I had to wash them every night and we had no washing machine in the apartment in San Diego!”
Peter Blake may be a national hero, but when he and his family return to their English base, there’ll be no special treatment for the towering Aucklander. Pippa reveals the man who led Team New Zealand to victory will be mowing lawns and “doing the school run”.
“All those things that I’ve been doing for the past few years,” says Pippa (41). “Plus, he’s promised he’ll look after the children while I paint.”
The family went back to their home in Emsworth, Hampshire, at the weekend after five days of celebrations in New Zealand. Earlier this month, Peter (46) announced he would retire from competitive sailing after the America’s Cup.
“Peter’s been saying that for years,” Pippa says with a laugh. “We’ve heard it all before. But this time, he’s adamant that there’ll be no more round-the-world racing and he won’t be doing another America’s Cup on the boat, although I’m sure he’ll be involved in the America’s Cup defence in some way.”
Pippa is thrilled that Peter will be home a lot more with her and their two children, Sarah-Jane (12) and James (8).
“For the last five years, he’s been going for it non-stop. Peter needs a rest. He’s not tired of life but we need time to take stock.
“I really don’t think he enjoys competitive sailing much any more. If someone said, ‘We’ll sponsor you to do another Whitbread’, I don’t think he’d do it for any price.
“Peter is very much a family man. It’s going to be just great having him around more. We’re spending the next year having as much time off as possible and spending lots of time with the children.”
However, Peter has said he’ll still be trying to break records on his catamaran Enza, the fastest boat in the world.
“If something comes along with a bit of adventure thrown in, there’s a possibility he won’t be able to resist,” says Pippa.
The petite blonde, married to Peter for almost 16 years, admits there were tears in her eyes when Black Magic crossed the finish line in the fifth race to win the America’s Cup.
“It has all been incredibly emotional. Adrenaline has been keeping us going since we won,” she says.
“I was incredibly nervous before that final race, I couldn’t keep still. It wasn’t ‘till very near the end that I thought, ‘It looks like we’re going to do it!’”
It seems like Pippa will soon have another, smaller pair of socks to wash – son James is following in his father’s footsteps.
“James has been racing with [commentator] Peter Montgomery’s children in the San Diego Yacht Club’s junior sailing programme and just loves it, so he’s going to start racing this year.”
Peter, Pippa and their children aboard his catamaran Enza in 1994.
The family will spend the coming English summer holidays at their Emsworth home, sailing dinghies and taking long country walks.
Emsworth is a small village which holds special memories for Peter and Pippa – they met at the local yacht club in 1978, just after Peter finished his second round-the-world yacht race. Pippa was sailing dinghies, “but not very seriously”, so the couple knew yachting was always going to be a big part of their life together.
Their honeymoon was even spent on a yacht – delivering Condor to New Zealand with “seven other men on board”, Pippa laughs.
“I always knew sailing would be a big part of our lives but I don’t think I realised quite how big. But I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
In the early years, Pippa spent a lot of time sailing with Peter.
“Even after Sarah-Jane was born, I was still very involved – she sailed from England with us when she was just two.”
Four years later, James was born – “And I didn’t feel I had to be off sailing and racing with Peter all the time. I took up oil painting and really enjoyed it. We’ve got a lot of friends around us who I enjoyed being able to see while Peter was away. They were a great support and Peter rang every night.”
There were occasions, Pippa admits, when she did worry.
The ticker-tape parade in Auckland to celebrate Team New Zealand winning yachting’s holy grail.
“When he was deep in the Southern Ocean in iceberg territory, yes, that was a bit of a worry. But I’ve done enough sailing with Peter to realise that he knows what he’s doing.”
The family now have a big decision to make – whether to stay in England or move to New Zealand, where Peter’s parents live.
“We’ve spent a lot of time backwards and forwards between the two countries, but England is where my family and friends are, and while Peter’s been away so much, I’m happier to be there. The children are settled in school there, so for the time being we’ll stay in England.”
